Interview: Erika Zanetti

There were 48 gold medals awarded at the 2012 World Championships in Italy.  With no disrespect to the other 47, I think there's one gold medal that more people will remember than the rest.  In sports sometimes it feels like the world is against you, that some evil power has singled you out.  Regardless of how hard you work or how good of a person you are, things just seem to go terribly wrong.  Most people would let the circumstances defeat them, Erika Zanetti didn't.  For those of you who weren't at the 2012 World Championships I'll give you the short version.  Erika came out of the last corner of the 500 meter track race in first place, prime to win a gold medal in her home country.  With less about 50 meters to go from the finish, she was inexplicably grabbed from behind allowing someone to pass her at the finish.  Next in the 200 meter, she was disqualified for a false start, a very questionable call to say the least.  This left her with one last chance to win a gold medal in Italy, a 500 meter on the road.  Like the champion that she is, she overcame all of that heartbreak and won a gold medal in her home country.......For those of you who don't know Erika, she's 28 from Mirano, Italy and skates for the club Pattinatori Spinea. She's been skating since she was 8, and recently signed with Powerslide.  On a personal note I met Erika several years ago and can honestly say she's one of the nicest people I know. She's always having fun, and makes everyone around her happy. Despite my association with Powerslide, this is a story I would want everyone to know no matter whom she skated for.  So let the interview begin...

Lets get right into it, we'll put this lightly, you were in a REALLY good position to win the track 500 meter in your home country. You got grabbed and ended up in 2nd, what was going through your mind when it happened? 

As you said I  already could see the finish line, when I felt some hands grab me from behind and slow me down. I was incredulous, and actually I couldn't think of anything in that moment! There was a lot of noise from the public and when I got out from the track I start crying and my teammates comforted me a lot. I was also sorry because that same night Fabio and Francesca won their race, and all the happiness was kind of softened

You showed a little anger, but I think most people would have reacted much differently, how did you stay calm??

Right after I was more sad then angry and wondering what the judges would do. I think a re-run was the only right solution (without Cecilia). Maybe a lot people were expecting more of a show and some fights.

Next in the 200 meter I believe it was a rare false start DQ, you had to be thinking why is this happening to me, at this point did you think how is this happening to me in my home country, and how did you stay focused?

Still I think it was a mistake, because a lot of people move their foot. I do move my foot sometimes. But I am not the only one, and you can see it clearly on the videos. And yeah of course I was thinking WHY it's all happening to me!? What have I done!? Luckily I had nice teammates with bread and Nutella to cheer me up.

After all of this you still have the 500 meter road race, how did you feel the day of the race?? Did you sleep the night before??

I actually slept good, like almost the entire day before as It was a day off for me. I was really tired mentally from all that happened in the last days. And all I was thinking was "finally it's the last day". At that point when I woke up all the sadness had turned into anger and I was willing to show that I was still there to fight and try to win what I deserved.

When you crossed the finish line, after everything you had been through, what were you thinking? Was it 

the most amazing feeling to hear the national anthem play as you got your gold medal in Italy??

It was more than awesome. I was relieved. My teammates weren't sure if I'd won, because the finish line was at the opposite side. So when I saw them they were all calm waiting for a sign from me, and then when I put the arm to the sky they start jumping and screaming. It was really really heart-warming. 
In the last past years, I appreciate more the meaning/sense of the national anthem than when I was younger. And hearing it at the World Championship in your own country it's intense and I enjoyed it every second.

I don't know if you realized this, but it seemed like everyone at worlds was cheering for you.  Does it make it more special that not only did you win, but everyone was rooting for you to win. 

Yes a lot of people have been near to me after the 500 on the track and the 200 on road. And after I won, skaters from all the countries came and congratulated me. Even the judges! That feeling of happiness is something I will never forget and it made the victory even more important to me.

What did you do after worlds to celebrate?

As YOU know VERY WELL, the next best thing at Worlds after being world champion..... It's the Party! So that was the first occasion to celebrate. Then when I got home of course I got to celebrate with friends and family.

Ok, On to this year.  I know you're in Colombia now, You've done this in years past as well.  Why do you go and how does this help you?

Yes, I'm in Colombia now training in Cali with the "Liga Vallecaucana de Patinaje". I'm living in the house of Nayib Tobon and his family makes me feel like I am at home! I am really enjoying being here. I decided to come to Colombia because I can train with a really big group of high level skaters. And that motivates me a lot! Then the weather conditions are really really good. Now in Italy it's really cold and it makes really difficult to train outside.

You recently signed with Powerslide(good choice by the way), tell us about that, and also what are your goals for this season?

Before Worlds, Scott talked to me about that and asked me if I would like to join the Powerslide Team. I was surprised and happy at the same time! Surprised because I thought I was too old to enter to a new team lol. I am really glad they give me this opportunity. And I can't wait to race in the European Cup with the Powerslide uniform. For this season I will race at the most important European Cup events and try and win my 21 gold medal at the European Championships. Then there will be the World Games in Cali and the Wolrd Championships in Oostende . Looking forward also to race the marathon in Berlin! I always wanted to go and now I'm happy to have the chance.

 At worlds this year you were voted to be one of the athlete reps of FIRS, talk about that really fast.

Yes, myself and Kalon Dobbin were elected by the skaters.  Kalon will be going to the executive board meeting in Rome at the end of February.  It is really important that the athletes finally have a voice at this important of a meeting.  

Thanks to Erika for talking to me, hope you guys enjoy reading this interview as much as I enjoyed reading her answers.