Dreaming of California

"When you race walk, especially in long races lasting three or four hours, your head swirls with thousands of thoughts about what you are doing — both positive and negative. You are alone with yourself, and that is the beauty of individual sports, at least for me," says Sofia Fiorini, a 20-year-old first-year student from the province of Arezzo, currently enrolled in Business Administration and Management at Bocconi. Sofia is also a race walker who has recently made her debut on the senior national team at the European Team Championships, held in the Czech Republic. After making it through some crucial intermediate stages, she now has an important goal ahead of her — the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. "Race walking is a demanding sport; at practice, I run about 100 kilometers a week, and that is in addition to the races. At home I trained alone, but since moving to Milan, I now train on a team with international level athletes. It is much easier this way because I am inspired by them and can push further — and I already see the results." In fact, 2025 has been a very good year so far: silver in the Under 23 at the Italian championships for the 35km race walk, absolute bronze in the same race, and absolute bronze in the 20km race. So, as logic would have it, Sofia received the call-up to the senior national team. Results are the engine that pushes one forward, because marching at a certain level also means giving up other things. "Actually, I consider what I do a huge opportunity,” Sofia underlines. “I do not think about the sacrifices I have to make; I will think about that when I finish my racing career. Race walking is a passion, as is studying. In fact, my studies have always been top priority, and Bocconi is a guarantee for the future." A future that Sofia sees in the world she knows best: "I would like to specialize in sports management and then stay in the field, either within the Federation or a sports organization. For us athletes it is normal to want to remain in the field even after playing competitively; it has been the air we breathe since we were young. In the future, I naturally wish to pursue a role that allows me to put into practice what I learned at Bocconi.” There is still time for that, though, since Sofia's career is still in its infancy. In general, the careers of race walkers are long, like that of Eleonora Giorgi — Bocconi alumna who, at the age of 36 and after four Olympics, remains one of the top race walkers of the national team. "At the European Team Championships, I was on the team with Eleonora, and she gave me advice on race walking and studying at Bocconi," Sofia continues, "Meanwhile in my training group, there is Valentina Trapletti, an experienced athlete who participated in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. I can learn a lot from athletes like them." Sooner or later, however, the generational change will come. It is a law of sports and of life, and Sofia wants to be prepared: "The first goal will be in July for the Italian Championships, where I hope to qualify for the Under 23 European Championships. Once I finish my university exams, I will have time to focus only on that." The double commitment has not been easy to manage, but Sofia has been proceeding with exams. "The study load is heavy, but — compared to a school that provides rigid timetables — Bocconi leaves you more room to organize yourself among lectures, studies and practices. It is tough, but with willpower it can be done. After all, it is the only way that I am able to pursue great things and continue to dream.”