We gave him time to return to Italy after the efforts of the World Championship and to get back into his routine. Then we pressed him with our questions and he—Giacomo De Mola, as available as always—told us everything, absolutely everything, about this competition.

You’ve often commented on the difference between the Mediterranean Sea and the Brazilian conditions. How much did the characteristics of the fishing grounds (size, depth, current) affect your fishing plan?

“In some areas, visibility during the competition was truly impossible. For this reason, many athletes, instead of spreading out across the whole zone, concentrated on about half of the area, especially on the first day.

The decisive choice on day one was therefore to move away from the foam and suspended material, heading offshore to fish on a peak detached from the coast. There were several athletes there, but still far fewer than along the shallower coastal stretch.”

In such a “particular” and crowded competition, did you change your strategy compared to the World Championship in Sardinia or your other victories? If so, how?

“The strategy in Brazil was obviously completely different from the World Championship in Arbatax, which was mainly a competition based on marks and known spots. This one, instead, was a competition you had to invent on the spot.

We had few reference points and, especially on the first day, it was really necessary to build the fishing strategy moment by moment. In the second round, thanks to slightly better visibility during preparation, we were able to work a bit better and had a few more marks.

However, it was crucial to revisit the good spots several times and manage to catch the salgo de meso (a type of seabream), as well as the salema (a type of salema porgy) and other more substantial fish.”

What was the day or situation in the competition that put you most in difficulty, and how did you deal with it?

“Probably the day that put me most in difficulty was the first one, but in reality I managed to turn the difficulty into an opportunity.

The problem was that when I arrived at the first mark, it was a den of Sargo de Beco and the water was unfishable. I immediately realized we needed to move and cover a lot of ground.

There was a crucial moment—the moment of making an important decision. When we reached the second zone, the peaks, I finally started fishing. And I managed to catch several specimens of different species.

It was a good choice, born partly from instinct, although we already had in mind the possibility of moving to that area. But the final decision was made on the spot: I saw the situation and said, ‘Let’s go, now.’”

How did you manage teamwork and the support from the staff (scouting, briefings, logistics)?

“This national team was truly one of the best in recent years, especially in terms of the relationship among the athletes in the water. Communication was fundamental, even during preparation.

Every evening we compared notes: we talked about the conditions we had found, the state of the water, how to approach the next day, where the fish were living and under what circumstances.

It was a great experience—not only as a competition but also on a human and team level.”

Did you notice differences in the technical organization and rules compared to other editions?

“I didn’t notice major differences. The organization was largely similar to a South American national championship, so with slightly slower timing compared to a European competition.

However, the experience was very positive. Regardless of the results, I was left with a great impression: helpful people who organized the championship to the best of their ability, always attentive to every athlete and every issue.

Of course, there were several inconveniences during preparation and logistics: the weather wasn’t great, some boats had problems, many athletes had issues with dirty fuel… but the organizers were always present to help. There’s nothing to complain about. They did an excellent job.”

What role did equipment and gear (speargun, shafts, wetsuits) play in your ocean performance? Did you change your setup compared to the Mediterranean?

“Equipment was fundamental. At the highest level of competition, there are no compromises—everything must be perfect.

We mainly used 5 mm lined/open-cell wetsuits because once on the inflatable boat the sun was very strong, so it was better to have a lined exterior. I used the Ultra Camo, the new camouflage from Pathos, which was perfect in those waters—practically invisible.

For fins I chose the Supreme, the latest edition of the Supreme World Champion. It might seem like a model designed for great depths, but in reality it works very well even in shallow water, among the foam, in any situation, because it is very stable and has powerful thrust. I’m very satisfied with that choice.

My main spearguns were 75 cm models, both for open water and hole fishing—the Wave. I slightly modified the setup only for bigger fish: I mounted a 6.75 mm shaft and an 18 mm band instead of the standard 6.25 mm shaft with a 16 mm band, increasing both power and shaft mass.”

After your silver medal, what are the main lessons you take home?

“Every competition leaves you with something. From this World Championship, I mainly take home the awareness that I can fish without marks, without the typical European method.

I’ve always been used to competitions with many reference points, many strategies, many positions to change depending on other athletes. Here there was more freedom, more instinct, more intuition.

This was practically the first competition where I had to invent much more than follow marks. Even when I went to a mark, I still had to create the action: maybe the fish were there, but they weren’t visible because the water was dark or they were moving from one spot to another.

So it wasn’t really a ‘mark’—you still had to fish. It was the first competition where I mostly did this, and I have to say I enjoyed it a lot.”

Are you satisfied with the result, or do you feel that given the conditions you could have achieved more?

“I wasn’t able to shoot on the first dive of the first day; that was probably the only moment when I got distracted for a second and lost a fish.

It probably happened because the competition had just started and during the preparation days I hadn’t been able to fish much—only about an hour at the beginning.

In the two days before the championship, when I wanted to fish at least four or five hours, it wasn’t possible because visibility outside the competition zone was practically zero. We tried, but we had to give up—visibility was just a few centimeters.

That’s why I couldn’t really get into the right condition before the start of the World Championship.

In any case, that was the only mistake. With that fish I might have won. Still, I’m very satisfied with the result: it’s an important podium in a very difficult ocean. It’s my third consecutive podium at a World Championship, so I’m happy. Of course it could have gone better—but it could also have gone worse.”

Is there a catch or moment in the competition you will remember in particular?

“Probably the most exciting moment was, especially on the first day, the very last breath of the competition.

I lift my head and Fabio says: ‘Giacomo, one minute… no, one last breath, one last breath.’

I take that final breath and while I’m on the bottom, focused, counting and counting, I look at the watch: 30 seconds, 32 seconds. I think: ‘Okay, I’ll stay until the minute, then go up.’

As soon as I look back at the speargun, I see the fish—a mackerel passing in front of me. I pull the trigger and go up. It was a strong emotion, really beautiful.”

(The second day brought other intense moments, including a robalo of more than 1.5 kg and finally a Sargo de Beco close to 3 kg—after searching for it all day.)

How do you see the international level today?

“Today the international level is extremely high. Many national teams are now competitive for the win—something that perhaps wasn’t the case years ago.

Teams like Tahiti, with almost two months of preparation, or Chile with a month and a half, are now very solid realities with important resources.

This means the overall level is extremely high; we are all very close. In these conditions, strategy wins: whoever believes more and makes no mistakes takes home the result.”

Looking at your World Championship victory in Sardinia (2021) and the podium in Brazil, how would you describe your technical and mental evolution?

“If I think back to my victory in Sardinia in 2021, then the third place at the World Championship in Spain in 2023, it has been an incredible journey.

I’ve grown a lot, even starting from the World Championship in Syros where I finished fifth. Since 2016 I’ve worked very hard, dedicating a lot of time and energy, fishing in many places—not only the Mediterranean but also the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean—to understand as many situations as possible.

Today I can adapt quite quickly anywhere, understand what kind of competition I’m facing, which strategies to adopt and what will bring the best results.

Most importantly, I can understand it immediately—even during the competition. Now I make decisions on the spot; I have quick intuitions that a few years ago would have taken much longer to evaluate.”

What are your short-term plans?

“I took a short break after the World Championship and then went back into the water in Greece.

In December I was in Dubai working for our charter and, of course, fishing; I caught several king mackerel—there are really big specimens there.

Then I returned to Greece, where I’ll continue training until the next Italian Championship, which will take place in Sicily.”

Many people in the spearfishing world thought you had no chance in Brazil… but you proved them wrong. Do you have anything to say now?

“Many people thought I was finished, but those who really think that are people who don’t know me well or rely on hearsay like ‘De Mola only fishes the bottom and nothing else.’

They haven’t looked deeper or seen what I’ve been able to do all these years. But that’s not a problem—I answered with three consecutive podiums, and I know who I am.

I’ve already said it in a video: I know my value, so I’m not influenced by what people write, by some strange journalists or by enthusiasts with the wrong ideas.”

What does this result mean to you?

“It means gaining even more mental strength and awareness of my potential. It was beautiful—really beautiful.

After this second place, many athletes from different countries came to talk to me and congratulate me on how I competed. It had already happened at the European Championship in Tunisia, and I experienced that respect again in Brazil.

It made me very happy. It’s something indescribable—this warmth and closeness that I will carry with me for a long time.”

Thanks?

“First of all, a special thanks to Fabio, who was fundamental for me. We worked extremely well together, both in and out of the water.

Thanks also to the other guys—Luigi and Alfonso were fantastic, as well as Andrea, Luca and everyone else. We had an amazing team spirit.

And a special thanks to Marco Bardi and Sandro Congedo, who were fantastic with us in the water, helping us during very difficult days.

And of course thanks to the Federation, which allowed us to be there and prepare in the best possible way.”