Road to Paris - Interview with Davide Morana
The countdown is on: In just a few months, the 2024 Paralympic Games will take place in Paris. World-class athletes are doing everything they can to fulfil their dream of t
he Paralympic Games, a medal or a world record.
Six years ago, Davide contracted meningitis type C. As a result, the then 24-year-old Italian lost his limbs. Whilst still in hospital, he decided that this should not stop him from doing sport. Today, he is a para-athlete and motivational speaker. He is committed to raising awareness of meningitis and helping those affected. He published his story together with his partner Cecilia Cano in 2020 in the book "Arriba la vida: La historia de superación de Davide Morana".
How did you get into sport?
"I've always been an athlete. I started playing basketball at the age of 6 and then I kept trying out new sports out of curiosity. When I was 15/16 years old, I started playing basketball more professionally. I really loved this sport because it taught me great values and, above all, team spirit. And that helped me get through the most difficult time of my life.
"When I fell ill with meningitis six years ago and was amputated, my first thought when I woke up from the coma was - I want to be an athlete again, but I don't know how - It was the first time I had to deal with stumps and prostheses. I didn't know much about it. So I started following a lot of athletes on Instagram and Facebook, for example Paralympic swimmers and track and field athletes. That's how I came across the story of Johannes Floors, for example. As I've always been able to run fast, I started thinking about sports prostheses and later started running with them."
Can you explain us your favourite discipline?
"My favourite discipline is actually the 200-metre sprint, but unfortunately it doesn't exist in my class. There are only 100 metres and 400 metres. So I started training for the 100 metres. This year I'm also preparing for the 400 metres. That's quite difficult. But I think it's a question of time and training."
There's only six months to go until the Paralympic Games: What is your training focus at the moment?
"When I wake up in the morning, I always tell myself: Stay in the present. Enjoy the moment and your daily routine. I believe that you can prepare better if you are disciplined and don't think too much about the future. So my focus is: stay in the present. Concentrate on the things that are stopping you from running better and faster."
What does a typical training day look like for you at the moment?
"I always train for two and a half hours in the morning. I start with a short warm-up programme. I run three to five laps of the track and then warm up my thighs, knees and back. After the warm-up, I start with sprint training."
What is your training essential?
"My sports prostheses. I really love them. I really like the function and the aesthetics. When I started using them, I asked my technician if I could walk with them all the time. It feels like flying with them."
Thank you very much!
If you would like to follow Davide on Instagram please find his account here: @davidebartolomorana