Paolo Dal Soglio: "Leo and Zane, my treasures. A dream come true"

“The double ofLeo e Zanemy treasures, it’s a dream come true, I always hoped to see them together on the podium. These medals are the result of planning that began a long time ago. This one-two punch bodes well for the future. I have a request, make us work and stay by our side”. He told AGI,Paolo Dal Sogliothe coach ofLeonardo Fabbri e Zane Weirrespectively confirmed European champion and silver medalist in the shot putEuropean Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Together they form the “trio of wonders”.

Dal Soglio, known to all as “Paolone”, was an Italian shot putter for over twenty years, and in 1996 he was first European indoor champion and then fourth at the Olympics inAtlanta. Fabbri, Florentine ofBath in Ripolimoved toSchioto follow Dal Soglio’s programming. Weir is more “commuter” with the neighborFriuliwhere he lives with his recently expanded family (birth of his firstborn Egidio).

A path built over time

“These medals were built together when no one believed in the two boys, little in Leo and zero in Zane – specifies Dal Soglio -. I was hoping to see them on the podium already two years ago inRomabut Zane’s ankle injury had severely compromised preparation. I will always remember when he was the one who looked for me and insisted on being trained by me. He arrived inItaliaafter finishing university inSud Africajust seven days before the outbreak of covid in Italy. He had a staff of 19 meters and after six months he was throwing 20.70″.

Technician satisfaction

Talking about the gold and silver ofBirminghamDal Soglio says that “in addition to the years of work, we have to believe in it a lot and this double medal is a satisfaction for the boys but also for me who believed in me” and adds that “we work with our heads down, until you get results no one will listen to you but I have to thank theCarabinierifor the enormous support by making everything available to us (Dal Soglio is a technician within theArmy Sports Centerndr)”.

The request to work with serenity

Fabbri’s coach (Air Force) e Weir (Yellow Flames) then has a request: “I ask to be able to train with serenity, we need a few things to have peace of mind, I will present my plan in September and being able to carry it out without discussions would be a very positive aspect”. Among the points are, “three collegians inSud Africabetween November and April because there are ideal conditions down there and we find platforms for throwing that in Italy there are none exceptPergine Valsugana, Savonaand a few others.”

The theme of throwing platforms

Paolo Dal Soglioopens a paragraph related to the throwing platforms, hammer, discus and shot put, which for years have failed to be improved on a world level. “We launch on concrete platforms and I wonder if it is possible that in 2026 we will spend hundreds of thousands of euros on high-performance tracks, haven’t we managed to decide how these three circles should be built? – claims the Italian coach during the interview with AGI -. Doing well or doing badly, it costs the same, you have to understand which materials to use, but the platforms must be safe: it is scandalous that when two drops of water fall the surface is like a ‘racing track’ skating’. We can’t allow athletes to have injuries. We feel a bit discriminated against, we ask for a bit of respect.”

The 23 meter goal

Tornando a Blacksmithsand upon passing the 23 meter mark (22.98 personal), Dal Soglio is clear, “everything is ready to launch beyond 23 meters but everything must be done in the best possible way and in a competition like Birmingham it is not possible because, another discrimination towards the sector, playing qualifications and finals in a few hours”.

Applause for Fidal

Finally, the coach from Vicenza applauds theFidalsaying that “the president did wellStefano Meito summon all the athletes who had the minimum, not like what happened to me when in 2004 they didn’t take me to theAthens Olympicseven though I had the required size.”