Interview
with Paolo Bacchini
Oberstdorf,
July 2013
Q:
With Ivan Bariev and the roller skating champion Dario Betti, two
more men want to compete for Italy in the future. How do you feel
about this new competition and how do you want to stay on top of
them?
A:
Hello everybody! What do I have to say? I'm used to compete with lots
of good skaters. So I think, the more good people come to Italy and
the better the competition will be. Of course it's going to be harder
to get a spot for the major championships. I'm happy, because I
already did all competitions possible like Olympics, Worlds,
Europeans, World Team Trophy. So I really keep going with skating
because I like it and because last year I had really problems with
injuries from November on. So I hope just to skate my best. That's
it! I’m not really interested in what other people do actually.
Q:
As you said you have had some injury problems in the past. What
happened, how did you recover and how are you now?
A: I'm not
a 100 percent healthy, but I'm working on it and overall I learnt
from last year that it is better not to push too much during the
summer. Because I started in November with almost clean programs in
Merano with 203 points. It was a pity that I couldn't repeat those
performances during the big championships. So we take it a bit easier
in the summer now and we going to push during the big events.
Q:
What do you think you have to do in order to avoid injuries?
A:
I really like to jump, but you can't do too many jumps in a session,
three times a day. Jumping is maybe not the best way to keep your
body healthy. So I think we are going to work on another important
point that is choreography and spins and limit a bit the jumps.
Q:
When and how will the Italian Federation decide who will compete for
the Olympic spot in Oberstdorf?
A: I'd like give you an
answer. But I think that you should ask the federation, because I
just have to skate. They have to decide.
Q:: How much pressure
does it mean to compete there in case you are selected?
A: To
go to the Olympic Games for the second time in my life - I don’t
think that many skaters can say they have done it. Already the first
time was a great pleasure and I think that's going be even better
because now I have experience. It's a dream but you a more awake.
Q:
What are you working on now specifically in practice in Oberstdorf?
How is preparation going so far?
A: I'm working on new
choreography, I'm going to do "La vita è bella". I wanted
to do this music forever and I love the way that in the drama there
is always a smile to find. And I think that music matches a lot with
me
Q:
That's your long program?
A: It's long program, yes.
Short program is going to be Rossini. We’ll see. Last year I
changed the short program three times, but I think that this year
everything is more structured.
Q:
Who found the music?
A: It was me, but I asked for the opinion
of Mr. Grütter. He enjoyed the music, so it is perfect. I like
it...we like it both.
Q: What do you plan? Which competitions
will you be in?
A: I'd like to do Nebelhorn-Trophy which
depends on the Italian Federation... so we will see. Then I’m
planning to go to Merano-Cup, Crystal Skate in Romania and then for
sure to the Italian Championships and the Winter Universiade in
Trentino. It's going be really a pleasure to skate not even thirty
kilometers from my parents’ house.
Q: Did you already think
about the future after Olympic Games? I could see that sometimes you
work a bit as coach.
A: Sometimes Mr. Grütter asks me to just
to have a look at some people. I really love coaching, but for now I
am an athlete. So it's just like when I have one hour free, I give a
hand to him. But I really like it, will see what the future
tells.
Q: Thank you, good luck for this season.
