Among the new faces of the Italian technical staff there is also that of Manlio Iaccarino. He was entrusted with a mission as important as it is delicate: to give Italian freestyle BMX an international dimensionA daunting task, in a discipline that is virtually unknown, but which awards Olympic medals like so many others. In this, Italy is far behind its counterpart. racing discipline where satisfaction is now beginning to be reaped and excellence is just around the corner.
Manlio isn't afraid of the idea, considering that hard work and sacrifice have always been part of his sporting culture: "I've always been immersed in BMX, competing from 1984 until the early 2000s. The passion has always remained: I started with racing but gradually got involved with freestyle and practiced both. Freestyle immediately showed me its potential: for me it is the basis of any other cycling event, because it gives you fundamental technical skills».
How did you come to lead the national team?
I continued to stay in BMX even when the interest waned a bit, in the meantime I took the three federal levels of technician. Then Francesco Gargaglia He called me into his blue staff, to follow the discipline as a collaborator and I did the same with his successor Frederick Ventura. Now this great responsibility has been entrusted to me in its entirety.
How are you moving?
There isn't a strong historical basis in Italy, so we need to work on the foundations, and this must be done through scouting. It's a niche discipline, but that doesn't mean it's not followed; on the contrary, many kids do it independently. It is one of those specialties that the new generations love the most and all the analyses on social media say this, of what kids watch on platforms like Tiktok e Social media coordinatorWe need to take these kids and raise them within the federal system. Broadening the base is the first step, but we can do it by working with the youngest members, therefore with a long-term project.
Let's draw a parallel: in winter sports, the situation was the same: plenty of Olympic medals available, yet a nonexistent sector. Work has begun on it, and now at Milan-Cortina 2026, we'll have major medal chances in freestyle with the Tabanelli brothers, and in acrobatic snowboarding with Matteoli. Could the same thing happen in BMX?
This is my mission, the reason I accepted this position. I'm motivated to fill this gap., first of all with the leading European countries like France, Germany, Great Britain, knowing that this is a truly universal discipline, as seen in Paris 2024. Finding champions, however, is only possible if we broaden our catchment area. In this, I have found broad support from the Federation, the team manager amadio He's on the same wavelength as me. We're the ones who have to move forward, looking for talent even in micro-businesses, but I'm optimistic.
In the meantime, however, you have to work at an elite level with what you have…
Which is still not a small thing. We have 5 athletes in our senior team with whom we follow international activity: Elia Benetton (in the opening photo, ed.), Christian Falvo, Filippo Parisi, Gianluca Righetto, Manuel Torello. A couple of them are over 25. Behind them are some very young guys who I want to gradually involve to gain experience in category C1 races. I can assure you that their technical level is high., but we are in the presence of a discipline that has reached sensational heights, as seen in Paris.
To fill this gap, which group of young people are you targeting?
We really have to start from the basics, from the first experiences on the bike. I'm aiming for children aged 8 to 10, who can experience this as a game while simultaneously honing their technical and acrobatic skills.That's where you need to start, taking advantage of the immense appeal this discipline has for children due to its adrenaline rush. Furthermore, it's a discipline that, contrary to what you might think, is safe because, in addition to being approached with the right protective gear, it takes place indoors, so parents can feel more at ease than on the street. There's no need to be afraid of jumps and stunts, because you get there gradually, and it's up to us coaches to ensure that the improvement is progressive, guided, and safe.
Is it impossible to dream of an Italian presence at Los Angeles 2028?
Impossible is not a word in my vocabulary. We have Elia Benetton who is a strong and rapidly growing athlete. If he continues to progress technically, I can't rule out anything in the next four years. He's also fortunate to live near our federal center in Roncade (TV). I believe the improvements he's seen in his legs will take him far.
