Among the stars of the Coastal Rowing World Championships taking place in Genoa, Valentina Rodini is certainly one of the brightest: the 1995-born rower has won numerous gold medals at the European Championships, Mediterranean Games, and Italian Championships, but her most important victory is undoubtedly the one at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the lightweight double sculls alongside her partner Federica Cesarini, where they also set both a world record and an Olympic record.

‘The experience in Tokyo was wonderful, the best Olympics, there are no words to describe it,’ says Rodini, who does not hide her disappointment for not qualifying for Paris: ‘Unfortunately, we had some physical issues, but we gave it our best shot.’

Genoa will be Rodini’s second race in Coastal Rowing, ‘the first was right after Tokyo. Now I’m competing in the double, and I’m lucky because my partner, Selene Gigliobianco, has a lot of experience in Coastal Rowing. She will be – she smiles – the “boss” of the boat.