When we talk about Triathlon we always think of hard work and effort. But for him it's a real passion. We interviewed one of the best triathletes and coaches in Italy: Andrea Gabba.
He has transformed his passion into work and today, with over 20 years of experience behind him, he is recognized worldwide and is esteemed and appreciated by all.
In this beautiful interview Andrea will tell us how he is experiencing this period, his various projects and plans for the future:
Index
Hi Andrea! We are honored with this interview! So, let's start from the beginning, tell us about Andrea Gabba Atleta ...
Hi guys, thank you for the opportunity!
Let's say that the Andrea athlete is an important part of my past and that my whole "trip" in triathlon started from there.
Back in 1992 I started competing in triathlon, a sport at the time by visionary pioneers and dreamers. I had a goal, driven by the desire to honor my dad who passed away when I was 18, to cross the finish line of the Ironman of Hawaii.
After 10 years I managed to take away the satisfaction of going to Kona and finishing the most famous triathlon in the world. In 2003 we can say that my career as an athlete ended as I was included full time in the organization chart of federal technicians of the Athens 2004 Olympic group.
Since then I have continued to play sports to stay healthy and to maintain an active lifestyle. Last year (September 2019) I got back into the game and after 16 years I participated again in the Ironman competing in the Cervia test where I ended my effort in 10h31 '... to be 46 years old, a family (2 children) and little time to train was really a great satisfaction.
Really well done, so much satisfaction! Instead the Andrea Gabba coach?
Speaking of me as a coach we move on to the "working" phase of my life as I have been a professional coach for almost 20 years.
My career starts thanks to the results made together and above all by Nadia (she an athlete and I her coach). From 2004 to 2008 we managed to conquer world and European medals and titles in addition to the 5 Olympic place.
Thanks to those results, the project was born Triathlon coach which has become our brand linked to triathlon training. In fact, in addition to the twenty years of international experience developed around the world (including 4 years as Turkey's CT and numerous assignments in the blue jersey) I train many athletes on the field (thanks also to the collaboration with Torino triathlon) and at a distance with personalized training schedules.
How does a manager of your caliber manage family and sporting commitments?
Let's say that managing the day by combining family and work is my / our daily ironman.
It takes a lot of patience, love and passion for what you do both in the comparison of children and work. The important thing is to fit everything together and as in an endurance race, always set intermediate goals over the course of 24 hours.
To be honest, however, the joy in seeing the growth and sharing of the passions in the family is priceless so even in the most difficult moments you can hold on.
We know very well that your wife is Nadia Cortassa, fifth overall at the 2004 Athens Olympics… Can you tell us something about her as husband and coach?
If sport is a school of life I can tell you that the three qualities that distinguish Nadia both as an athlete and as a woman are humility, determination and healthy life
Many athletes think that results come only thanks to talent and training but this is not the case.
Nadia hardly went to bed after 10.00:XNUMX, went out to dinner outside the house, spent an evening over the top, went "over" in eating and drinking.
Today, as then, this has become our lifestyle.
We also know that you were one of the first to get online as a coach, and thanks to your site http://www.triathloncoach.it/ many turn to you to be followed. Tell us a little about how it works and what kind of athletes ask to be followed?
The people who approach me are of different levels from the international athlete to the neophyte, all athletes sharing a passion for sport who go in search of a professional coach who follows them in a precise way with tables, tests, daily report , dialogue and motivational drives.
To each I dedicate the time necessary to achieve their dreams by building together the road between thinking and achieving the goal.
In this work I see myself as a tailor who must build a suit tailored to each athlete according to its characteristics. Athletes contact me, indicate their goals, signal me when they have free time to train between work and family, and I apply myself to build a suitable technical competitive path.
Everyone has his table, his path his dream!
Many identify triathlon in doing the Ironman, as the final goal, do you think it is important to go through intermediate distances first?
The ironman is a great dream for many triathletes.
An immense satisfaction to complete it but the real victory lies in the journey that is accomplished to reach the finish line.
For this reason I believe that inserting workouts and some competitions before the big step enriches the final value of the company. For a neophyte who dreams of the ironman I am convinced that two years is the right time to get there.
Is it really a sport for everyone? Even calculating the times to devote to weekly outings?
Yes triathlon is a sport for everyone.
First of all, it is a sport that if done with due calm and followed by competent and healthy and useful people both physically, you work aerobically on all muscle areas, both mentally as you can change discipline every day without getting bored.
It is also an ecological sport that always puts us in contact with nature both in its classic and off-road version (mountain bike and trail run).
Everyone with 1 swim training per week 1 cycling and 1 or 2 running is able to finish a sprint triathlon !!
What importance do you give to mental concentration, especially in difficult situations, be it training or competition?
Mental aspects come before physical ones.
For this reason, before setting up a training program or carrying out any sporting process, I believe that it is essential to create the right environment around athletes, that is, to put athletes within a system that motivates them, understands them and stimulates them.
If the athlete is in the right context he will know that in the face of every difficulty he will never be alone and that he will find both within himself and in the confrontation with others the motivations for not giving in.
Starting from this assumption, it goes without saying that many if you work in the correct way by combining physical and mental exercises, you can reach very important goals.
In your opinion, can CrossFit help in the path of a triathlete?
Triathlon or rather modern sport can no longer be linked to specific training in one's own or one's own in the case of multiple sports such as triathlon discipline (s).
Today to be competitive but above all to train in a healthy way and prevent injuries and pathologies it is good to be a complete athlete by working hard on the general aspects. For this reason I consider CrossFit an excellent winter training for every triathlete.
Dedicating 2-3 months a year in the fall winter months to CrossFit would be a great way to lay the foundations for a winning triathlon season. At the same time, I am convinced that triathlon can be a great way to expand the aerobic abilities of every crossfitter!
ANDREA GABBA
Olympic Triathlon coach and Ironman Hawaii Finisher
Creator of the Triathloncoach program
International coach, winner of world, European and national championships, participation in the Olympic games.
FB PAGE: Andrea Gabba
IG PAGE: andrea.gabba
WEBSITE: Triathlon coach