Monica De Gennaro closes triumphant blue adventure: the moving message
An Olympic gold medal, a World Cup, a European Championship, three Volleyball Nations Leagues, a FIVB World Cup: the adventure in the women’s national volleyball team of Monica De Gennaro, who in the span of almost twenty years has worn the Azzurri jersey 364 times, closing in fact with her triumph at the World Championships in Thailand last September, closes with an enviable palmares.
‘Moki’, as she is known to all fans, entrusted to social networks a moving message of farewell to the Azzurri jersey: “A jersey that I loved deeply – she explains -, that I respected in every gesture, that I honored by putting soul, body and heart in every match, for almost twenty years of my life. I knew long ago that this would be my last summer with the tricolor on my chest. I kept it in silence, out of respect for the Federation, the coaching staff, my teammates”.
2I chose not to talk about it, to stay focused, to live each moment as if it were the first. And the last– she adds -. I avoided questions, smiled at curiosity, glossed over it. Because I wanted to fight first. To fight for that last cup that this extraordinary group was missing. Now, however, I feel the time is ripe. It is right to take a step back, to leave room for the new talents who are growing, strong and ready, and who I am sure will be able to write even more beautiful pages than those we have already experienced”.
“I admit, I will miss everything– De Gennaro tells again -I will miss traveling, training, going on the court with the pride of representing Italy. I will miss the laughter in the locker room, the hard work in training, even the disappointments, because even those made us stronger. But most of all, I will miss the emotions. The real, powerful ones. The victories shared with exceptional teammates, extraordinary women and athletes with whom I have traveled an unforgettable path. To them goes my most sincere thanks”.
“For every day spent together, for every goal achieved, for every tear and every smile shared. I thank the coaches who believed in me, who chose me, coached me, spurred me on. A special thanks goes to my family: always by my side, in good times and especially in the most difficult ones, when this jersey weighed so much but never enough to make me give up. Now, however, that moment has come. Hello, National Team. From today there will be a new fan in the stands, a new voice in front of the TV. But my heart will always be there, with you. Thank you, blue jersey. With infinite love, your Moki” concludes the champion.
