Dear Reader,
Thanks to several larasch-Videos, articles and podcasts I learn more and more about German runners and I love it. Today I want to give you the opportunity to get to know a young talented girl from my home country, Italy:
Let me introduce you to Ludovica Cavalli. She was born in December 2000 in Genoa, Italy and has already competed in several international championships. In March, she participated for the first time ever in the Indoor European Championship in Tourun, Poland.
If for many athletes the year of 2020 was a crazy one, for Ludovica that can be said even more. In this year she achieved some results she had been dreaming of for a long time. Many people believed in her qualities and her race results speak for themselves. So let us start!
Most of you know my Italian citizenship by now and that I moved to Germany when I was 19. I started running in my hometown, Genoa, at the age of 17. At that time, Ludovica was still 13 and already part of my training group. She was one of the best girls and everyone got attrackted by her smooth and dynamic strides and her elegant running style. I found this girl amazing as well: She smiled and had fun all the time and nevertheless, managed to maintain great focus during throughout the workouts. Everyone believed she was a talented runner. There is no doubt about her talent but even gifted athletes have to train hard like everyone else to achieve their goals. Looking at her, I realized that it does not come easy for natural talents to run personal bests, too. Even more, if you are born the same year as Nadia Batocletti, who is another fast young Italian middle distance runner (European champion U20 Cross Country Championship 2019 in Lissabon and 2018 in Tilburg).
Ludovica’s first national convocation was the U16 World Championship in mountain running (Premana, Italy, 2017), where she won the gold medal with the national youth team. Her first singular important result arrived in 2018: First place by Italian the U20 championship in 3.000m steeplechase event in Agropoli. Agropoli ist near to Neapel and by 2018, I was already living in Germany. Nevertheless, I decided to race the championship as well, so I had the possibility to meet Lodovica again after a long time.
Her race was scheduled immediately after my race. It was an emotional experience for me to stay on the track and watch Ludovica running and winning her first gold medal at the nationals! After the race, she just couldn’t stop crying. I was grateful to hug that fantastic girl and be part of this special moment. Her parents were able to watch the race online thanks to the live broadcast.
After finishing school, Ludovica moved to Modena and attended the local university. There, she benefits from a bigger team and better training conditions than in her hometown. Changing the place of living was a major challenge and change for her. Living far from home can be could though…
Nevertheless, she found another home and many new friends. Half a year later, in summer 2020 she ran the 1.500m in 4’15″86 min. This was 17 seconds faster than her previous personal record. She told me how surprised she was by that result – and of course, very happy. And it was just the beginning. Even though we were in the middle of the pandemic, Italy managed to organize and host the Outdoor and Indoor Athletics National Championships.
Altogether, Ludovica won three gold medals at U23 and three silver medals at senior level. Moreover, she qualified to run in Torun at the European Indoor Championships of 2021!
It is an honor and great joy to know such a sweet and focused person. Once again, I am very thankful for this sport. It provices everyone the possibility to collect many unforgettable experiences and grow as person.
Sincerly,
Clara
(Milan; Bracco Atelica Meetig; 25 July 2021; Ludovica 1th Place 1500m and PB)
