What lies behind

Italy’s Team Trophy
success?

The Team Trophy awards the National Federation with the most winning points at the World Rowing Championships. Since its creation in 2001 it had been dominated by Germany who held on to it for four consecutive years.

But in 2005 an Italian rowing wave shook up the Germans, knocking them off their reigning perch. Leading this upsurge was Italy’s new technical director Giuseppe de Capua.

Italy’s rowing federation president, Renato Nicetto, explains the success behind 10 medals, two of them gold, at the World Rowing Championships.

“The 2005 result is the fruit of the work of National Head Coach Giuseppe De Capua and his staff working with all teams, from juniors through to the adaptive rowing team.”

After rowing competitively, De Capua went on to complete a Masters degree in sport and sports management. He started coaching in Italy under Thor Nilsen (currently FISA’s development director) continuing through until 1993. But De Capua still remained involved in coaching, playing an active role in coaching clinics throughout the world as part of FISA’s development programme.

In 2005 De Capua took over from Giuseppe La Mura and instigated some changes.

De Capua began his work in 2005 and set up contacts with all of the Italian rowing clubs. This stimulated a new interest in the formation of club and interclub crews to aim for the national level.

“I’ve introduced a different training programme, a different rowing technique and a different testing protocol,” says De Capua. “I put a lot of emphasis on economy of movement – elasticity and cooperation between body, boat and oars.”

The results displayed from last year’s training system means that De Capua will carry on with the system into 2006.

Already the benefits are showing in 2006.

success has never been gained before in the 118 years of Italian rowing history. “We are conscious that it is not easy to keep high levels. But we will use all of our resources to try to keep this achieved level,” says Nicetto.

“This was demonstrated at the first national meeting where a record-high level of 1,600 athletes took part,” says Nicetto. This level of

This caps off an international season which tallied up 24 medals - eight gold, 11 silver and five bronze - for the Italians. M.S.B.■

Team Trophy history Began: 2001 Awarded: Points are earned for boats finishing within the first seven places in each of the boat classes contested at the World Rowing Championships. The nation with the most points becomes the winner of the Team Trophy. In 2004 adaptive rowing events were added to the Team Trophy points.

2001

2002

2003

Top three positions

Germany

Italy

Great Britain

Germany

Italy

Great Britain

Germany

USA

Italy is developing the new generation of elite rowers. Here the 2003 junior world champions in the men’s four / L’Italie forme la nouvelle génération de rameurs d’élite. Ici les champions du monde juniors 2003 en quatre de pointe: Martin, Goretti, Fasoli & Cecchin.