Vittorio Bissaro communicated to the Italian Sailing Federation the decision to interrupt the Olympic campaign towards the Paris 2024 Games with Nacra 17 (paired with Maelle Frascari) to focus exclusively on the America’s Cup project within the Team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. A certainly difficult choice for the 36-year-old, fresh from an excellent fifth place at the World Championships in Den Haag and capable of winning the world title in 2019.
“I thought a lot before making this decision but I believe it is professionally consistent with my path in the sailing world and consistent with the man I want to be today, not only a sailor but also a family man. In this last period I have been able to directly verify, together with my bowman Maelle Frascari, how challenging it is to simultaneously carry out an Olympic and an America’s Cup campaign. Being able to best deal with both is extremely complex, both require great concentration and planning to get the most out of the limited availability of calendar and energy. I feel great gratitude towards the Federation because with the DT we sincerely sought a compromise between these two projects and to pursue the incredible dream of experiencing these two challenges in parallel, but despite the good results I felt that the level I was bringing to the two projects it wasn’t in line with what I wanted to give“, explains Bissaro.
“It’s not easy for me to close such an intense and significant chapter in my life, but I’m confident I’m making the right choice. I will give, as I have always done, my best to achieve with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli the goals we have set ourselves in this America’s Cup campaign. Sincere thanks to President Ettorre because he was the president of the athletes, always in the front row, so ready to listen and solve our problems, to the Technical Director Marchesini with whom I immediately had a frank relationship, from which a comparison of great human and sporting growth emerged and to the coach Bruni who taught me so many things as an athlete and as a man, but above all for teaching me to race. But thanks also to all the coaches and all the athletes of the team with whom I have had the opportunity to interact over the years, I have learned something from each one. Good luck to my Nacra teammates who I hope will continue to achieve many successes and to the entire Italian team”, we read in the federal press release.
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The FIV Technical Director Michele Marchesini he commented on his decision like this: “Extreme rationality and professionalism have always been Bissaro’s characteristics as an athlete and as a man and, even when faced with an important crossroads for his professional career, I am sure that he has appropriately analyzed objectives and scenarios. Vittorio’s work and growth within the national team in recent years have led him to results of the greatest importance and the contribution that a sailor of this level, now full-time, can give to the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team can be decisive for the Italian race at the Americas Cup. Ultimately it is a natural transfer of athletes and skills that characterizes the leading nations of the sailing movement“.
These are the words of Max MermaidTeam Director and Skipper of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli: “Vittorio Bissaro is a great sailor, a professional and a complete sailor, who has achieved many important results in his Olympic career. I am sure that he will have thought about this decision for a long time which, I imagine, will not have been easy at all. As Skipper and Team Director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli I am obviously proud to have a full-time resource like him, because he makes a great contribution to our America’s Cup campaign. I want to thank the Federation and the national team for ‘sharing’ it with us in this last period and I wish all the athletes good luck for the next Paris Games“.
Photo: Page FB FIV
2023-09-13 10:17:39
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