Namita Nayyar:
You along with your partner Dedaj train together and call the two of you ‘la coppia dei sogni (the couple of dreams). Elaborate more about this phrase that has made you so popular on social media.
Emanuele Di Marino:
Our project “La Coppia dei Sogni” started just before the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, our goals was to try to reach the Paralympic Games together! And after some trouble we did it! It was an amazing experience be there and represent team Italy for the first time in a Paralympic Games for both of us. Other than the sport and personal goals our project aims to improve the perception that the people has about the Paralympic sports and the disabilities.
We often go to schools, companies and even societies to talk about our mission as a Paralympic athletes but also to explain our a running blade is done, how a blind person can run, jump or do any sport he/she wants or even how peoples with disabilities like mine can still do sports and follow their dreams.
Namita Nayyar:
It is a dream for a sportsperson to win a position on the podium in the World Championships. In the 2017, Eighth World Para Athletics Championships that was held at London Stadium in London from 14th to 23rd July 2017, you won the silver medal in the 4x100m relay in the T42-47 event and the bronze medal in the 400m T44 event. Tell us more about these spectacular achievements of yours.
Emanuele Di Marino:
London 2017 has been a massive event and a great atmosphere for everyone! Team GB and all the organization made a great job, we really felt our competitions exactly the same as the able bodied! This is why I love going in UK to compete and train!
I arrived in this world champions in very good shape, otherwise I was not in my best physical condition as I was suffering of an injury that required a surgical treatment immediately when I came back in Italy. The success that I got in London was great and was even more important for me because was since 10 years that one on my category (with no technological blade) went on a podium!
Namita Nayyar:
You are the world-leading Paralympic track and field athlete, social media personality, and fitness icon. How do you manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional lifestyle?
Emanuele Di Marino:
Is not easy! But it’s great at the same time. When you start to be a worldwide athlete and have a social exposure you need to think about everything you do and you post, because yes we can help other people to go out of home and do sports but at the same time we need to be very careful about what we post and what we do. I should use my person social a bit more but my life is very full and the time for social media are very short!
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Emanuele Di Marino:
I’m a fan of long and active warm up. In my career I had the opportunity to work with a lot of coaches, especially coaches from US, UK, South Africa and other part of the world and any one of them has teach me something. My warm up always start with some foam rolling, active jogging and active dynamic mobility. It looks easy to do but it’s quite long! I always start like first of my training group to warming up as it takes me more time than others.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you train your abs? One secret to your toned body.
Emanuele Di Marino:
There are plenty of possibilities to train abs, but one important thing to say is that we as elite athletes and athletes that needs stability in our body, we should train our abs a bit differently, not like a bodybuilder for example. I say this because what I learnt is that we need a lot of work on our core stability and this is what I actually do in my gym days and in my pre activation before drills every day. Exercises like plank, side plank, walking with kettbells in one or two hands as well as different variation of plank and side plank are crucial for us.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Emanuele Di Marino:
I’m very meticulous about my diet and supplements to take. We need at the same time to be very careful to choose what we take as elite athlete but fortunately we have a great partner with us, Volchem, that take care of us regarding supplements. My diet is a Mediterranean one, but I have a nutritionist that takes care of what I need to eat and what not.
Namita Nayyar:
You at the 2021 World Para Athletics European Championships held from 1st to 5th June 2021 at Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak Stadium, Bydgoszcz, Poland with 44 nations participating won the Gold in the 400m T44 event. What has been the catalyst in your meteoric rise in this event of 400m?
Emanuele Di Marino:
I’ve always been a 400mt athlete, and then of course I have done both 100 and 200mt as well with good results. In 2021 European Championships it was the first time my category of disability got the possibility to run in his own event, and this was amazing!
Have the possibility to compete at the same level and with other athletes that have same or equal disability like you is something I’ve missed for almost a decade.
Won my first international gold with the new T44 European record there was great and full of emotions!
Namita Nayyar:
In The World Para Athletics European Championships (European Para Athletics Championships), known before 2018 as the IPC Athletics European Championships you have won immense laurels by winning Silver medal 2018 Berlin in the 4x100m relay T42-47/61-64 event, Bronze medal 2014 Swansea 400m T44 event, Bronze medal 2016 Grosseto 400m T44 event and Bronze medal 2016 Grosseto 4x100m relay T42-47 event. Tell us a memorable moment when you achieved these milestones in your athletic career.
Emanuele Di Marino:
I think the most beautiful experience in all the European Championships has been the relay with other guys of team Italy. I think run in the relay gives you a lot of extra power as you are responsible not only for yourself but for all the team. Is something that till you don’t try is difficult to explain!
Namita Nayyar:
Five athletic leisure brands you love to wear.
Emanuele Di Marino:
I love Armani, is our Olympic and Paralympic clothes partner! Other that this one I like Moncler, Prada, D&G and Louis Vuitton.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
