Valentina, how did you discover freediving?
“It wasn’t exactly a free choice — at first, I didn’t want to do it. When I was 14, my dad got his first-level diving certification and kept telling me what an amazing experience it was. So when I turned 14, he suggested I give it a try, and I agreed, even though I wasn’t totally convinced. Plus, I had exams, and getting to and from training wasn’t easy, since it ran from 9 to 11 p.m. — we’d get home around midnight.”

Freediving requires intense focus and mental control. How do you approach such a demanding sport at your age?
“At first, I wasn’t really aware of my sensations. A big motivator was the group — I really felt at home there. Even this year, managing emotions hasn’t been easy, because I could feel other people’s expectations weighing on me a bit. You could say I started mainly for fun. Of course, sometimes I feel like quitting, but when that thought comes up during competition, I know I have to push through.”

Tell us about these World Championships.
“They went great! The tension was triple what it was last year — maybe because everyone, myself included, expected a lot from me. The first event was breaststroke, the one I had the highest hopes for. I competed right away, which was good, because I didn’t have to keep thinking about it afterward! I won gold with a 109-meter dive.
On the last day, though, I felt some anxiety before the monofin event. In DNF (dynamic without fins) I had already won gold, and in DYNB (bi-fin dynamic) I took gold again with 156 meters, so by that point, it felt like I had to win. I ended up with 141 meters and a silver medal!”

And what about depth diving?
“It scares me a bit. I’m not crazy about lake diving. It’s not a discipline that excites me right now — and I’m not even sure my parents would want me to do it!”

What was it like competing for Team Italy alongside so many champions?
“I was blown away by their results. Sometimes I think — when I swim with fins for 75 meters, I’m exhausted, so how do they manage those distances in breaststroke? Livia Bregonzio, Cristina Rodda, Mauro Generali… but honestly, the whole team is just incredible.”

Your next goals?
“I’d like to make it back onto the National Team as a Senior! I’m finishing my time in the Junior category now, and that makes me a little sad — especially thinking I won’t compete for Italy again unless it’s as a Senior. I’m thrilled with my results, but from now on, the required distances basically double!”

And how are things going with static apnea?
“Not great! I don’t like it and can’t stand it! When I move in the water, I get amazing sensations — I experience it differently. In static, I don’t know what to think about, I have no reference points!”

What’s it like coming home as a 16-year-old world champion?
“It’s amazing — you really feel like you’ve achieved something huge — but also a little sad, because the adrenaline drops, and that incredible adventure is already over! That’s why I’ll keep training to reach new goals. Freediving is my main sport, but now I’ve also started pole vaulting, which actually helps with breaststroke since it works your shoulders and legs a lot.”

Which result are you most proud of?
“Definitely the monofin event, because I only started training for it in December. My parents gave me the monofin for my birthday, and the movement is really hard, especially if you’ve never done swimming before. My teammates on the national team said my technique looked great — so I’m really proud of that!
I didn’t think that event would make me anxious, but it did — I realized how much I cared about it and started to feel the pressure! Right before my 3-minute call, I got a lot of encouragement. I thought, ‘I’ve done my part, now let’s enjoy it!’ I started fully focused, trying to feel one with the water, tuned into sensations of well-being.
The turn annoyed me a bit — I thought I could’ve done it better. Things got tricky from there. I waited until 100 meters to check how I felt — everything was fine, so I kept going. At some point, I started getting a bit bored, so I stopped gliding and switched to continuous kicking. Maybe not the smartest choice! Anyway, the surfacing was clean, and I’m more than satisfied.”

So you’ll keep training to stay on the National Team?
“For now, my training is going smoothly. Soon I’ll move to Colorado to study at a high school there for five months, so I’m still figuring out how I’ll manage to train. It’s all still up in the air, but I have the passion — and I know I’ll find a way to keep going.”