Paola Egonu received the "Athlete of the Year" award from GQ Italia – an accolade that goes beyond volleyball and highlights her role as a symbol of the new, modern Italy. She is a champion with an extraordinary career, holder of 64 awards, known for her strength, composure, and ability to decide the most important points. But behind the star status stands a woman with dreams, fears, and exhaustion that are not seen from the stands.

The beginning – after 2018 came the decision to be #1.

Egonu admits that the drive to reach the top was born after winning silver at the 2018 World Championship. It was then that she first formulated the goal for herself:

"I want to become the best."

But she is adamant that true recognition does not come from the athlete herself:

"You become the best when others say it about you."

Volleyball is a dependency between players.

Egonu speaks openly about the nature of the sport:

"Even the strongest attacker is nothing without an accurate ball from the setter. We all depend on each other. When I feel the trust of the team and the coaches, I can take risks and bring out that extra 10% that changes finals."

For her, this additional percentage comes from the complete confidence that the team stands behind her, even in moments when the decisive hit falls on her shoulders.

The discipline of listening to your body.

Paola describes one of the most important qualities of a great athlete – the ability to feel her own body:

• when she is rested,

• when she is overloaded,

• when her shoulder "feels heavy",

• when her concentration drops.

She expects the staff to trust her when she says, "today I'm tired":

"It's not because I don't want to work. It's just a day when I won't be like when I'm fresh."

For her, the ability to admit to yourself that one day you won't be brilliant is part of professionalism.

Millions of repetitions and a state of complete concentration.

Egonu rejects the idea that perfect performances are magic:

"This is the result of training, of days when nothing works out for you, but you keep giving everything. When you're exhausted, your body saves you with movements you've repeated millions of times."

She believes that true peak performance comes from an obsession with improving details that seem unnoticeable to others.

From passion to obsession

According to Paola, every great athlete goes through the same path:

• first comes the love for the game,

• then the stagnation,

• after that, the obsession with improvement.

"From a certain point, growth becomes obsessive. To reach the top, you have to be almost crazy. I am."

The big dilemma: motherhood and career

Egonu doesn't hide that the desire to be a mother is genuine. But for female athletes, it's a huge challenge:

• a long break,

• a changed body,

• an uncertain comeback.

"Men can return immediately. For us, the nine months and recovery change everything. This is a huge conflict."

She admits she doesn't know when she will make this choice, but she doesn't want to postpone the matter indefinitely.

The solitude of professionalism

The real life of a world star is anything but spotlights:

"You wake up alone, train alone, eat alone, go to bed alone. And you get used to it. You might even like it. But sometimes it weighs on you."

She says that athletes often live at a higher "speed" than their friends and relatives, which makes understanding and communication difficult.

The symbol of the new Italy

Paola Egonu is not just a volleyball player. She is:

• a Black Italian,

• direct in her stance on racism,

• open about her personal freedom,

• an example for young girls.

"It's an honor for me. Little Paola would have dreamed of seeing someone like me. This gives me strength."

A message to her future self

In the end, she says something simple but powerful:

"To have lived without regrets. To have followed my instinct. And to have remained true to myself."

photos:www.gqitalia.it/Agata Serge