Gianmarco Tamberi announces the new coach: it will be Giulio Ciotti

On the eve of the indoor European Championships in Istanbul (March 2-5), Gianmarco Tamberi announces his new coach. After having already announced for several months the technical separation from his father Marco, the Tokyo Olympic champion took some time to choose the guide who will lead him at least until the Paris 2024 Games: it will be Giulio Ciotti, a former jumper with 2.31 of personnel.

«After months of training together, I decided to entrust myself to the current manager of the blue high jump – says the thirty-year-old from the Fiamme Oro -. There was harmony with Giulio right away, above all from a technical point of view, because he is a technician very similar to my type of jumping who, as you know, prefers speed rather than push. I chose a person who shared this path and who had studied my jump: I’m neither the first nor the only one in the world to do it, but the approach is very different from the canonical one of the Italian high jump. Giulio has known me for a long time, we even competed against him, and he has always understood and understood my technical needs. He will come to Ancona as often as necessary.’

On how the choice took place, Gimbo adds: «In recent months, with the people who have been following me on my staff, we have moved in the opposite way to how you usually do with a coach. I was asking for opinions to try to understand if I was making the right choice, which is purely technical and not personal. We will find out over time what kind of relationship there will be between the two of us. For the physical part, Michele Palloni will continue to follow me, while the technical element was missing: they will be two people who work together, a method that is used a lot abroad. In addition to Ciotti, the coach I’ve had the most meetings with in recent months is Stefano Giardi, a splendid and super-prepared person. It wasn’t a problem of affinity, but the problems that would have arisen from the fact that he already follows a top athlete like Elena Vallortigara and this choice would have penalized everyone because it could take away from both, given that often the Top competitions between men and women are separate from each other. I would have put a teammate in difficulty and she didn’t suit me at all ». The rest of the staff is made up of Andrea Battisti (physiotherapist), Fabrizio Borra (rehabilitator), Andrea Benvenuti (physiotherapist), Francesco Lijoi (orthopedist) and Luciano Sabbatini (mental coach).

On the technical separation from the father, however, Gimbo explains that it was a step shared by both parties: «The decision to split up didn’t come only from me, because we’ve always had difficulties in the father-son relationship, which have amplified a lot over the last years. It’s a relationship that worked on the pitch when there weren’t any personal difficulties: until Tokyo we lowered our heads, but already after the Games there was a will to make a point. I tried to say let’s go on for another year, but then between 2021 and 2022 there were many moments that led us to have different views, things no longer worked and it was difficult even being on the field together. The idea is not to revolutionize the past, because the results achieved with dad are very important, but to continue along this path in the best possible way».

He won’t be on the platform in Turkey in the indoor continental event, but he already feels the adrenaline rising: «I’m very sorry not to be present at this European, because when I see the blue shirt I already feel the fire inside. I wanted to send a video to my national team mates, but I didn’t want to be the protagonist when I’m not involved and it’s not my interest to overshadow the others: the decision to announce my new coach today is not to steal the stage, but to make everyone participate without leaking any rumors first. In the past, I would have acted on impulse and gone to Istanbul, but when I turned 30 I made this rational choice not to rush things, because the real goal for 2023 is the outdoor world championship». Then he dresses like a fan: «I see the Italian national team very well, I’m very happy with Stefano Sottile’s return because, in addition to being a great friend, I’m a competitor and I know he will be a great stimulus for me too and will give me a hard time. Then I hope that Elena can repeat the good things she showed last summer in Eugene and overall I agree with the coaches’ choice to bring many athletes to gain experience in this important context».

On his physical state, Gimbo replies as follows: «I trained more this period than in other years, taking a couple of months to reset, because from 2016 to 2021 I didn’t give my body any rest. After so many ailments and physical problems, I’m definitely better now. I’ve done a very good preparation from a physical point of view, I haven’t downloaded it yet, but I can’t wait to try and get involved. My season will start at the end of May and then there’s the World Cup in Budapest calling».

However, the five-circle suggestion is the one that ignites the spark in his eyes, which begin to shine just by mentioning Paris 2024. «Every time the Olympics approaches, everything changes – admits Gimbo with a touch of emotion -. It’s normal, for me it’s like an obsession, something inside starts pounding. I want to try and do my best in 2023, that is to say conquer the world title that I need to win, but if you ask me if I’d rather put world gold around my neck or repeat myself at the Olympics, I have no doubts and I’ll choose the latter. They are two very important appointments and the European Championship in Rome 2024 also has its reason: if all three of you win it would be something crazy ». And then? «I still struggle to think what my life will be like after Paris». Meanwhile, he enjoys married life with Chiara and reveals: “The new house won’t be long now”.