Abbagnale boasted that he had 80 per cent a few days before the vote (I still have the screen) and ran again as a result of a power deal. Not a great loss.
I have doubts about the new technical director though, you can't announce him during the congress, brandishing the scalp of the Abbagnale era technical staff (who then, were Crispi's men). Let's hope there are no rifts between the new staff and the athletes, it had to be handled better.
I was surprised by Abbagnale's defeat. I thought he was a sure of victory, since he decided to run - I read some source that he didn't know if he would start before Paris 2024. What do you think about it?
Cattaneo was good but his peak was in Tokyo 2021. Then there was such stabilization - stagnation. In Paris the result was in line with expectations but without the wow effect. They threw everything that was best into the quadruple sculls and it was enough for a only silver. Now without the lightweight sculls in LA I think that radical changes are needed to remain competitive. Previously there was a 3-year Olympic cycle due to Covid, so big changes weren`t good but now I think the time is right. Although of course more funds are needed for this sport in Italy, because even the best coach will not overcome this vel our men`s alpine skiing sector
Davide Tizzano (1996 Olympic Champion, men's double sculls) is the new President of the Italian Federation, as he defeated the (now former) President Giuseppe Abbagnale by a very small margin (52% to 48%) in last week's federal elections
and he's already at work to make up for the last 8 disappointing years (at least in terms of Olympic success): his first move is bringing back home Antonio Colamonaci who made great in the past 8 years
https://www.oasport.it/2024/11/canottaggio-cambia-la-direzione-tecnica-dellitalia-arriva-il-guru-che-ha-reso-grande-la-romania/
let's see if he can make great again, now