Nadia Battocletti’s running moves with direction and order. Whether just after the gun or in the final surge, it flows, dense as a Trentino forest, from one plateau to the next. From a wider lens, it reveals a full symphony of deliberately crafted motion. A light, continuous sequence. Multifaceted architecture, first inherited, then lived in, then studied… now consciously refined.

Up close, it unfolds in countless paths. Infused with green. Dressed in Azzurro. Details that build to complexity: the humble yet self-assured movement of a gecko across the surface; the sincere, comforting depth of Moroccan aromas alongside their counterparts in the Non Valley; the structural clarity of a degree in Building Engineering and Architecture. Taken together, these elements form the composite schematics of the greatest Italian middle-distance runner in history, at just 26 years old.

All of it converges into a shoe that now stands as its manifesto: the GEL-NIMBUS™ 28 by Nadia Battocletti. This new ASICS chapter serves as the starting point for exploring the foundations of her running — that of a multi-medaled athlete and holder of six national records — and the natural alignment between Nadia Battocletti and the philosophy of ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’ | ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body’. 

The revolutionary Zaha Hadid once said that “Architecture must give the pleasure of being in an enchanting space”. Nadia Battocletti, who mentions Hadid (the ‘Queen of Curves’), joined us to showcase the GEL-NIMBUS™ 28 she helped co-design. Together, we navigate the spaces and architectural influences that have influenced her. Enchanting spaces, green and curved. Where pleasure and harmony might lead to sporting greatness.

Cles, Cavareno, Trentino… Looking back, how do you think the territory where you were born and raised has influenced your human and athletic ‘architecture’? Why is it so important for you to continue training in these places? 

“I’m very attached to home, because I’m deeply connected to my family: my mom and my dad. I’ve always done everything with them and, as a result, my relationship with the place I live is extremely strong. Growing up surrounded by nature, with the forest just 100 meters away and golf courses and lots of sports facilities nearby, gave me the chance to try out different activities from a very young age. My wish to stay connected comes from something very real, something that’s been part of me since childhood.”

Within this territory, which is so unique, which places are closest to your heart? And which, instead, are the most symbolic to your running? 

“The most important ones are definitely the forest trails, the paths that surround my home… that’s where I started running. Today, I often go back, even just to walk or take my dog out. They remain very important places for me. When I was little, I used to ski, so even just seeing the slopes brings back good memories: it makes me feel good. Another place that means a lot to me is my small mountain village, Cavareno. There’s this cozy ice cream shop that’s always been a favorite meetup spot for young folks in the area. And of course, I can’t forget to mention my home: the real place my heart belongs to. I live on a sort of plateau, completely immersed in nature. Right in front of me, I’ve always had a landscape made of mountains.” 

When it comes to your human ‘architecture’, your relationship with your parents clearly plays a central role. You’ve described it as “a real privilege” to have a parent from another culture, referring to your mother, while you’ve always emphasized the complete trust you have in your father, both as a coach and as a parent. What was it like growing up as the only child of two athletes? How did you come to understand and internalize the mix of their two cultures?

“My parents’ multicultural background has played a purely positive role in my life. It allowed me to take on a broader perspective, to discover two cultures that are, in some ways, very different from each other, and to truly understand them. My parents were very good at not making me feel those differences as burdens; instead, they emphasized the connections. My mom has lived in Italy for a long time now, to the point that she describes herself as ‘nonesa’: she can even speak a bit of the local dialect. More generally, their different roots and life paths continue to help me by giving me a variety of experiences. They both share so much with me, different perspectives, ways of looking at things — and that’s helped me grow and better understand the situations I face, both in sports and life.”

Over time, you said you’ve learned how to work on the small things, the details of running… and that you’ve come to feel yourself ‘in complete order’. What does the concept of ‘complete order’, applied to running and being an athlete, mean for you?

“For someone studying Engineering and Architecture, like me, hearing the words ‘complete order’ almost feels like a symphony. What I mean by that expression is that running is made up of so many small elements and details: exercises, physical and mental stability, team support, terrain, mileage, tactics… When you reach the point where you’re able to keep all these parameters under control, you go into a race with much more confidence and trust in yourself. And that, in turn, lets you push it further: to find aspects you didn’t even realize needed improvement before a certain race, or a particular phase of your career. ‘Complete order’ is about having almost total control of the situation. I’m still discovering mine, but with every training session, I feel I’m on the right path. And it’s worth saying that good results don’t always mean you’re on the right path. Over time, lots of things have changed. As a child, athletics was a passion, a hobby, something to do with my family or a group. Then it became a job, requiring much more commitment and sacrifice. There were times when I felt the burden of that transition, though never too intensely. Now I see everything in a very positive way. Even the toughest training sessions or the most demanding races. This sense of calm, the awareness, this ‘order’, allows me to push my limits and keep refining new aspects of my running.”

Your running allows clear emotional currents to surface. How do you reconcile the rationality you mentioned with the passion for running that is so deeply rooted in your core?

“Before a race, I’m usually very strict. I go into a bubble and only allow a few people in. That process helps me stay focused, to imagine and anticipate what might happen in the race, to prepare in advance and already have clear reactions in mind. The emotional side comes out afterward, when the race is over, and I can finally smile. After the finish line, I turn around and look for my family: I know they are there for me, supporting me. Honestly, emotions also come through during the race, particularly in the early stages, when I hear the crowd, when I feel people cheering. I have to admit, I absolutely love everything about racing — before, during, and after — but what truly warms my heart is the journey that leads me there. The daily preparation, going to the track, even something like my mum showing up to see me out of the blue during especially intense training sessions… all those small moments add up; they push you forward, and help you keep going for the next race, the next big competition.”

As you continue to explore and improve your understanding of your body, how have the insights and sensitivity you’ve gained from your academic journey influenced you? And how do Nadia the athlete and Nadia the student connect with each other?

“These two paths inevitably come together. On the academic side, for example, being an athlete has helped me approach difficult exams with the same mindset I would have before a World Championships or the Olympics. Recently, I took my final exam. I was genuinely nervous, and at the same time. It truly brought a smile to my face. I kept wondering how I could be sweating bullets over an exam when just a few months earlier, I had been racing in front of stadiums filled with thousands of people, with many more watching on TV. At the same time, my studies have made me more curious about athletics. I don’t have highly specialized technical knowledge: for example, I wouldn’t know how to build a training plan if someone asked me, but I’m very interested in the work of the professionals around me. I ask a lot of questions. Studying has also given me a more scientific approach to performance: if a race doesn’t go well, I don’t take it too personally. I tell myself I need to improve and understand how to do that. That’s it.”

How would you describe the architecture of your speed and versatility if somebody asked you today?

“It’s not easy, but I would compare it to Zaha Hadid’s. I admire her ability to bring together forms that seem very simple, but that, once combined, become something totally unconventional. She was able to build structures that leave you wondering what keeps them upright! It keeps coming back to the idea of bringing small elements together, each polished to perfection: An approach that enables you to create things that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. That’s how I envision the architecture of my running.”

Are there specific architectural features in your places where you feel reflected? 

“The natural architecture of the forests around my home reflects both the simplicity and the structure of the movement I was talking about earlier. When you enter a forest, there’s a path. In a way, you’re guided by its morphology, by the position of the trees: you can’t really deviate. Well, you can, but you take risks or leave things to chance. I appreciate this type of architecture because, although it wasn’t intentionally designed by anyone, I see it as a reflection of my own journey. A path that, in a way, was always there. The idea that I was meant to run, and to do it this way, with a smile, is beautiful. Like a forest to move through.”

“I was born reserved.” Now, as a well-known national and international figure, how much of that feeling of privacy do you still hold onto? How do you balance this growing visibility with the more intimate side of your personality? 

“As the years have passed and the results have come in, that sense of privacy has naturally changed. I’m lucky to be rooted in a community that has known me since the very beginning. I also come from a really calm and patient family: no one ever goes overboard. Of course, there are more interviews now, and sometimes people come to the village looking for me, asking where I live or train… I cherish it when others notice me and share how they felt while watching me race. It feels so special to connect with others through those moments. When that happens, I think that, in the end, the highest purpose of what I do is to evoke emotion in other people. And I realize that I’m doing something right.”

In our interview in Tokyo, you used the word ‘balance’ both in reference to the body-mind dualism and to the balance between sport and study. These kinds of balance align with ASICS’s tagline ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body’, and with the very soul of the brand you represent. How do you experience this ‘balance’ in your life? How do you feel it reflected in your relationship with ASICS? 

“It’s a balance I’ve adopted since I was a child. I went to school, I committed myself to different projects, I did every possible activity, and afterward, I carved out the right amount of time to train or to try new sports. Mind and body have always gone hand in hand. I owe a lot to my family: my parents encouraged me to dedicate myself to studying and to getting to know what surrounded me, while still maintaining time for myself and my health. Maybe a daily run or walk. In the end, what mattered to them was that I had outlets. Sport helped me regulate my mood and feel better. I would sometimes train early in the morning, then spend an entire day at school and, in the late afternoon, end up not wanting to crack a book again. So, I’d go out. I took some time for myself, maybe walked a little, and I would return more awake, more active. Studying would go much more smoothly then. This mindset has helped me maintain balance in both mind and body. I can safely say that I’ve hit my peak in study and training when things were moving in parallel. When I was able to study well, I trained well. And vice versa. When I found myself, for example, injured, I was unable to perform academically. I think these reflections perfectly align with ASICS: ours is a shared vision, and I’m proud to represent that.”

We have touched on many themes: how do you see them encapsulated in the design of the GEL-NIMBUS™ 28 by Nadia Battocletti, which you helped to create? What does this shoe mean to you? And what was it like to take part in its creation?

“Last year I received this proposal and embraced it happily. I find it fantastic to express myself through designing a shoe, an object people will wear. I believe there is no better outcome. The design encapsulates me perfectly, both in sports and academics. I would say, even more so, that colors, details and concept reflect who I am as a person. I appreciate that this special model of GEL-NIMBUS™ 28 can also be, in a certain sense, a way for people to get to know me better, to learn something more about who I am.”

Which details fascinate you the most about this shoe that carries your name?

“The gecko, I think. It symbolizes that ability to adapt to any context and surface. Then it connects back to my studies in Building Engineering and Architecture. And of course, that Italian tricolor. And the green felt completely natural to me: when you look at a photo of my valley, that’s essentially the only color you see. The shoe is connected to my environment. Green is also my favorite color. I have a lot of green things; the chairs in my house are green. Red and blue are, respectively, for my mother and my father… All of these features were brought together by ASICS designers into something I find truly beautiful and genuinely moving.”

“I look at my medals, but not every day.” Having reached the pinnacle of international athletics, what value do the medals you have already won hold for you today in your journey? Given that you have said you have not yet discovered all your limits, when you think about your sporting future, what images come to mind?

“It’s true, I do look at my medals, but definitely not every day. It’s been months since I picked up the big ones. When I do, I realize what they mean, what they represent, and that I am living a dream. Even though I am fully focused on my career and have fully understood the situation I am in, each medal has special value for me: they are truly important. Looking at them, I ask myself: ‘What have I accomplished?’ In my mind, the path has been pretty simple: I trained, I prepared, and I raced. I figured out where I’d gotten better and what still needed work. It was a linear path, plain and simple. But when I hold the medals, I think of something else: injuries, difficulties, and all that sacrifice. And for the Olympic or World medals, I’m still amazed they’re mine. Each time I pick them up, they strongly impact me. In terms of my limits, I’ve come to see them as a kind of personal security. We choose to set boundaries for ourselves to stay within our comfort zone. My vision transforms this approach: I picture a hurdle race before me. Each hurdle symbolizes a limit. I watch it and recognize its challenge. But as you get closer to that hurdle, you realize that you can and must jump over it. That’s the only way to truly overcome it. You try, and if you have done everything right, you’ll find another hurdle right after that one. This perspective has helped me eliminate the fear of limits and accept them as a natural evolution, part of an ongoing journey.”