INTERVIEW WITH ROBERTO Di DONNA
Roberto Di Donna won perhaps the most dramatic gold medal in Olympic shooting history when he beat Yifu Wang in 1996 by a tenth of a percentage point on the last shot, resulting in Wang collapsing and being carried form the range. Di Donna is a four-time Olympian (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000). Yet, despite good performances at World Cups over the next couple of years, Olympic gold was not to be in Sydney, 2000. We caught up with him after he completed his matches at the Sydney range.
When did you start shooting?
When I was twelve years old.
Was your father a shooter?
No, my brother. He’s two years older than me. I started in 1981.
What did you start with?
Air pistol. I shot for the first four years just with air pistol, and after with the Free Pistol. Because in Italy we can start at sixteen, we are allowed to use firearms. It was good, because it was my favorite – I think I shoot better in air pistol. Plus we could shoot all year round with the air, and just four or five months with the Free.
Who was your coach who got you up to your present level?
I started by myself and the one special man (who helped) was the president of my club. He made it possible for me to shoot well, he guided me through the beginning. I shot with a coach after four years. When I was in the Italian Shooting Team for the first time for international competition.
What do you think about during the match?
In this competition here in Sydney my mind was very strange because I won the gold medal in Atlanta, it was so very difficult. I had more pressure with myself, with the press, with my Federation, it was very very difficult. When I shot a ten, that’s okay, then I shoot a nine, oh I must shoot a ten, it was very difficult. Then for Free Pistol I am not in very good condition. I shot well for the last ten shots, where I shot a 96, and I got in the Final. It was also not a good score for me, the Final, but at this time is okay. Seventh place is not so bad. I hope for the future because now I am not in good condition (psychologically) for shooting a good score, I don’t know what the problem is, everything seems okay. But during the competition I felt bad with my psychology. I hope for the future I will shoot another four years at high level and I will arrive in Athens in good condition.
How do you keep concentration between shots?
I try to make a rhythm, when I shoot it is important for me. The respiration and the rhythm. Today I had to concentrate very hard to shoot a ten, and because the shot was okay I must see the front sight, I must look very well at the front sight of my pistol and my shots go very well. In the morning I tried this, sometimes I did it, sometimes I did not. I don’t know why, shooting is a very strange sport. Sometimes we have a good condition to shoot well, sometimes we don’t.
What about the cold and having to wear a heavy coat while you were shooting?
No, at 9 o’clock it was not so bad.
You’re shooting a standard Toz 35 for Free Pistol?
Yes. I want to change the pistol because it’s my old pistol, I’m not happy with the feeling. I want to try the Morini or the Pardini.
You shot the Pardini for a little while last year, didn’t you? The K22?
Yes. But now we make a new part. We make it with Mr Pardini, we make a new modification for the pistol.
What’s your most valuable training drill?
For preparation for the Olympic Games I shot about four or five hours a day. One hour per day of physical training by bicycle, like Armstrong (Tour de France winner). For next time I will try to train with match pressure.
Do you dry fire a lot?
No. Just live fire. Because I prefer shooting when I play good. The dry fire I don’t like, it’s boring.
Do you ever use any of the electronic trainers?
I have a SCATT, but I don’t use it. Now I have at my house a Sius Ascor electronic target. This is very good because I shoot under the same conditions as the competition, the same target exactly.
What are your plans for the future?
It’s my dream to make a new school of shooting.
Really? In Italy?
Yes.
Does Italy have a good junior program?
No, we have not a lot of junior shooters. Now we have a good time for junior rifle shooters, but we have a problem because in Italy air pistol and air rifles are considered firearms. We have a very big problem with this.
What was the most important thing that you learned about shooting?
For me when the training is very hard, if I am shooting after training similar in competition I shoot well in competition. It goes when you shoot in quiet during training and you shoot afterwards in competition, it’s like two different sports. In training we must try to shoot very very strong, very very hard. When I shoot one nine and one eight in training it’s a big problem for me, lack of competition.
How do you know when to put the gun down?
I stop sometimes because I will try to bring a good mental condition, but sometimes it is so difficult. When you have not a good moment you must put it down. If you shot an eight because you didn’t put the pistol down it’s difficult when you shoot again.
What’s the hardest thing about international competitions?
I began in international competition in 1983. I was about 17 years old. Then it was a very big thing to be away from home for three weeks. Now I am not there for a long time, and I am not very good when I stay a lot of time out of my house. Without my family, without my wife.
Do you have children?
No. I think after the Olympic Games we will try.
How long have you been married?
Two years.
How old are you both?
We are both 32.
What’s your favorite food?
The favorite food for me is pasta.
Winning the gold medal in Atlanta, were you a hero in Italy?
You remember the last shot in Atlanta? Because the Italian people, they still remember this.
What do you see in other countries in shooting, is there anything you see that you do or don’t like?
Yes, I like the Russian system because they are very strong.
What in their training do you think makes them so strong?
I don’t know. I think they are very very good in any conditions.
How much width do you have between your front sight and your rear sight?
My front sight is about 4mm. I like a lot of light (gap).
Anything you would like to tell people in America?
The Americans have a very strong team in the pistol. Demarest is a very special man, he is very strong. You have a very good trainer in Erich Buljung. The future in the United States for rifle and pistol, you have a very good possibilities for future competition.
Do you train any different between air pistol and free pistol?
Yes. I don’t know why but when I shoot not so well in air pistol I shoot a ten. When I shoot not so well in Free I shoot an eight. I want to change my pistol – my free pistol – my air pistol is perfect. I shoot with a Pardini, and a Pardini won (with Dumoulin), and I’m very happy with it. In Free Pistol I’m not so happy with my old Toz. So I’ll be trying a Pardini and a Morini.