Olympic Staff

I started swimming at the age of three, later becoming passionate about classical dance. I decided to combine my passion for the two different disciplines by starting to practice synchronized swimming at the age of nine. After finishing high school, I was noticed by Patrizia Giallombardo (the national team coach) who suggested that I move to Savona to play for Rari Nantes (one of the best teams in Italy). I was lucky enough to be trained for years by Anastasija Ermakova (Olympic champion), obtaining the first call-up to the national team in 2016, which led me to historic results such as: the title of vice world champion in the highlight exercise, the Olympics and numerous European medals.

"Sport is my life." This is how Valentina Rovetta begins when asked what sport means to her. It might seem like a cliché, a slogan, one of those things all great athletes say. It's true. But this Bergamo sporting story has something special that makes it unique. Yes, because here you need rhythm, and rhythms must be followed. Rhythms made of heartbeats. Heartbeats. A sporting heart.

Let's start from the beginning. Seven-year-old Valentina Rovetta already loves sports and is fascinated by the cartoon "Hilary," which depicts rhythmic gymnastics. A friend, Laura, encourages her to try a class in this discipline.
She started at the age of 8 at the Orobica Ginnasta Bergamo company.
It's love at first sight and the rhythm starts beating fast right away.
Valentina is incredibly talented, and a pre-competition test is all it takes to understand it. She was destined for success. And that's where her story of sport and life begins.

At the age of 12 he joined the junior national team and took part in the European Championships in Thessaloniki in 1994 where he achieved a beautiful 4th place.
In October 1994 he moved to the federal technical centre in Castellanza.
In 1995, she participated in the European Championships in Prague. After the competition, she was forced to sit out for three months due to a stress fracture in her tibia. In September, she resumed full training and in 1996, she participated in the Atlanta Olympic Games.
In 98 she suffered another serious injury, a fracture to her left fibula, which forced her to reflect and consider retiring from important races.
In 2000 he decided to pursue a career as a coach and went to coach at the Brixia club in Brescia, at the same time participating in the Serie A of rhythmic gymnastics with the colors of the Rubattino club of Genoa. In 2004 he decided to return to Bergamo and together with Daniela Rossi opened the competitive sector at the Polisportiva Brembate di Sopra.
At the end of 2006 she received an offer from the Federation (with which up until then she had only collaborated periodically as a coach during summer camps) to become a permanent member of the technical staff of the federal centre in Desio.
She worked as a national team coach from 2006 to 2009, from 2011 to 2018 and in 2024.
Five Olympic Games for Valentina Rovetta. The first as an athlete in Atlanta, then the next four as a coach, in Beijing, London, Rio, and Paris.

"The Olympics are a magical experience with a unique atmosphere. These are emotions that stay with you forever."