Paul, Maximillian, Miko, Most and Samson, Milika, Yvonne, Charity, Astrida and Priscilla …
They are the ten finalists of the cross-country race under 14 organized by the Olympic Centre of Lusaka under the programme: I.O.C. President’s Athletic Challenge.
Our 10 children arrive from different rural areas, far one from the other even about thirty kilometers.
Today 17th November, there is the final and the departure of the race is supposed to be at 8 in the morning. Continue reading
So many common places for the shortest race of the circuit!
‘The seasons are no longer the way they once were’, the rain season is late this year and the torrid heat made the shortest race of the circuit more demanding. ‘Nothing drenches your thirst more than a glass of water’, at the arrival the manual water pump of the Mungu School is assaulted by the young thirsty athletes. ‘Nothing is more refreshing than the shade of a tree’, at the end the 250 participants fought for a place under one of the huge secular mangoes in the schoolyard. Continue reading
Almost 200 participants … but at the departure the Seniors are few, “ it is the distance to scare them away” says the coach from Chipapa. But this reason which we heard way too often does not convince me. Continue reading
Friday evening with no power in Kafue. ‘Survivors’ dinner at candle light, with milk, cereal,
bread, Egyptian spiced bread sticks, jam and many pawpaw from Chikupi. The children eat a lot foreseeing the first race, then Winnie the eldest, who will race for the first time in the over 12, says ‘before the start, I am always a bit tense and worried, it seems to me that at the departure I will not be able to start, to run for the all race, then after the start and the elbowing, everything goes and I only think about reaching the arrival’. Still she did not know, that despite the TB of the bones, which crippled her stride, she would arrive fifth … for the first time … Continue reading
This morning I was reading about the deeds of Zanardi and Legnante on Gazzetta so
focused … that I went three stops ahead over Oxford Ciecus where I was supposed to change the first time to reach Brands Hatch for the cycling races … the photo of Legnante with the cartoons’ super hero mask and the big light blue eyes and Zanardi lifting the bike with the arm I will not forget easily …
To reach the racing track of Brands Hatch you first have to get a train at Charing Cross and then a bus … the majority of people is sitting on the grass … there are many schools and families as usual … I arrive in time to see the victory ceremony of the category C4-C5 where the Italian Michele Pittacolo conquered a bronze … the victory ceremony is at the arrival where the judge waves the checked flag at the end of Formula One … the athletes are close … the atmosphere is familiar of a Sunday race … friends and family of Michele are wrapped in two flags the Italian one … and the one from Friuli … Continue reading
Up until yesterday the lines on the palm of the hand still had the signs of oil and grease
which had stubbornly resisted to a week of showers!
A week has passed and I am not yet used to normal life, today I should have gone to watch the wheelchair basketball, but a morning appointment and a mind freeing run where I lost sight of the time, plus my natural ability to be late made me miss that appointment … so I came back to Excel …for fencing I managed to get a frontal seat … the finals without a Chinese athlete or one from Hong Kong are very rare … here with grief they call it Hong Kong China … I assisted to a fantastic and balanced final between the Brazilian Silva Guissoli and Tam Chik Sum … the Brazilian won 15-14 at the last strike … Matteo Betti conquered the bronze just before I arrived … Continue reading
Up to a few days ago I did not even know that wheelchair fencing existed! I found out
when I bought the tickets … I arrived in time for the final between a Chinese, Wu Baili, e Yu Chui Yee from Hong Kong … I was expecting it to be static … I was wrong .. the chairs are tied to a platform to avoid that the repeated movements on the torso to avoid the hits of the rival would cause it to tip over … the dodging is spectacular, the lightening movements of the arms, the back goes backwards in defense and then immediately it bends forward to hit the rival until the chest touches the knees … the mutual study, the looks and the foils still in the air, for a few seconds, before the duel starts, shut the spectators up and give suspense, which melts away in joy or disappointment when the light indicates who scored the winning hit … by now it is clear to me that on a wheelchair if you want to you can do anything! Continue reading
After a couple of days of semi active rest, today I went to the ExCel Arena, with a
very convenient ticket, 10 pounds for various sports and free access to the most expensive underground of the world.
When I read that there were the powerlifting finals, my priority, with all the time I passed on a bench at the time of AVM, my first and only gym in Legnano, could not be but the women’s final of the up to 67,5 kg category. Continue reading
Today I came back to Zambia for a few hours!
With a beautiful surprise …
When this morning the First Secretary of the Zambian Embassy in London a Press Officer, Mr. Amos Chanda, fixed me an appointment with the High Commissioner Lt. Col Bizwayo Nkunika, I thought it was going to be a face to face meeting … instead I found myself with the all Zambian delegation … Continue reading
Strange sensations!
Today I have legs and hands hurting more than when I was pedaling every day!
I have to get used again to normal life, I bought new shoes, the ones I had are completely finished but regardless of the holes and unglued bits they arrived here, I always buy the same ones for almost four years … a pair of shorts … because I want to blandly run on these inviting parks of London … shopping, walking among people, relaxed me … but the bike and Africa I am missing them a bit … Continue reading
