LODADIO Marco

General
SPORTING HIATUS
He took a break from the sport after failing to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "I decided to stop, or at least to take a break from sporting activity to continue with my career of coaching in order to evaluate other working options. After four months I returned to training after overcoming the darkest period in my career. It was a period in which I was not feeling good and struggled at training. I felt the pressure and I was not relaxed. It was like everyone was only focusing on my results and neglecting me, the person. For four months I didn't train, I skipped the 2015 World Championships [in Glasgow, Scotland] and other competitions. I was convinced that I would quit the sport. After a long, tedious period I returned with a big mental change. I regained what I had lost, the desire to do gymnastics not because I was told that I could become a good gymnast, but because it was a real passion. I returned much more calm and started competing again. I understood that the challenge was not against the others any more, but against myself, and I was able to get rid of the pressure." (marcolodadio.it, 01 Nov 2018; vanityfair.it, 01 Dec 2019)

ITALIAN RINGS TRADITION
He says Italy's strong tradition in rings attracted him to the discipline. "Rings have an expression of strength that fascinates people. I think that having had so many Italian champions that have shaped the Italian tradition, this has motivated so many kids towards the discipline. Even I was hooked unconsciously by the appeal of this apparatus, giving to it more attention than others. It is built different and, besides, the technique needed obliges you to work on real and pure strength. I began as a vaulter, my first European junior medal was in vault, but later the rings conquered me." (vanityfair.it, 01 Dec 2019)