copravolley

18th place for the Italian relay. We've hit rock bottom this season. The entire team is completely out of shape and it's getting worse with each stage. The women's team is decimated by injuries, illnesses and without its leader - Vittozzi. The worst thing is that this season counts towards the Olympic qualifications... This is the worst result for the Italian men's relay since January 2020 - then we took 23rd place in Oberhof...

In general Swedes don`t the most like are Norwegians from neighboring countries?

A bit of a strange sport, similar to water polo. Referees can arbitrarily influence the outcome of the match through penalties.

Do you like Brazil?

Do you remember the time when Lino Cervar was the coach of Italy?

Il biathlon italiano non sta andando bene in questa stagione. Finora non è salito nemmeno sul podio e non sembrano esserci prospettive. So che Vittozzi non c'è più, ma anche senza di lei abbiamo avuto risultati decisamente migliori nelle ultime due stagioni. La prestazione della squadra maschile in questa stagione è stata decisamente scarsa: praticamente tutti sono peggiorati rispetto all'anno scorso. Non so per cosa vengano pagati questi allenatori, ma a me sembra un lavoro mal fatto. Guardando alla Fisi, solo lo snowboard alpino ha fatto progressi visibili e forse anche il settore freestyle: sci cross, big air. Gli altri restano fermi nello stesso posto o addirittura si passo all'indietro come nel biathlon. Lo sci alpino è salvato solo grazie a veterani con più di 30 anni: nessuno sotto i 30 è salito sul podio questa stagione. Nella prospettiva del 2026 sembra sempre peggio.

Another embarrassing start for the Italian team. Finland, Switzerland are making progress but not us...

When I was in Slovakia in 2003 at the hot water swimmingpool, there was a photo of the gold team from the 2002 World: in the shop and in the hotel.

In ski jumping 20 years ago had most of its competitions during the day and now 90% of the World Cup competitions are held in artificial light. I wonder where ski jumping gets its money from and biathlon doesn't?

So far the best Slovak generation is that of the early 21st century?

Is there a risk that Hungary will be at a better level than Slovakia in men's hockey in the near future?

Chinese team in womens hockey?

Also It will be hard to beat the Netherlands and Norway in the team and I'm still afraid that the USA will put Stolz on the team... I hope that the Italians will prepare the ice for Ghiotto and he will be able to test the conditions there in advance. I'm counting on the same in luge, although the results of the Italian team there are so poor that even knowledge of the track probably won't help

For me the Czech is still too young to be afraid of in 1 year. On the other hand, Eitrem will be very dangerous in 5 km and Roest was always 1 step ahead of Ghiotto in the last 2-3 rounds. If Ghiotto is counting on a double, he has to make progress in 5 km. It doesn't look like the Swede will be back in 2026... https://www.svt.se/sport/skridsko/nils-van-der-poel-har-bytt-namn-heter-nu-svensson

Despite everything I thought German women's hockey was much better: bigger country, more players and greater traditions. Btw., do they naturalize people for the women's team in Hungary, like in China?

A good tournament for the Italians but I didn't expect Hungary to be so strong.

Only in my opinion Eitrem in this form is beyond Ghiotto's reach for 5 km. This is already Roest's level from the last 2 years. To beat them both Ghiotto would have to have the race of his life. In addition 2 more Dutchmen are getting dangerously close. It`s crucial that Eitrem doesn`t get close to Ghiotto in the 10 km, because he is young and can still make a lot of progress. Do you have any links to interviews with Marchetto, Anesi etc? What are Ghiotto's goals for this and next season? Do they think it`s possible to win 2 gold medals in 5 and 10 km next year?

I don't know if he will qualify for the 10 km - he is currently 7 and there is still 1500 to go... I have no information but it seems to me that Ghiotto is in poorer shape - maybe some illness? He already did poorly in the 500 meters, as for himself. In the 5 km, even in great shape, it may be difficult to win a medal: Eitrem is young and still growing, and Roest lost the last time at a big event to van der Poel in Bejing. To win gold in the 5 km, he will has to get close to van der Poel's world record. In my opinion, Ghiotto isn`t capable of such results and probably never will be.

Ghiotto is only 4th today in the 5km in European Championships and that's without Roest Looking at the times, Eitrem is out of his reach today + Roest in his usual form. The Netherlands have managed to get 2 more skaters under 6.10 this season: Snellink and Huizinga. I'm afraid that it will be difficult for Ghiotto to even win a bronze medal in the 5 km. I also have concerns that Eitrem will soon start showing spectacular results in the 10 km.

Until recently, Austria was the hegemon in this sport, and for several years it has been Switzerland. There must be huge money going there for several years, looking at their results. They have stars in every discipline, wide squads, young successors. When I compare it with Italy, there is no comparison. After Brignone and Goggia left, we have almost no one, and Switzerland pulls out some super talented 21/22 year old every 2-3 years.

Very good form for Italy team

In your opinion did Sarajevo 1984 make sense? Are there any sports facilities there, or did the war destroy everything?

In general almost all Fisi sports have been doing terribly this season. One debacle after another and the Colturi case completes the scale of embarrassment. Apart from single star like Goggia, Brignone or Pellegrino, only the alpine snowboard looks good.

Unfortunately the Italian men's team is poorly prepared for the season. Everyone is in terrible shooting form. Somewhere a mistake was made in the preparations. We are recording a big regression compared to the previous season. It`s becoming more and more likely that we will not stand on the podium even once this season (I can't remember the last time something like that happened). In the Nations Cup we are in 6th place and we may lose 6 starting places in the World Cup from next season. I`m increasingly worried about what will happen in the Olympic season. Without Vittozzi returning to top form, we completly will not count. In general our entire winter season looks very bad: biathlon as above, cross-country skiing - still only Pellegrino, luge - poor form, alpine skiing without Goggia and Brignone doesn`t exist.

I've been to Falcade a few times for alpine skiing: I think you go down from Passo San Pellegrino but maybe I'm mistaken, because it was quite a while ago. Btw., do you have any Brazilian ancestry? Where does your fascination with that country come from?