Paola Egonu, the news hit the fans like a thunderbolt: the dream ends here, she has withdrawn from the Paris Games.
The Nations League triumph, that’s for sure, was a great confidence boost. Just what was needed for the Azzurri of volleyball to arrive at the foot of the Eiffel Tower with trolleys full of energy and awareness. With the certainty that they can be undisputed protagonists in the city of love.
It was just a pity that neither the Italian national team champions nor coach Julio Velasco had considered the unforeseen events in which, unfortunately, the team ran into instead. With only a few days to go before the official convocations for the Paris 2024 Olympics are issued, it is practically all to do over. Which does not mean that Paola Egonu and the others are already “doomed” to defeat, far from it. But just that, once again, as is often the case, fate wanted to break the eggs in the basket.
In anticipation of the Games, Velasco had decided to put his faith in the players he considered most ready for the Olympics, first and foremost the opposite player from Cittadella. Now, however, he will have to revise his plans, given that one of his star players had to wave the white flag just a step away from the dream of playing in the French capital.
Paola Egonu, unexpected retirement: goodbye Olympics
In the past few hours, two weeks before the start of the competition, setter Alice Degradi announced her retirement from the Games. She had tried hard for the coach to convene her, but an injury suffered in training unfortunately put a spoke in her wheels.
An absence that will weigh, just as will Elena Pietrini’s, who had left retirement in May, and Sara Bonifacio’s, who is also ailing, but so be it. It will be more difficult, perhaps, but not impossible, especially with the star of Italian women’s volleyball on the court. Egonu and the others will have to struggle a bit more, but above all, come to terms with it and accept that things do not always go the way one would like, much less the right way.
Velasco and his staff, for their part, will still have a few days to make changes to the roster they had made official only a few days ago. Meanwhile, Stella Nervini and Loveth Omoruyi have been recalled to training camp.