Paola Padovan was the guest of the last episode of OA Focus, broadcast on the OA Sport Youtube channel. The javelin thrower, native of Feltre, spoke about her past, present and future from a 360 perspective, with clear objectives in view of 2026 and beyond.
For the thirty-year-old Italian, 2026 is starting which brings with it numerous new features: “I arrived just over a week ago in my new training location, Finland. I am opening a new experience that we hope will bring me luck. How are you? The temperatures are low, obviously, but I’m happy. A decision that also makes me leave my comfort zone. Why Finland? Here there were great javelin players and perfect facilities. I’m starting to work with Kari Laitinen who I already knew. However, I won’t stay in Finland all winter. In February, in fact, I will go to South Africa.”
Another choice that has precise reasons: “For me it will be the first time but I have always heard good things about it. After all, South Africa has 2 centers with very good facilities for training. In short, it will be a great experience too. In Italy and Finland the weather conditions are not easy, but here you can also work indoors, something I have never done. I do indoor technique sessions on good slopes. Throwing shoes are used and you can throw on a real track. Here there is history and there are structures. He approaches the javelin from an early age and gains confidence right away.”
The athlete born in 1995 remembers her beginnings: “I started throwing straight away and chose the javelin after a few years. I tried some other sports but it was clear that this was my path.”
What is Paolo Padovan’s present about? “I closed 2025 which was one of the most important years of my life. A year fruit of changes, after all a year and a half ago I moved to Bologna where I found more stability and harmony in training. Now I’m doing deeper and more analyzed technical work. Specifically, I didn’t have to distort my throw, perhaps vary the height to be more fluid.”
The 2026 goals? “In 2025 I achieved my personal best in 59.25. A result obtained with extreme surprise and ease. I didn’t think I was in the best shape. After all, April is usually not the time for peak performance. Instead this measure arrived. Later in the season I also scored a 57.91 in the European Cup, my second performance. 2025 was a good year, but now I want 60 meters.”
Looking further ahead instead? “Obviously the goal is Los Angeles 2028, a dream of mine like that of every other athlete. I’m sure, I’m in Finland also for this reason. In any case, we are still far away and I am used to thinking step by step. Now, first I will try for my first European Championship in Birmingham.”
How does Paola Padovan feel at this point in her career? “I must say that I don’t miss anything, I’m hungry and curious and that’s enough for me to experience training in an optimal way every day. As I said, I would like to reach 60 meters which for me represents a beautiful dream, certainly not a torment.”
An athlete who takes you as a reference? “I can’t help but say Nadia Battocletti! She is cheerful and similar to me in the way she approaches everything. He has a winning mentality and he transmits it even just by how he smiles or talks.”
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