«I listen to the audio of the World victory every day»- Corriere.it

Alberto Cova, icon of the Italian middle distance, was training more fun or more tiring?
«Both things: funny because it was a lifestyle choice. Tiring because effort is necessary to obtain results».

His rivalry with Salvatore Antibo has been compared to that in cycling between Moser and Saronni.

«If that’s the case, there was also one with Francesco Panetta. We were all strong, with competitive spirit we beat the foreigners. In any case, I am a friend of Totò Antibo».

They said that you were an accountant in the competition: angry or proud for a vaguely Fantozzian definition, thinking of the accountant Filini?
«Proud, also because I’m a certified accountant: it’s my other youthful effort. The correlation is between studies and the way you run: everything seemed calculated, but it wasn’t like that».

Alberto Cova, however, was also the Monsignor.
«Giorgio Rondelli, it’s true, that’s what he called me».

Giorgio, a cross and delight coach.
«A great character, ahead of his colleagues. I’ve always called him Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, but I never thought of giving him up: we were different, but we always found the right balance».

You were born in Brianza, land of basketball.
«And I also practiced it, from 10 to 13 years old, on the oratory team: it was my first real sport. Oh my, true up to a point. A physical education teacher advised me to focus on athletics: he was right ».

Hard start, with many sacrifices.
«I got up early, I went by train to Milan, from 9.30 to noon I trained at the Montagnetta. I ate a bite and went to work at Mastropasqua, president of Pro Patria: four hours as a real accountant, then back to San Siro and finally back home. That’s how it went until I won the European Championship, then I turned professional and left the office».

European, world and Olympic gold. In a row. To equal his trio we waited 29 years and the British Mo Farah.
«Man evolves and it was more complicated for the athletes to score a “treble” like mine. Mo Farah has won 4 golds in two Games, equaling Lasse Viren. He managed to repeat himself, but I didn’t make it in the second Olympics, in Seoul ».

All in five years. Is there no regret for not winning more?
“Of course. I wanted to try the marathon, I dedicated myself to it at the end of my career and today I do it with my wife. In 1985 I was about to make my debut, but I got injured. I took advantage of my preparation to win the European Cup in the 5,000m and 10,000m: the choice was thus made».

Rondelli also wanted him to break into cross.
«In 1986 I won the Cinque Mulini, the last Italian to do it. Giorgio was in love with cross and I liked it. The problem was the physique: in a cross country I found myself against Gelindo Bordin, robust and muscular. I was counting on taking it back, but I sank into the mud. Why did I win the Cinque Mulini? Because that day there were 20 degrees and it was dry».

What is running?
“A nice moment of freedom. Today is relaxation.”

In the Bergamo area they have dedicated a fan club to her.
«Beppe Rota did it, an extraordinary character. He has the shirts of all the Italian and world players, I gave him a tank top and a pair of shoes: so he created the club in Sovere ».

You are the motivator of company executives.
«I don’t like the word “motivator”: you don’t buy motivation on the market. I rather offer tools to enhance hidden aspects. I speak to both complex organizations and individuals: corporate welfare is nothing more than making the components of a group coexist in the best possible way».

«With the head and with the heart» is the title of the book written with Dario Ricci: is it the synthesis of Alberto Cova?
“I say yes. It all starts from our emotions, dreams and heart. But then emotions must be “grounded” and must become concrete».

Over time, Africans took up athletics.
«In my day they were few and they weren’t evolved. The strongest were the Ethiopians, classified militarily. When Africa met method, money and technology, it found an infinite mine. Now its athletes are in charge because they have the qualities we had, but spread over various characters».

You were the nightmare of two East Germans, Kunze and Schildauer.
«Not that I was sorry… Their nightmare race was that of the World Cup. They had spent a lot in the first part of the last lap and I was struggling to follow them. But while they faded away, I continued with my pace and at one point it seemed that I was going twice as fast».

How many times have you listened to Paolo Rosi’s «Cova, Cova, Cova»?
«If you want… I’ll turn on the tape recorder: I hear it every day. Paolo explained to me how he went: I started that sprint from fifth and he wasn’t sure I would recover. But among the doubts he also had to be a commentator and the only word that came out was my surname ».

Mom wanted it in the bank.

«She was a seamstress and she had already made the jackets for me. When I told her that I would be an athlete she commented: “But you will have to work: what is the job of being an athlete?”. In the end she lived it well. But when I returned from Tokyo in 1980 with the first important medal she addressed me: “Te se semper in’gir com’n strasc”. She called me a tramp in the Lombard dialect.’

Sixty-eight: we didn’t go to school, but she could train.
«In Seregno there was a strong left-wing presence in a right-wing city: imagine the clashes. The physical education teacher, a certain Bassi, a marathon runner, urged me to bring my sneakers with me: “If they miss classes, go to the park to take a trip”. Good advice”.

What is the perfect win?
«The Olympic one is the most beautiful. Dreamed and desired. Technically I vote for the World Championship: before the last corner I was only thinking about bronze, but in a fraction of a second I wasn’t satisfied».

How sad to have lost a European title against Stefano Mei?

(sigh) «Today the wound is still bleeding… But a meter after the finish line I congratulated Stefano: he had never beaten me before. Thanks to him.”

You didn’t get along…
«With Antibo there was a competitive spirit from the field, with Stefano it was also verbal: then the journalists embroidered. Today however, since he leads athletics, he is my president. What vote do I give it? Six. He has to take care to stay in the saddle, having half the advice against, and he’s not bringing the promised news ».

At home he has a photo next to Sandro Pertini.
“It has great significance for me. They have always called him the president among presidents: I was close to him when I celebrated the Los Angeles gold medal».

Do you prefer the skinny Cova or today’s?
«I’m still thin, but the extra kilos are due to age and the fact that I no longer do extreme competitions. But today’s 72 are worth yesterday’s 57. And the breath is always there».

6 August 2021: in Tokyo, Italy wins gold with the men’s 4×100 and with Antonella Palmisano in the walk. But on August 6, 1984, Alberto Cova triumphed in the 10,000 in Los Angeles.
«August 6 is magical for our athletics. The date of the day of my gold has become the telephone number of my cell phone».

Speaking of Tokyo: Jacobs has sparked speculation.

“We all know Marcel is African-American. If he had had the USA written on his shirt, no one would have said anything. But he’s true Italian, so here’s what they give him. Those who speak also do it out of envy.”

Was she chatted?
«Among the verbal confrontations with Mei, one of the topics was this. If one wins a lot, there are those who question his honesty: this was how it worked in communication at the time too. Have I ever received “obscene” offers? Absolutely not”.

Is it true that he underwent auto-blood transfusion, according to Professor Conconi’s method?
“I don’t know who claims that he did it. My doctor has always been the professor Rodolfo Tavana. So the reference was him. If people believe it, fine; otherwise, amen”.

Silvio Berlusconi called you in Forza Italia.
«I entered Parliament thanks to him and his entourage. In 1993 they contacted me, I was 36 years old and I didn’t race anymore. That experience was an honor and a professional opportunity. Within 6 months, however, the government fell, the “technician” Dini became premier and the League, which was an ally, left us. After a year and a half of limbo, we returned to the polls: Forza Italia lost several parliamentarians, myself included. It all ended in 1996: I even ran into parliamentarian».

Does Berlusconi have the same charisma today?
«The change is not in him, but in the world that surrounds him and which in media terms has destroyed him. However, at 86 he is still on track, even if in the end the numbers count ».

His father was a communist. Ever tried to follow him?
«Never, 1968 oriented me: I’ve always been in favor of merit, but in those years the “political 6” was preferred. Dad read the Unit and worked in Milan, the “square” of the union. But when I told him that I was running with Berlusconi, he didn’t reproach me that the family was leftist. He said instead: “She is your choice, live it as you are”. I think she even voted for me, even if he never told me.’

Will Alberto Cova have a mustache again?
“No. I cut them when they were turning grey. I wondered if they recognized me, but it was an instant’s hesitation. So I stay like that.”