Larissa and the Dream Trio: “I always win the Diamond League, but I still feel like a child.”

26 days until the World Cup in Budapestwomen to win the international athletics in the long jump Larisa Yapichino From Borgo San Lorenzo, Florence, Italy, just turned 21. I have just landed in Rome from Monte Carlo via Nizza. He’s driving towards Florence. Listen, smile. And good blood doesn’t lie (for those two or three who don’t know Mama is a tall lady Fiona May And my father Gianni Yapicinotricolor for auction), don’t hold back.

Larissa, after the European silver (6.97m), a luxurious season outdoors: she won three Diamond League races out of three (Florence 6.79Stockholm 6.69, Monte Carlo 6.95.0000), as well as European gold under 23 (6.93). How do you explain his lightness?

“It is the result of many components. First of all, working on myself with a mental coach: I had to insert myself and find my distance from everything and everyone. Then working in the field with dad, which is paying off. Let’s add a little more maturity: I’m growing in experience and awareness. Here are the results.”

She says she still feels suspended between the hero dimension of training and the child she was.

“I feel stuck in the middle, already, and I admit I wish I could stay in that position for a long time. Sport is a serious matter, but you should not lose sight of the passion and fun. I see an athletics career like this.”

In Monte Carlo, where she scored a historic hat-trick in the Diamond League (before her, only Jimbo Tampere), her father, Gianni Iappichino, was not present: why?

“My father not only trains me, but also when he was free for my race, we decided that he should stay at home. It was a kind of test: I wanted to try under pressure on my own. He agreed: I see you have matured, tell me, it’s time for you to get along without me, let’s see how it goes.”

“I participated, and it was fun. Dad was like he was with me and he won’t miss other important races of the season.”

With jump stability, how do you push yourself further?

“The perfect jump is not done yet. Everything, in the dynamics of the long run, needs to be improved. I’m still very young: I consider myself an athlete under construction. The jump I’m making today is a suit tailored to my characteristics: the pre-run is used to exploit the dynamism of the feet and the speed, my fundamental qualities. Over time, I’ve tried many outfits and this one worked best for me. But there’s still a lot to do.”

How close are you to the 7 meter barrier?

“For women, in the long run, the wall is coming down. I don’t think about it. Or rather: I don’t want to think about it, otherwise it becomes an obsession. Obsessions are not as productive as I see them. I am very close to 7m, and I dream of overtaking them: when the measure arrives, I will be happy. But I deal with it calmly, without worry, without worry.”

Is the magical world of the Diamond League what you imagined it to be?

“It’s so beautiful, so inspiring. I compete at a high level with opponents I used to watch on TV and now they’re more and more friends. I like to make connections, get to know the heroes of my sport and expand my circle of experiences and knowledge. In Monte Carlo I made friends with Karsten Warholm, the Norwegian hurdles phenomenon. I’m new to the environment, it always has a certain effect on me when they greet me and stop for a moment. But every day that goes by I feel more at ease.”

Are you still able to balance athletics and exams at the University of Florence School of Law?

“Only these days I thought I deserved a pat on the back. Private Law Exam, European U23 in Espoo and Monte Carlo: I came after weeks of fire and yet managed to do everything. I am committed, organized, I tell myself I am good at balancing study and training. And then I like to develop friendships: I’m still a 21-year-old girl ».

Done last Tuesday. How do I celebrate?

«In Florence, with a very intimate dinner with friends before leaving for the Monte Carlo race».

“No…we were in the restaurant. I have a distinct feeling that I will cross the 7 meter finish line before my dinner! ».

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