Archery is a family passion. Mamma Sara in Rimini to “shoot” her most beautiful arrow

SESTO FIORENTINO – “From father to son”: in addition to being one of Cat Stevens’ most famous songs, it is also a recurring expression in the world of football fans. But in this case it is more correct to say “from son to mother”. Or, better still, a passion that affects the whole family. The family is that of Sestese Sara Siliani, archer of the Compagnia Arcieri Lupi of Sesto Fiorentino, who recently graduated as absolute regional champion in the 18-meter Indoor specialty in Bientina, in the province of Pisa, a competition organized by the local company of Fitarco. An appointment in which she was confronted with all the best athletes of our region, of all ages, beating all the competition in a very tight race up to… the last arrow.

What is the curious aspect of all this, in addition of course to the satisfaction of having climbed onto the top step of the podium? Sara is the mother of Leonardo Viliani, who at the age of 12, in June 2017, conquered the world title at the IFAA Archery World Championships which took place in Castellina in Chianti. And also her husband, Leonardo’s father, Marco Viliani, is a skilled archer. In short, the bow is not only a family passion but also a sporting discipline that he has given and is giving many satisfactions. We say this not by chance, on the eve of an important appointment for Sara, who tomorrow, Thursday 9 March, will be engaged in Rimini in the Italian Indoor Fitarco Championships, the highest federal category. An event (in the first photo on the left, a detail of the last tricolors) which will see 1,300 archers arrive, representing 282 different clubs, at the competition scheduled until Sunday at the West Pavilion of the Rimini Fair, which has been the scene for years of an event between the most heartfelt of the national calendar. In those, among other things, which are the “golden wedding” of the tricolors indoors and which are entitled as “Memorial Giggi Cartoni” “in memory – reads a note – of the Fitarco colleague who died a few weeks ago and who has done so much for the archery world”.

We met Marco and Sara in recent days, during a break from their work in the optical shop, on the eve of their departure for Rimini. And the emotion, for waiting for the race, was “breathed”. Also because it is a goal achieved thanks to the victory in the regional championship. A discovery, to try personally, born almost by chance, accompanying his son to training from the age of 7 years. A passion that then grew especially after the Covid period: Leonardo, who still holds the maximum points ever achieved in the world on the occasion of the victory in Castellina in Chianti, has slowed down a bit. Father and mother, on the other hand, who in the meantime have also set up a shooting area in the garden of their home, have started having more and more fun with bows and arrows. And Sara, who trains every morning, in absolute safety, before going to work, has discovered over time that hers too was an innate gift. Even if the main characteristics of those who practice this sport have certainly influenced all of this: calmness, a sedate character, the ability to maintain a fluid gesture even in times of stress.

Thus, more or less a year and a half ago the first competitions began, culminating with the third place in 2022 at the Italian Championships, the regional title a few weeks ago and the conquest of fourth position in the national ranking. “We accompanied our son to training – they say – and then we realized that there could be two athletes in the family…”. Now the Rimini appointment, with the awareness of giving the best of oneself and, why not, aiming for something important.

The Italian Indoor Championships in Rimini will be broadcast in live streaming by YouArco, the official YouTube channel of Fitarco, and by all federal social networks. The bare archery finals on Thursday (where Sara competes) and the compound arch finals on Friday will also be visible on the official YouTube channel of Olimpia Azzurra, Sport2U. A summary of the finals will finally be broadcast in the days following the end of the tricolors on Rai Sport.