Olympic gold medalist confesses: "Valentino Rossi is my idol"

“My sport needs to get noticed and I want to bring it into the homes of Italians as Valentino Rossi did with motorcycles, he is my absolute idol”: has very clear ideas Pietro Sighel, who with Thomas Nadalini, Arianna Fontana and Elisa Confortola won the gold medal in the mixed relay of the short track.

Interviewed by ‘Repubblica’ the Trentino skating star also returned to the way he crossed the finish line, having his back to him. “I meant no disrespect to anyone, only idiots may think it was a joke” he specified.

Valentino Rossi in recent days told Corriere della Sera the behind-the-scenes story of his meeting with President Sergio Mattarella to make the video for the opening ceremony of the Olympics, a film that the public enthusiastically welcomed.

The filming, carried out in the strictest secrecy, took place on Feb. 2. Rossi had been contacted by the organizers some time before and the idea of spending a few minutes face-to-face with the Head of State had impressed him greatly. He had met him in Rome before, but only during a collective hearing. This time, however, the appointment was private and the champion was also able to introduce his partner, Francesca Sofia Novello, to the President.

The set was set up in a depot of ATM, the Milanese Transportation Company, where some scenes were shot; others had been done earlier with the help of stuntmen. “I arrived early and put on my tramway uniform, complete with hat. Shortly afterwards the president arrived, accompanied by the escort” he recounted.

For Rossi it was a very intense moment. Mattarella represents for him a symbol, a figure who conveys positivity and respect, and is rightly loved by all. Being in front of a personality of this level, the nine-time world champion added, inevitably means being confronted with a certain aura.