Samuele Ceccarelli, who beat Jacobs on 60 meters. «My examples Falcone and Borsellino»- Corriere.it

«I don’t know if Marcell remembered me, I didn’t ask him: before Ancona we had only met once in Pietrasanta, in 2018, in the 100 and 200 metres. He is a great athlete but not a champion yet, I am an unknown seventeen year old. By beating him on Sunday, I felt the same sensation as when I saw him on TV in Tokyo: unbridled joy, disbelief, amazement».

Samuele Ceccarelli, his 100m record, 10”45 is the 5,457th time in the world. Yet you interrupted the unbeaten run of the Olympic champion Jacobs with the third performance ever in Italy over 60 metres, 6”54. How did she do it?

“Finding that continuity that I had been chasing for years without ever reaching it due to too many injuries: for the first time I completed the complete work cycle set by my coach, Marco Del Medico”.

Did he think he could beat Jacobs?

“Not rationally. But I dreamed it, of course. I was in excellent condition, coming from a clear improvement in the last few races, I wanted to perform at my best without being influenced by the champion next to me. On the track we were shoulder to shoulder and at the shot I had only one thing in mind: he mustn’t get away from me ».

And he didn’t let it get away..
“I ran almost with my eyes closed. I realized I won by watching the race on the giant screen. The weather surprised me more than the victory.”

Many newspapers and sites have headlines: “Jacobs beaten by a lawyer.”

«The title made me smile, not offended. It’s true: I am the only son of a lawyer who dreams of becoming a lawyer or magistrate and trains in Pietrasanta in a track named after Falcone and Borsellino, two life models for me. Studying law helps to see the world from a different angle, the court stories dad told me have always fascinated me. Playing sports at a high level and studying a complex subject is a somewhat masochistic challenge that I wanted».

Similitudes?

«You have to earn the results with hard work and by creating solid foundations, training or study. It can take a long time to reach the goal, but if you don’t leave anything to chance, you can do it».

You arrived at athletics late, at 15 years old.

«I practiced karate for a long time and it taught me respect for the opponent and the search for that inner peace that allows you to give 100%. I was fast and at a certain point speed kidnapped me».

The 60 meters is the fastest event in athletics.

«They are pure power, a bullfight: when the gate opens, the bull immediately starts charging at you and you have to run away. You don’t have time to leave and you are ten meters from the finish line. But you still manage to perceive the atmosphere, sensations, pressure from the opponents: I felt Marcell present even if I absolutely didn’t understand if he was in front of or behind me ».

And now?

“And now Istanbul. The Europeans are a dream, I can’t wait for them to arrive. I can’t and I don’t want to go any further».

What is in his life beyond speed and codes?

“Music. Music everywhere and at any time of day: I have a speaker in every room of my house».

His soundtrack?

«Jacopo Lazzarini aka Lazza».

The rapper who finished second in Sanremo.

“He. He writes beautiful words and represents me perfectly: behind the artist there is a solid professional, a music teacher who studied hard at the conservatory. Talent alone is not enough, in music and in sport».