“This time, you’re the inspiration,” Nadia Battocletti kept telling herself throughout a race that was as grueling and calculated as a chess match: one that became, in the purest sense of the word, epic. It was in that moment that she became the second-fastest woman in the world over 10,000 meters.

A landmark feat, as sportswriters of another era might have called it: one steeped in elegance, poise, and a deep emotional release. As Battocletti collapsed to her knees on the Tokyo National Stadium’s track, hands covering her face as she prayed and screamed, her celebration was unfiltered and honest. No theatrics, no overproduction. Just pure, earned joy.

It couldn’t be any other way for an athlete whose biography is so deeply rooted in the cultural DNA of her sport, shaped by a proud family tradition in athletics. And it couldn’t be any other way for an already-established, yet still strikingly elegant and composed, icon of Italian distance running. A young talent born in 2000, who has now lined up three defining performances: European gold in Rome, Olympic silver in Paris, and a World silver in Tokyo — in the process, tearing into the historical script of women’s middle and long distance, long dominated by African excellence.

From the forests of Trentino to full athletic self-awareness. From childhood dreams to a university path in Civil Engineering and Architecture. We had the privilege of speaking with this clear-eyed revolutionary of modern track and field — a perfect embodiment of the brand she represents, ASICS, and the philosophy enshrined in its name: Anima (et Mens) Sana in Corpore Sano — a Sound Mind in a Sound Body.

Thinking back to your family background, so deeply rooted in the culture of athletics, and to the origins of your passion, cultivated in the valleys and forests of Trentino, what emotions surface after winning a World Championship silver, following your Olympic medal?

“I honestly never expected any of this. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine coming this far. This medal, this confirmation after the Olympics, means so much, especially because it came on a very different stage. Even though the Olympics are the pinnacle of sport, the World Championships have a different level of technical and competitive intensity. The qualification rounds are more complicated, and the starting grids are deeper. In the 5000 meters, for example, there were 4 top athletes per continent. It’s often said that the World Championships are even tougher than the Olympics. So to reach the podium in a race that was nothing like Tokyo: that means a great deal to me. It showed me how far I’ve come, how much experience I’ve gained over the years.”

After that silver medal, you said you had finally understood the kind of athlete you are. Who is that athlete, in your eyes? And after all these successes, who is Nadia Battocletti as a person?

“When I say I understood who I am as an athlete, I mean that I could almost see myself from the outside, during the race. I had this flash of myself as a little girl, watching the London Olympics, seeing that group of African runners out front… and now, here I was, in that same pack. First there were 6 of us, then 5, then 4. I imagined what it must feel like for someone watching: kids, fans, anyone. And I thought: “This time, you’re the one inspiring others.” That was such a powerful moment, even though I was suffering like crazy in the race. But it made me realize: in a race of this caliber, I belonged. I was there. And that’s the biggest confirmation of all. You can train perfectly, feel great physically, but until you perform in competition, it’s just theory. The race is where you know. And so much can happen in a year. You grow, you change. Also, championship racing is a world apart from track meets. In a meet, you’ve got pacemakers, set rhythms. At a championship, you’re on your own. You have to improvise, manage the pace, make decisions in real time. You show up with expectations—you’ve trained for a specific time, you feel strong—but nothing is guaranteed. That’s why championships are mentally more demanding. Even when things don’t go well, they still reveal something about you.”

You’ve also mentioned the disappointment you felt in Budapest. For a specialist like you, whose races demand immense mental and physical focus, what does it mean to turn that emotional low into the highs of Rome, Paris, and Tokyo? Is there a secret?

“There’s no secret. I think it’s about character. Budapest was a tough moment, personally and within my family. But I had the strength to say, “It can’t end like this.” I got right back to work. I decided to prepare for the World Road Running Championships in Riga, even though that wasn’t the original plan. But racing there gave me back some confidence. That tough experience taught me a lot: about recovery, heat management, mental load… I genuinely believe things happen for a reason. Even setbacks are valuable if you learn from them. So I try to accept everything, even failure, as part of the process.”

You represented an iconic brand like ASICS on its home turf. Reflecting on the brand’s core philosophy, Anima Sana in Corpore Sano, what does that phrase mean to you, and how do you experience your connection with ASICS?

“From a performance standpoint, I have a great relationship with the ASICS team who develop the shoes. We constantly exchange feedback. My insights help them improve the product; their work helps me reach peak performance. It’s a very concrete and valuable collaboration. But beyond that, the idea of a ‘sound mind in a sound body’ is exactly how I live my life. You can be in perfect physical shape, but if you’re not mentally balanced, you won’t perform. It may sound like a simple motto, but to me it’s a daily philosophy: something I live by, every single day.”

You embody multiple identities, including your academic path in Civil Engineering and Architecture. What role does culture—broadly defined—play in shaping your identity?

“For me, studying has always been as important as training. Athletics is my job, sure, but it started as a passion. It demands sacrifice: it changes how you live, and it affects the people around you. But I’ve always wanted to pursue both: sport and education. That balance is essential to me. Choosing to enroll in university wasn’t easy. It was a bold decision. But it’s something I’d encourage others to consider, though I’d be honest about how hard it is. There will be moments when you can’t choose between the two: you just have to keep going. It’s not for everyone, I admit that. But it’s possible. In my case, I chose a demanding field with mandatory attendance, which adds complexity. But I think if you choose a slightly more flexible academic path—not less valuable, just logistically easier—it’s definitely doable. Of course, it depends a lot on the person. I’m very organized. I have weekly schedules, fixed hours, everything planned down to the minute. And the moment something changes, it throws me off. That discipline, or maybe rigidity, is probably what keeps me on track.”