Ambra Sabatini - You Got This

According to adidas, "You got this" is not just a slogan to be used in Instagram graphics or at the end of motivational videos. It represents the spirit that the German brand wants to communicate through its campaigns and instill in the new generation of athletes who will shape the sport of tomorrow. It is a virtuous circle that begins with a renewed concept of competitive activity, leading to a positive and inclusive approach in everyday life. This is why the campaign "You Got This - Plus One" was launched, to highlight anyone who has positively influenced an individual or group's sports experience, reinforcing their confidence in the face of high expectations and negative pressures. We had the opportunity to interview Ambra Sabatini, World and Olympic champion in the 100 meters, in Livorno where she usually trains, to tell us about what it means for her to step on the track, and which type of make-up she can't do without. With her, of course, is her father Ambrogio because even in individual sports, one never wins alone.

"Athletics is a way for me to express myself and be true to who I am in the place where I can actually be myself," says Ambra on a rainy day at her training field in Livorno. Beside her is her father Ambrogio, who has been following and coaching her since the beginning. "My father passed on his passion for sports to me and specifically, he never imposed a specific sport on me, but he taught me values that made me fall in love with sports and later, as I went from skating to volleyball and then discovered athletics." An unstoppable sports growth that seemed like it could end in just a few moments. "My father is my Plus One, he's the one who passed on his passion for sports to me and always supports me, even at the technical level. When I need to confide in someone and something isn't going well, I turn to him."

And how has their father-daughter relationship evolved over the years? "It's a journey that started when Ambra was little, so we can say that there haven't been any changes because she was already an athlete before the accident and had already achieved great results, so nothing has really changed except for a bit more pride because she got back in the game in a big way after such a major trauma," explains Ambrogio. An car accident that left her without her left leg, but not without the strength to get back in the game. "Yes, nothing has changed in our relationship, in fact, we experience sports the same way we always have, sharing everything from victories to defeats, and every experience only strengthens our bond," reveals Ambra, and Ambrogio also gets emotional when talking about his daughter's achievements. "When I see her run, I see it all in a flashback, everything she's been through since the accident, to the moment she found the strength to compete again, I see everything she did to gather courage during the most critical moments, so when I see her run, regardless of the result, I am proud of her," he says.

Ambrogio also knows that he has to let Ambra call him before and after every race, not the other way around. A small ritual that gives strength to the couple and creates a bond of trust and security. "Usually, she's the one who calls because we have our fears about calling her first because we know her temperament and sometimes she's very nervous, so we wait for her to make the first move and then we adjust accordingly. It always works like that," admits Ambrogio, and Ambra quickly agrees. "Yes, it's true, I always call first because, in terms of logistics, I try to organize everything, do everything I need to do, put on my make-up, get ready, not forget anything, and get into the racing mindset. And before leaving, I always call them and after the race, they're the first people I call to talk about it," she says.

Because for Ambra, there's no race without a beauty touch, another essential ritual to take to the track with the right confidence in oneself and in one's appearance. "Yes, before getting on the track, I always braid my hair and wear a necklace. It's also a ritual to put on make-up, before racing, I never give up on mascara and a bit of blush. And I like to prepare myself in that way because it helps me focus and feel comfortable with myself. So putting on make-up is really a ritual that's part of the race. I think that in sports, there's room for everything, including self-expression and being oneself, so, specifically, you can wear make-up or not. The important thing is to feel comfortable with oneself, and that's probably the most important thing on the track," she says.