Larissa Iapichino has decided on a change of coach in view of the imminent departure for the Tokyo Olympics and the Nairobi U20 World Championships: she has chosen her father Gianni Iapichino as her technical guide and coach. A special thanks to Gianni Cecconi for her U18 and U20 years, studded with great results.

Florence, 06.17.21. The Italian indoor champion and U20 indoor world record holder (6.91m) Larissa Iapichino announced a very important change in view of her participation in the Tokyo Olympics and the U20 World Championships in Nairobi. Gianni Iapichino, her father and former coach of the multiple champion Fiona May, will train Larissa with immediate effect, focusing on her busy future schedule.

Fiona May under the guidance of Iapichino (from the end of 1997 until the end of her career), won the Gold medal in 1998 at the European Indoor Championships in Valencia with the Italian Record of 6.91m and the indoor Triple jump Italian Record of 14.54m; she won two Gold medals at the European Cup in St. Petersburg with the Italian record in the triple jump (14.65m) and in the long jump (7.08m); then she won the Silver medal at the European Championships in Budapest with the current Italian record of 7.11m; in 1999 Silver medal at the World Championships in Seville; in 2000 Silver medal at the Sydney Olympics; in 2001 Gold medal at the Edmonton World Championships.

Larissa made a bold choice, “I am very grateful to Gianni Cecconi for the work we have done together, we’ve had great results, and we have also overcome some difficult moments. Today I feel that I want to put myself out there and get new motivations, focusing on my main objective, which is the Nairobi U20 World Championships in August. I am also excited and happy to participate in the Olympics, we are working hard to give our best; the maximum would be to be able to enter the final, which is absolutely not obvious, given the values in the field. I found in my father the guide who I feel closest to my future path, I chose the most difficult way: we have similar characters and I already know that we’ll fight, however I have full confidence in his coach experience and in his ability to make the best of my skills in the most difficult situations. I know I gave him an heavy responsibility in a delicate moment of the season, but this is my feeling and my will. Soonest next week the Pre-Olympic medical checks and the Italian Senior Championships in Rovereto, where we will meet again on the field”, concludes Larissa, who took the High School final exam, yesterday June 16.

Gianni Iapichino comments, “When Larissa asked me to coach her, so many things came to my mind, images of training and competitions lived with her mother. With Fiona we’ve always said that none of us would train our daughters… then my daughter was once again surprising. I accepted immediately and I gladly take this responsibility, it’s a great challenge. I am already working on a very detailed program that will help Larissa get into shape by the end of July. The management company, JUMP, – continues Iapichino -, founded by me and Silvia Saliti, who is also Larissa’s manager, will thus manage athletic preparation, sponsorships, image and participation in various international competitions. Our team includes the posturologist Monia Petrizzelli and the physiotherapist Daniele Morandini. Additional professionals to improve the girl’s all-round preparation will be introduced at the end of the season to better face Larissa’s entry into the senior categories”.