As the Stadio Olimpico prepares to host another star-studded night at the Golden Gala on Friday, all eyes will be on Nadia Battocletti, Italy’s trailblazing distance runner, who returns to the venue where she made history last year.
But beyond the pursuit of fast times and podium finishes, Battocletti is also championing a cause close to her heart.
Fresh from a season of remarkable achievements, including a double gold at the 2024 European Championships in Rome and a memorable Olympic silver in Paris’s 10,000m final, Battocletti is set to headline a world-class 5000m field at home for the first time since her Olympic heroics. The race promises to be electric, with six Olympic finalists, including Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, ready to battle it out.
Speaking at Diamond League press conference, the 25-year-old opened up about her growing advocacy for environmental responsibility.
“It’s a pleasure for me to be an image for sustainability,” Battocletti said.
“I study a lot and my thesis probably focuses on this theme. I think we need to concentrate on what’s important for us. If we start by focusing on small things, we can do better, and then gradually achieve something bigger.”
Balancing Books and Track Lanes
Alongside her athletic pursuits, Battocletti is navigating the demanding life of a student-athlete, juggling professional racing with university exams. It’s a balancing act that requires discipline and careful management of expectations.
“It’s not easy to prepare for exams and be a professional athlete. There are some seasons you have to focus more on athletics, and others where you can give more to your studies,” she explained.
Battocletti prefers to gauge her form in training and manage expectations realistically heading into high-stakes races.
“Usually when I’m under the start line, I know what will happen in a race — if everything’s going fine. In training, I can see my shape, and that helps me manage expectations better.”
A New Challenge in Rome
The women’s 5000m promises to be one of the highlights of Friday’s program. With Chebet riding high from her record-breaking 3000m win in Rabat and victories in Xiamen and Eugene, and Tsegay, the world record holder, returning for her second Diamond League outing this season, the race could flirt with historic times.
Battocletti, who narrowly missed a 5000m medal in Paris but took solace in becoming Italy’s first-ever Olympic 10,000m medalist, will be eager to capitalize on the energy of the home crowd and recapture some of the magic from last summer’s unforgettable nights at the Stadio Olimpico.
Her recent form, including a fifth continental title at the European Running Championships 10km and a continental 5km record of 14:32, signals that she’s not far off her career best.
Now, back on familiar ground, she’s hoping to chase personal and environmental victories.
The Rome Diamond League Golden Gala is set to takes place on Friday, June 6 at the Stadio Olimpico.
