Another four years, until December 2028, the goal (needless to say) is the Los Angeles Olympics. Antonio La Torre, 68 years old tomorrow, born in Puglia, but moved to Milan when he was 9 years old, he was reconfirmed by the Federal Council as technical director of Italian athletics. Raised in the walking sector (in Athens in 2004 he won the Olympic gold in the 20km with Ivano Brugnetti) he is an associate professor of motor sciences at the University of Milan and in his CV there is also the role of technical coordinator of the CONI Olympic preparation and consultancy for the sports school. A confirmation achieved on the field, with merit and with results that have brought the Azzurri back to the top of the Olympic medal tables. At the Tokyo Games in second place behind only the United States with the golds of Gianmarco Tamberi in the high jump, Marcell Jacobs in the 100 meters, Massimo Stano and Antonella Palmisano in the 20km race walk, and with the men’s 4×100 relay team from Patta , Jacobs, Desalu and Tortu). In Paris, where it didn’t go so well, but still with 1 silver, 2 bronzes and 17 finals. The Tower had the task of putting together the pieces of a movement that had emerged with a red balance from the European Championships in Berlin. “I am not a refounder or even a reformer of Italian athletics – the director clarified at the time – I only have 20 months of work between now and the Olympics…”. Twenty months to change, to start again and to rise again, to get a movement back on its feet that is now starting again for a new adventure and for an Olympic cycle that will end in Los Angeles. Or perhaps even later: “I feel I am faced with an important task – explains La Torre – We must all make this ‘crossing’ together which will take us to the Los Angeles Olympics, valorising this enormous wealth of talent that we have, also with a view to Brisbane 2032 It will be a demanding and creative job and there is no time to waste…”. Congratulations from President Fidal also arrived by return post Stefano Mei: “I thank the DT for what he has done to date and I wish him the best for the next four years – he explains – With Antonio we have shared the technical guidelines and the spirit of renewal: there are the conditions to consolidate the results of the last four years and to bring us to a generational change. At the next Council meeting we will present the 2025-2028 technical model, with a strong use of new faces and figures of excellence. I had tried to involve with a specific project on marathon also Stefano Baldini, meeting him several times also in the presence of the technical management and the sector manager and having the feeling that Stefano largely shared the general vision of the project; unfortunately his multiple commitments prevent him from participating in this new course, but the door remains open and I trust that there may be opportunities for collaboration in the future”.