How do you define greatness? A mind-bending feat that surpasses expectation and rationality? A moment of authentic surprise that inverts the weight of pressing odds? Or perhaps an incision in the linear unfurling of your heart?
In sport, we are quick to anoint greatness upon each other. A performance that impresses us is often bestowed the virtue of greatness before it can even truly be understood. It is easy to attach brilliance onto bravery and boldness but sometimes the two should not be conflated. True greatness should combine mastery, magnanimity and more than a hint of magic.
The Olympic Games is our ultimate magic show. A procession of truly elite talent, operating at the pinnacle of their sport and thrust forward into a limelight fostered by four years of relative translucency. These two weeks are stitched into the very fabric of competition, dating back to the lore of Ancient Greece, and have transcended the politics of modern society to become the ultimate marker in sporting excellence. To win Olympic Gold gives you immortality of a rare and timeless specification – your story will be perpetuated forevermore, carried forward by the whispers of generations to come, who too aim to climb those sacred steps and join this club of champions. Emerging over the horizon, this time in the blue and red hue of palatial Paris, we are ready for the very fastest in rowing to be crowned.
Step forward, my friends – The Olympic Games have come.
The Stats
Country
Italy
Crew Names
Nicolo’ Carucci (B)
Matteo Sartori (S)
Average Age
23 years
Olympic Record
N/A
2024 Competitive Record
World Rowing Cup 1: 2nd (M2x – Sartori) and 3rd (M4x – Carucci)
World Rowing Cup 2: 2nd (M2x – Sartori) and 3rd (M4x – Carucci)
World Rowing Cup 3: N/A
European Championships: 4th (M2x – Sartori) and 1st (M4x – Carucci)
The Profile
When putting these previews together I had picked Italy as the likely silver medallists, however, that was with the pairing of Matteo Sartori and Luca Rambaldi. But, the Italian Federation have chosen to split up that established pairing, swapping Rambaldi and Carucci in the quad. Despite this, the Italians have such a strong sculling squad that I still put this duo as medal contenders. Sartori was U23 world champion in 2022 and was Italy’s male single sculler at the senior world championships that year. In 2023 he moved into the double with Rambaldi, winning silver at the Europeans and finishing fourth at the world championships. This season, they medalled at both the first and second World Rowing Cups. Carucci was in the double for the 2021 season and just missed Olympic qualification. In 2022 he moved into the quad, winning the European championships and bronze at the world championships. Last season the Italian quad with Carucci onboard medalled at the Europeans and then won silver at the world championships. This season, they won another European title and bronze at both the first and second World Rowing Cups.
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