11 February 2021
Two young promising athletes have obtained international recognition by competing in the Milano Cortina 2026 Team.
Rebecca Maestroni, multiple Italian Under 15 Ski Champion in all Special Olympics specialties, and ski talent Lara Colturi, daughter of the great Olympic Champion Daniela Ceccarelli, were awarded at the United Through Sports Virtual Youth Festival 2020.
"My dream is to be seen as a source of joy and inspiration for those with and without disabilities to achieve their goals in life", said Rebecca, who took part in the competition in the "Talent" category.
"My great passions are alpine skiing and figure skating. I would like to be able to travel the world thanks to sports. My goal is Milano Cortina 2026", said Lara Colturi, who pushed herself to the limit in the Under 16 category at the Virtual Youth Festival by facing four training tests.
The UTS Virtual Youth Festival is the first major international online event aimed at under 18 athletes. It is sponsored by the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, and the Special Olympics.
Milano Cortina 2026 participated with its own team that comprised, in addition to Lara and Rebecca, of 18-year-old Daniel Grassl, winner of the Italian Figure Skating Championships in 2019 and 2020, Serena Pergher, who participated in the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne 2020 in speed skating, and Samuel Weihprachttizky who at 18 months was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease and yet, today, at nine years old, is a little star of Para Ice Hockey.
Involving the very young who will be 18 in 2026 and promoting the values of sports and Olympism are the central objectives of the Italian Olympics and Paralympics. The Milano Cortina 2026 team met with thousands of under 18s from more than 70 international Federations, children with disabilities, young migrants and refugees, and children from vulnerable backgrounds.
The participants challenged each other in online sports competitions and challenges wherein everyone could highlight their exceptional talent. Rebecca and Lara won over the jury and will be awarded at a virtual ceremony in the coming weeks. In addition to the medal that they will receive, the most critical success is contributing to spreading the message on which the Virtual Youth Festival is based: "United, we can give everyone an opportunity and hope. Sports do not put anyone on the sidelines".
