Italy rhythmic gymnastics team captain Alessia Maurelli: Being a 'Farfalla' has become a brand
The two-time Olympian led the Italian quintet, aka the 'Butterflies', to bronze at Tokyo 2020 and now is looking to secure a spot for Paris at the 2022 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Alessia Maurelli is one of the most successful active rhythmic gymnasts.
Since making her senior debut in 2014 at 17, the Italian star has amassed more than 100 podium finishes and won more than 20 medals at Olympic Games, World and European Championships with the Italian team
The four-time world and three-time European champion is the captain of the 'Farfalle', (Butterflies in Italian), the nickname - and now trademark - of the team, which includes Martina Centofanti, Agnese Duranti, Martina Santandrea, Daniela Mogurean and Laura Paris.
Alessia has also played a big role in the rise of Italy's rhythmic gymnastics programme over the last two decades, a golden era which saw the Azzurre clinch three Olympic medals (silver at Athens 2004, bronze at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020), and nine World Championships podiums in the group all-around.
Maurelli, who represents the Aeronautica Militare (Air Force), is now looking to qualify for a third consecutive Olympics and she can already secure a berth for her country if Italy medals in the group all-around event at the 2022 World Championships in Sofia.
In our exclusive chat with her just days ahead of the competition, the 26-year-old shared some insights on the unique relationship with her team-mates and on their new revolutionary choreography which pays tribute to various Olympic sports.
You can ready the full Q&A below.
You started your career at 17 and you have over 100 podium finishes: what have been the highlights of your journey?
One of the most important moments in my career was when I joined the senior national team in 2014 and a few months later I took part in my first World Championships in Izmir. I was new, but my coach Emanuela Maccarani was convinced I was ready for the first team.
The Olympic experiences in Rio and Tokyo were another two, beautiful milestones in my career. Somehow I enjoyed Rio more, also because in Tokyo I had more pressure. In Rio I was younger and I could enjoy the competition, while in Japan I felt the responsibility of delivering a medal. After missing out in Rio, I know how important is to win an Olympic medal. It marks your life.
Another key moment of my career was when I was named captain after Rio 2016 and I had to lead our team through the pandemic as I was chasing my second Olympics. At first I was a bit scared by the new role, but there’s not a manual to be a captain, there are no rules, it depends on your teammates and on what you feel inside. My coach always said that I’m a leader and that I would help the team.
Over the last 20 years, under the supervision of Emanuela Maccarani, Italy has become a force to reckon with in the sport. How have you experienced this rise, first as a fan and then as an athlete?
Lately, Italy has been delivering great results. But it’s been part of a steady growth of the movement. I remember the silver medal at Athens 2004: I was just a little kid back then and I was already watching the ‘butterflies’ on TV. Since then Italy has delivered more medals and the visibility of our sport has increased a lot. Also thanks to the media coverage, especially in the last period. And then of course the results helped a lot, like the bronze in Tokyo.
Sometimes we realise how many girls and how many people know Le Farfalle. And to be ambassadors of such a beautiful, elegant and artful sport gives us a lot of responsibility but at the same time it motivates us, it demands a lot, but we also get back a lot.
How special was winning that bronze in Tokyo, following the fourth place in Rio and the postponement due to the COVID pandemic?
I think that every athlete who took part in that Olympics will always be somehow special. The uncertainty and the postponement really affected each of us.
Mentally it’s been really challenging. It was also difficult because myself and my teammate Martina Centofanti finished fourth in Rio and we wanted that medal at all costs, and we knew we could do it.
I think that our performance in Tokyo was driven more by our mind than by our body. That’s what helped us win that medal. It was a very hard-earned medal.
Since Athens 2004, everyone knows what the 'Farfalle' are. What does it mean to be a member of this team?
Being a ‘Farfalla’, as my teammates and I have realised that, with time, it has become like a symbol, a sort of brand. The fact of seeing five girls acting as one and performing perfect moves, like if they were flying. People now also understand what a butterfly really represents. The butterfly is a symbol, it made a journey to become a butterfly. That’s what is fascinating for many people, that it has evolved from caterpillar. For us, it’s for sure a motivation to know that little girls dream of becoming ‘butterflies’, dream of becoming like us. This gives us the strength to keep fluttering our wings and fly higher and higher.
You are the captain of the team, what does your role imply?
In my sport the role of captain is quite invisible. It’s a behind-the-scene job, we need to keep the team together, find a solution or a compromise if there are issues, motivate the other girls and take care of them. Sometimes it’s hard to turn my energy into something positive for the team, but I feel I’m very lucky because I’m a captain of a group of girls who have the same goal. It’s like being a captain of a group of other star athletes like Maradona or Baggio!
In your sport each individual is performing as part of one entity: can you explain the special relationships within your team?
The harmony and understanding in our team comes from what happens outside the gym, because we live together all year round, 24/7. We don’t share only sporting moments but we are living this journey 100% together. This makes us not just teammates, but also life companions. This relationship can be crucial in competition, when for your teammate and friend one look is enough to understand what you need.
Why do you call yourself and your team-mates warriors?
We describe ourselves as warriors because people, when they see us performing a routine with a ribbon or a ball, they ask how we do it. How we do it? It's a lot of hard work. We train for 8-9 hours a day, we end all sweaty, so it’s the sacrifice, a lot of sweating and the passion that we put in, and that makes all of this possible. It’s like we fight all together to reach our goal.
How have you been preparing for the Worlds in Sofia where Olympic berths are at stake?
The first goal is to show all the work we’ve been doing for the last few months and to perform the two best possible routines. And of course we want to punch a ticket for the Paris Olympics like we did four years ago in Sofia. We hope we can deliver a result for the history books.
Without athletes from Russia and Belarus, which ones will be the countries to beat?
Most of the teams have gone through some change and we are probably one of the few nations basically maintaining the Olympic team. This can work in our favour, as we are more experienced. Israel, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and China are the teams that have been doing well recently but they also have a very good tradition.
Can you tell us about the new choreography inspired by Olympic sports that you've been performing this season?
From this year on, the international code rewards the artistry of the performances more and that allowed us to create and illustrate a story. And our coach had this brilliant idea of a choreography based on all the Olympic sports.
So we came up with an epic music and we created sections where we could showcase the Olympic sports, from the ancient to the modern Games. We are showcasing the javelin throw, archery, artistic gymnastics, fencing, football, basketball and volleyball.
As a gymnast, I believe this routine will be remembered as one of the most beautiful choreographies in our sport. Because it represents an innovation, it’s art within art.
Paris 2024 is less than two years away, what does this Games represent for 'veterans' of the team like you and Martina Centofanti?
If I manage to qualify with my teammates for my third Olympics, that would be a reason of inspiration. I’ll be 28 by then and I would be the oldest Italian rhythmic gymnast and it would be something inspiring for me. I always thought I would end my career at Tokyo 2020. Then the pandemic happened and I put myself in the game again and now I’m about to take part in a world champs.
I’ve also surprised myself in a way overcoming many obstacles. So if I qualify for Paris, I would say to myself: ‘You’ve made it because you wanted it. Now enjoy it because you deserve it!’.
Are you planning another special tattoo for Paris?
Not for the moment. I already have the Olympic rings behind my neck, before Tokyo my team-mates and I had the word 'guerriere' ('Warriors') tattooed on the back of our arm along with a butterfly. I also have the word 'smile' tattooed on the inside of my index finger, that's the point I used to look before my second exercise ahead of the Rio Olympics, so when I was younger. I also have white leopard spots tattooed on my ankle, but I don't have any inspiration for another tattoo, perhaps it will come...
As you are approaching the end of your career, what are your projects for the future?
I like journalism a lot and started studying communication. I love sports in general and that's what I would like to cover.
I wrote a book called 'Vola come una farfalla' ('Fly like a butterfly') which is the story of a 14-year-old girl practising rhythmic gymnastics and facing some of the issues I also went through at that age.
When I started my sport I did it because I was following my passion and I will face my next challenges with the same spirit and with the same mentality, which was forged by gymnastics.
Besides gymnastics, which athlete has inspired you as you were growing up?
(Italy's swimming Olympic champion) Federica Pellegrini has been a source of inspiration for the way she overcame her defeats and for how she surprised everyone by achieving new victories. I feel like I can share what she went through and that's why she's a model for me.