The world celebrates Jannik Sinner and Kimi Antonelli: from the U.S. the giant award
Jannik Sinner and Kimi Antonelli continue to amaze the whole world, as well as attracting to themselves the cheers, esteem and affection of all Italians, sports fans and not. In fact, the world’s number 1 tennis player and the current leader of the Formula 1 world championship have been chosen by the very emblazoned New York magazine ‘Time’ among the 100 most influential people on the Planet as far as contemporary sports are concerned.
The very famous American weekly has chosen to place the eternal LeBron James, absolute star of the NBA and basketball, on its cover. Among the most celebrated champions, however, are also the two blues. ‘Time’ in particular extolled Sinner, calling him “tennis’s number one and a champion who with Alcaraz boasts a rivalry that could surpass even that between Federer and Nadal.” Antonelli, on the other hand, was introduced to readers as a “19-year-old Italian prodigy who was chosen to take the place of a seven-time champion like Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes” only to “leave his schoolwork in the rearview mirror. Kimi cannot stop winning and accumulating new records.”
An investiture that does not surprise those who follow the young driver from Bologna closely. The numbers of his season speak for themselves: five consecutive victories, culminating with the Grand Chelem at the Monaco Grand Prix – pole position, fastest lap and victory from start to finish – and a lead in the world standings that after six races is already impressive. Lewis Hamilton lags 66 points behind, George Russell 68. Such a wide margin between the world leader and his pursuers had never been recorded at this stage of the season.
The Antonelli phenomenon does not end on the track. The so-called “Kimi-mania” has exploded in Italy, with the number of his followers on Instagram rising from 4.5 million in January to the current 6.9 million. Today he is the most followed driver of his generation and can boast a popularity higher even than that of Italian champions of the caliber of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Pecco Bagnaia and Sinner himself. This is a figure that tells how much the young Merced driver has managed to create a special bond with the Italian public, regardless of the colors of the team he races for.
Mario Miyakawa, an Italian-Japanese manager known for looking after the interests of top athletes in Formula 1, also commented on the ‘Time’ recognition. “Kimi is doing something extraordinary,” he said speaking to ‘Sky Sport 24.’ “Certainly this year’s Mercedes is a factor, but it is also thanks to his way of being and the education given to him by his family that he is achieving these results. As a 19-year-old boy, he represents for many the symbol of a generation entering the adult world with ambition and responsibility.” Miyakawa also wanted to respond to those, such as team principal Toto Wolff, who urge Italian fans not to indulge in early celebrations: “It’s useless for Toto to ask Italians to ‘not make a fuss.’ The important thing is for Kimi not to get too excited, because F1 can change from race to race. But we want to cheer, even by making noise.”
Of the same opinion is Alberto Tomba, who in a recent interview with the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’ spoke with great affection about both Italian champions. “Jannik has been a winner for years,” said the Bolognese skiing legend, who shares city origins and a long-established personal relationship with Antonelli. “Kimi, with that name, was destined to become a champion,” Tomba added, emphasizing how the two represent the brightest faces of Italian sport in the world today. A judgment that, in light of the Time cover, seems to find confirmation overseas as well.
