The expectations that cloud our gaze: Tokyo 2020
There was a time when competing at an Elite Level for the Italian team of artistic gymnastics was enough. When being part of the Team Final was all the fans would ask for. When watching gymnasts doing their routines properly from start to finish was our biggest accomplishment. Then something changed. Expectations changed because the level of our athletes increased. At the 2012 London Olympics, the Italian women's national team reached the team final. Do you know when was the last time before that? In 1960. The result achieved in the final by our girls ( seventh ) was the best in a long time. We were happy and we knew it. But then came a wave of terrific girls, who even as children promised medals and dreams. And no, they did not let us down, no matter what the newspapers might say, no matter what expectations might whisper in our ears. Le Fate have not let anyone down. Apart from the results at the European and World Championships which I have already...