A2 F – RN Bologna, Giada Gnassi still in Rari Nantes

It was one of the strong points, and will also be so in the future, both of the first team, with which it reached the semi-final of the A2 series playoffs, and with the youth teams, where in addition to the excellent results with the Under team 18 – Juniores achieved the pass for the national finals which took place a few days ago in Avezzano in the Student category.

We're talking about Giada Gnassi, who turned 16 on June 7th, born in Rimini but now Bolognese by adoption, who after a few days of vacation and well-deserved rest gave herself to our microphones.

Already within the youth national team, his words confirm the great desire to start again for the new great season that awaits Rari Nantes.

So Giada how are you? It was a year full of commitments between the first team and the youth sector. Tired? Do you want to unplug?

“It was a year full of commitments between the youth sector and the team. Obviously there is a bit of tiredness, but the desire to start a new season is always exciting"

Let's take stock of the season that has just ended, how did it go at Serie A2 level?

“The A2 experience was a great one, we regret not having had access to the final but this result must be a starting point for next season given that it will be a very young group led by the their veterans (like the captain, Veronica Perna, ed.) who will be important to provide experience and awareness".

At the youth level there was the great satisfaction of playing the Allieve Finals in Avezzano, a splendid experience to put in your pocket for the future.

“Access to the national finals was the icing on the cake of a journey that we began in September, led by Alice (Giancristoforo), encouraging us to always give our best even in moments of difficulty. It is an experience that has helped each of us increase our sporting and above all human knowledge. Many of our girls who were part of the squad were under age and I hope that for them it will be one of the many that await them; and that they are aware of the importance of this experience which will serve as a tool for their future.

What do you expect for the future? Both at first team and youth sector level?

“It will be a really difficult year for both the first team and the youth sector because we have high ambitions in both categories. The important thing is to have the awareness of giving your best every day without regrets, and if you start from this assumption you can get far. It is a season full of objectives, we younger people must not be afraid of what awaits us, on the contrary we should enjoy it and accumulate ever more awareness of our means".

Romagnola by birth, can we say Bolognese by adoption, this is how you live your future under the Two Towers?

“It's a good question, I hope to savor every moment of this journey that awaits me, it will be a complicated year both at an academic and sporting level, I hope to grow above all as a person and as an athlete. There are important objectives in both fields (scholastic and sporting) so it will be a complicated path, but that doesn't mean I have to give up, on the contrary... hold on to make sure they come true".

There are many sacrifices in water polo, especially for those like you, and your family, who have often been forced to move ... a sacrifice that you make with great passion, right?

“Despite the difficulties that have occurred over the years, I will always thank my parents for what they have done and do to keep a passion going. Their support, especially in the most complicated moments, was fundamental for me to grow. It is above all there that I will thank because they did everything to push me and encourage me. I will never be able to thank them enough."

These days it's Olympic time, is it one of your dreams to wear the Setterosa cap in a big event like that? Do you have other dreams, I don't know, maybe I can help bring Rari back to A1?

“Now it's time for the Olympics, unfortunately there is a bit of bitterness when talking about Setterosa, the results of the national team are the litmus test to ensure that this sport is promoted and therefore becomes more and more popular; after Covid we unfortunately had drastic drops in attendance. My current dream is promotion to A1. Then for the future, I can't tell you anything, dreaming costs nothing, by building brick by brick you can achieve something important. Another dream would be to promote this sport and above all ensure that it is followed by many more people. Many times people overlook the sacrifices that are made by all of us athletes. So I hope that everything will be done in the coming years to ensure that the numbers of players and spectators increase."

Filippo Mazzoni
Rari Nantes Bologna Communications Office
Photo by Paolo Tassoni