In the message on Instagram with which he told the disease, in January 2020, Filippo Mondelli he said he had “one of those things that you feel but when it happens to you, you are speechless and you no longer know what to say and what to do”. In the months that have passed since then the sample of boating di Cernobbio showed all his desire to win as he promised, but he didn’t make it. He died at just 26 years old.
Almost a year and a half ago the diagnosis, an osteosarcoma in the left leg. He had been operated on at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute in Bologna and then underwent 14 cycles of chemotherapy.
On 11 April in Varese his teammates had dedicated to him the gold they won in front of the Netherlands at the European Championships.
He was aiming for Tokyo Games with that boat with which he won the world championship in 2018, the four of a couple together with Gentili, Rambaldi and Panizza. That Italian boat already has a place at the Olympics and Filippo had helped to get it in 2019. A few days ago he was elected as athletes in the next federal council. He had been the most voted with 54 preferences.
He had discovered the tumor due to severe pain in his knee. Early examinations revealed malignant osteosarcoma. Corriere della Sera reports his words in an interview with Erika Antonelli: «The first thought after the diagnosis was the Olympics, the dream of every athlete, and the fact that I would no longer be able to participate. With the disease I discovered that my strength is another and it is within me. I’m different now, the disease changes you inside and out. It changes your life and in the relationship with others, it makes you more peaceful and calm, giving importance to many things that you did not look at before. Life is a thread to which we are linked ».
“The loss of Pippo leaves us speechless,” said the president of the Italian Rowing Federation, Giuseppe Abbagnale, «He leaves us a very strong athlete and a wonderful boy with great values… We knew about his illness but the speed with which he left surprised us. I just want to think that he went away calmly ».
On the website of the Federcanottaggio we read: “It will be us, together with all those who appreciated his passion for life and for rowing, loved for the sunny boy he was, shared everything with him, supported whenever he needed it, rejoiced with him for all the beautiful things he gave us, to remain in respectful silence for the grave loss that has affected his family and the entire national rowing and sporting community ».
Goodbye Filippo, today the blue sport is crying and remembering your smile full of life.
Thank you for honoring our country and bringing the flag to the top of the world.
I am close to the family, to the Fiamme Gialle and to the world of Italian rowing@ rowing1888 pic.twitter.com/9TALLDvf5e– Valentina Vezzali (@VVezzali) April 29, 2021
The president of Coni Giovanni Malagò defined Mondelli “an example of ability and courage, a standard-bearer of the values ​​that make the sporting world great”. Even the undersecretary for sport Valentina Vezzali he remembered: «Goodbye Filippo, today the blue sport is crying and remembering your smile full of life. Thank you for honoring our country and bringing the flag to the top of the world. I am close to the family, to the Fiamme Gialle and to the world of Italian rowing ».
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