Collinelli traces famous father's footsteps at Youth Olympics

Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-03 09:15:47|Editor: Chengcheng
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BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cycling fans might be excused for doing a double take when they see the list of track cycling competitors at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

Participating for Italy will be Sofia Collinelli, the daughter of Andrea Collinelli, who won gold in the individual pursuit at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.

Sofia will compete alongside Avondetto Simone, Dalla Valle Tommaso and Specia Giada in the team pursuit event here.

"I'm very proud to represent Italy and I'm going to experience a new adventure because we'll be racing in pairs in different trials," Collinelli was quoted as saying by the official Buenos Aires 2018 website.

The teenager fine-tuned her preparations for the event by winning the team pursuit title at the junior track cycling world championship in Switzerland.

However Collinelli's participation in Buenos Aires was threatened when she was attacked by two dogs in Switzerland.

"I was very eager to participate in this great event and I'm thrilled that I can, because there was only one place available for the track event and it wasn't easy," she said.

The Youth Olympics will be staged in Argentina's capital from October 6 to 18 and will include around 4,000 athletes from 206 countries and regions.

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