The winner of the bronze medal in archery at the Olympics told herself in a long interview with QdS.it: “Very happy with the path taken”
Lucilla Boari, born in Mantua 24 years ago and an archer profession, she is the first Italian woman to have won a medal in archery in an Olympics.
The feat was achieved by the blue archer in recent times Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where in the round of 32 he won the victory with a sensational comeback in the Italian derby with Chiara Rebagliati, then in the second round he beat the Belarusian Marusava and the Chinese Wu in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals she had to surrender to the Russian Osipova and in the final she beat the American Brown to win the historic bronze medal.
Since 2018 it is part of the Gold flames, the sports group of State Police, but Lucilla Boari’s relationship with archery began when she was seven on input from her father Antonio. Since then she has never stopped, but to pursue her goals at the age of sixteen she moved to Cantalupa, in the province of Turin, where she still lives and trains. Her palmarès tells of a spirited archer who is not inclined to give up.
She is the first Italian woman to win a medal in the discipline of archery. How does it feel to have reached this milestone?
“I honestly didn’t expect it in the individual. This medal has arrived and I am delighted with the path I took during the Olympics which is the most important stage in our sport. It was also difficult and tiring after the situation of the last two years with Covid. We too have had some difficulties with unexpected last minute events and changes in plans ”.
The first cold statements were: “Wake me up, it’s a dream! I still can not believe it”. What’s in this sentence?
“At that moment it was really something big and I still didn’t believe it. Even now I think about it every now and then, but there were no fears. It was a different Olympics that will go down in history for its particularity since there were no spectators or cheering, even though my teammates were there and cheered for me from the stands. Probably for me it was better this way, a little more tranquility ”.
For her it is the second time at the Olympic Games. The first time was Rio 2016 and he was 19 years old. Was there a difference in the approach and in the desire to win a medal?
“Difference yes, because at 19 in Rio, participation in the Olympics was a bit unexpected. At the time with the team we qualified to the last chance and I was in a bubble because it was all new and all beautiful. Instead, this time I was much more aware of what I was doing. Also this time we qualified the team on the last chance in Paris. The desire for a medal was there, maybe some more expectations were on the team. However, I treasure what happened because I made a great performance ”.
During the competition she was very determined and focused. What do you think in those moments?
“Oh my God, from what I remember, we think a lot about shooting, about the technical gesture and about being as concentrated as possible in what I was doing, avoiding distractions”.
Who are you dedicating this medal to?
“As a first response I said to Italy, a good omen to rise from the situation we have been through. Italy was one of the countries most affected by the pandemic. In general, given the record of medals, the Olympics showed that we are there and have the qualities and the potential to do well in all sports. It is a general dedication to everyone. Inside this medal there are not only me or those around me, but many figures who have contributed to this path and to the goal I have achieved ”.
Among the first statements he made, there was a reference to that “plump”, given to her five years ago by a newspaper, and he talked about his girlfriend. I noticed that, despite it being a personal moment, she felt like sending messages of support and encouragement for many people who find themselves victims of prejudice or free words.
“For me it was unexpected. They surprised me by sending the video of my friend Sandro and my girlfriend. In that case, it was obvious, I couldn’t say more. I hope it passed as a message of trust and courage ”.
In your opinion, why in Italy, despite the achievement of important goals, do we always focus on the body of women?
“Here we talk about the mentality we have. It will take many years to change the eye in which people see women. Maybe some figures, precisely because they are important, are judged and criticized even more. I hope that this mentality will be surpassed and, in its place, there may be a more open one that I have also seen in other countries ”.
Archery is not exactly the first discipline a young person approaches as a child. She started thanks to dad Antonio. What did you like about archery and what do you like now?
“It is true that archery is a niche sport and it is not really well known. I hope that my medal and that of Mauro (Nespoli, ed) have brought a little more visibility to this sport. It is a discipline where you need a lot of concentration and focus on what you are doing. It is always a challenge with itself. This is the part that I have been passionate about and that keeps me going to keep improving and wanting more and more. It is a sport in which you compare yourself with others, yes, but it is also a “Zen” sport, so be prepared to confront yourself.
The Olympic medal is only the latest of the many achievements in his palmarès. What’s behind reaching a podium? What is your typical day like?
“My typical day starts with training in the morning, roughly from 9:00 to 12:00. Lunch break and then a second workout. Depending on the week, we have three / four times a part of physical preparation that is not aimed at increasing the muscles, but at strengthening certain areas of the body that must be used during the shot such as the back and arms. The whole week is structured like this “.
Sacrifices?
“There are a lot of sacrifices related to training. I moved at the age of 17. I went to Cantalupa, a town in the province of Turin, where there is our Federal Center of the Fitarco where we have the opportunity to train indoors at 70 meters, which is the Olympic distance. We can train all year round in this facility and it is essential ”.
Is there anything you don’t like about archery?
“No I do not think so. It is a sport that has led me to travel the world, to meet many people. In the end we always do the same things, but always in a different environment. It is fascinating. There is no part that is pale or that doesn’t appeal to me ”.
How did you experience the post-medal and return to Italy?
“The day after the medal, we went to Casa Italia where they welcomed us in a great way. Once back, I went to my parents and friends who wanted to celebrate together. In a few days my village Rivalta sul Mincio will have me a party with the mayor and other authorities. And then there will be another occasion… well, I’m not done yet ”.
She spoke to me about the challenge with herself, perhaps it is still premature, but what new challenges are there in her future?
“In just over a month we have the World Championships. That too is an important occasion. From next year onwards, everything will be planned for the Paris Olympics. There are three years to go, which seems like a long time, but in the sports field they are not, also because the qualifying world championship is between two. We already have the future planned ”.
Sandy Sciuto
