“That I can win, but if I do not have to be able to try with all my strength”, it is with this oath as a lighthouse in life that Daniele Berbenni, Alpine Ski specialist, is preparing to participate in the Special Olympics winter world games, scheduled in Turin and in the places of the 2006 Olympics. These are the winter games that every four years see athletes with intellectual disabilities disputing the world of ice and snow. It begins on 8 March 2025 and Daniele, 31 years old, chosen by the official website of Special Olympics Italia as the face of the games, which we met in a link via Google Meet, told us, with an open and kind smile, as this important adventure of sports and life faces. Valtellinese of Bormio, Berbenni has grown on the snow and is today one of the multipurpose blue athletes of the Special blue alpine skiing.
Can you tell us the emotion of the convening as a starter?
“Four years ago I was in reserve, when I received the convocation letter I was a extrafire, I remained a little speechless because I was really too happy.”
You started as a child with cross -country skiing, then you went to alpine skiing. How did you decide to change?
«I started at six with cross -country skiing, but my companions in elementary school always left me back and I didn’t expect. I wanted to move on to alpine skiing, where I was better because as the saying says: the stones also roll down the valley ».
Too modest, the stones do not compete with this level! What do you really like about alpine skiing?
“The fact that it gives me so much strength and a lot of balance and then the competition”.
How do you live the moment before the race?
“Competition amuses me, even if a little tension is always there: this time I will do giant, special and superg.”
You are not just a skier, is it true that you do other sports?
«Yes, I practice Tai who with my friends, swimming and a little climbing. In the summer I walk a lot and go by bicycle. But I also like to read in your free time and I am learning to play the accordion. I also act in a theater company: my daily life is very busy because I always want to experience new things ».
How is your daily life outside the ski?
«I work with an indefinite contract as a Miramonti waiter of Bormio, I prepare the tables, the breakfasts and sometimes I also serve the dinner. I learned this job by doing a year of training in Asti to the ethical hotel, where children with disabilities learn this job ».
Asti is far from where you live, how did you experience this experience away from home?
“It was a beautiful and important experience because I learned to travel by public transport independently and then staying away from home is very training.”
How important was the teaching of the family in this desire to never pull you back?
“My family in my growth path has been fundamental have always” woken up “, pushed to do many things, to believe in myself and never give up the difficulties. Their agreement is that I become autonomous and independent ».
And yours?
“My goal is the same thing.”
Can you also talk about the goal for games or are you superstitious?
“My goal would be to do some nice races and maybe if you can have the honor of taking the gold medal, to do the victory to my family that supported me in all ways and then also to my employer”.
Speaking of work, is it true that you served Pope Francis at the table?
«In November 2022 he made a visit to his family members in Asti and with other Ethics hotel boys I served lunch in Bishopric. It was “very beautiful”, very exciting to make the pope’s hand his hand “.
Would you like to send him a message right now?
“Of course, I would like to wish him heartily ready healing and that he can come back soon!”
