Asia Tavernini: Biography

Rising Star of Italian High Jump

Asia Tavernini, born September 18, 2001, in Riva del Garda, Trentino, is one of Italy’s most promising high jumpers and a rising force in international athletics. At 24 years old, she represents the Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Oro Padova (the Italian State Police sports group) and trains under the guidance of former champion Silvano Chesani, with additional strength training support from Sergio Bonvecchio.

Athletic Accomplishments

Personal Bests and Major Achievements

Tavernini’s personal best in the high jump stands at 1.92 meters, achieved on June 14, 2025, at the Centro Gabre Gabric in Brescia during the Italian Team Championships (Campionati di Società). This breakthrough performance marked a significant milestone in her career and established her among Italy’s elite high jumpers.

Her competitive resume includes several prestigious accomplishments:

International Success:

• Silver Medal at the 2025 World University Games (Universiadi) in Bochum, Germany, clearing 1.89 meters in what was a thrilling competition against Spain’s Una Stancev Stevanovic, who won gold with 1.91 meters

National Championships:

• Italian National Champion (2025) – Won her first absolute Italian title at Caorle with a clearance of 1.87 meters
• Two-time Italian Under-23 Indoor Champion (2022, 2023)
• Italian Under-23 Outdoor Champion (2023)

World Rankings: Currently ranked #34 in the world in women’s high jump, demonstrating her status as an internationally competitive athlete.

Competition Highlights

Throughout the 2024-2025 season, Tavernini has delivered consistently strong performances:

• 1.90 meters at the QArco Games in Arco, Trentino (June 2024 and August 2025) – her breakthrough over the 1.90-meter barrier and a cherished achievement on home soil
• 1.90 meters at Lucca in the pre-World Championships event (August 2025)
• 1.87 meters at multiple international competitions, including Zagreb, Croatia (May 2025)
• Competed at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, making her debut with the Italian national team

The QArco Games Legacy

The QArco Games in her home region of Trentino hold special significance for Tavernini. She has won the “Eagle Queen” title at this prestigious meeting multiple times, becoming a local hero. Her 1.90-meter clearance at the 2024 edition was particularly emotional, as it represented not only a personal best but also a homecoming triumph in front of supportive local fans.

Athletic Journey and Development

Early Years

Tavernini began her high jump career around age 15, showing immediate promise in the discipline. She initially competed for US Quercia Dao Conad, growing up in the athletics scene around Riva del Garda and Rovereto. Her early development was marked by rapid progression and natural talent for the technical demands of high jumping.

Coaching Changes and Challenges

After establishing herself under longtime coach Mauro Modena, Tavernini made a significant transition in 2024, moving to train under Silvano Chesani in Trento. This change, while initially challenging, proved transformative for her career. The spring of 2024 was particularly difficult, as she dealt with injuries to both ankles and the psychological adjustment to new training methods and logistics.

The move meant relocating her training base from Arco to Trento, requiring adjustments in her daily routine. However, working with Chesani, himself a former high jump champion, allowed her to refine technical aspects of her approach and develop greater explosiveness in her takeoff.

As Tavernini explained about her technical goals: “I need to arrive stronger at takeoff and have a more effective push.” This focus on the final phase of her jump has been central to her improvement under Chesani’s guidance.

Overcoming Adversity

The 2024 season presented significant challenges. After a promising indoor season where she cleared 1.86 meters, physical problems prevented her from qualifying for the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn. She also narrowly missed qualification for the 2024 European Championships in Rome, missing the qualifying standard by just a few days.

However, her resilience shone through. The breakthrough 1.90-meter jump at the QArco Games in June 2024 marked a turning point, restoring her confidence and momentum. From that point forward, she embarked on a successful run that included her first national title and her silver medal at the World University Games.

Education and Academic Pursuits

Physiotherapy Studies

Asia Tavernini is not just an elite athlete but also a dedicated student pursuing a degree in Physiotherapy. This demanding academic path reflects her commitment to understanding the human body, injury prevention, and rehabilitation—knowledge that serves her well both as an athlete and in her future career aspirations.

In 2024, she completed her university internship at the Hospital of Arco, gaining practical clinical experience. She has been working toward completing her final exams and thesis, balancing the rigorous demands of international athletic competition with her academic responsibilities. This dual commitment demonstrates exceptional time management skills and intellectual curiosity.

Her choice to study physiotherapy is particularly fitting given her own experiences with injuries and the technical, biomechanical nature of high jumping. The education provides her with scientific understanding that complements her athletic training.

Personal Life and Relationships

Training Partnership

Tavernini trains in Trento alongside her boyfriend, Manuel Lando, who is himself an accomplished high jumper competing for the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare). Lando has achieved significant success, including a sixth-place finish at the World Indoor Championships in Nanchino and fourth place at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn.

The couple’s relationship creates a unique dynamic where they support each other’s athletic pursuits while maintaining their individual competitive identities. They often compete at the same meetings, with Lando defending his “Eagle King” title at the QArco Games while Tavernini claims the “Eagle Queen” crown.

Regional Pride

As a native of Riva del Garda on the shores of Lake Garda in Trentino, Tavernini takes great pride in representing her region. She was named “Best Trentino Athlete of 2023” and has become a source of inspiration for young athletes in the area. The Trentino region, known for producing exceptional endurance athletes like Nadia Battocletti and distance runner Yeman Crippa, is now celebrating Tavernini’s achievements in the technical events.

Career Aspirations and Future Goals

Short-Term Objectives

Tavernini’s immediate goals center on establishing herself among Europe’s elite high jumpers and qualifying for major championships. Her 2025 season focused on:

• Competing at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
• Improving her personal best beyond 1.92 meters
• Achieving consistent clearances above 1.90 meters
• Qualifying for future European Championships and World Championships

Long-Term Vision

While still early in her senior career at 24, Tavernini has her sights set on Olympic qualification and competing at the highest international level. Italy has a proud tradition in women’s high jump, with Olympic medalists Sara Simeoni and Antonietta Di Martino, as well as recent world championship medalist Elena Vallortigara. Tavernini aims to continue this legacy and potentially reach the Olympic podium herself.

Her dual career path also positions her well for life after athletics, with physiotherapy offering a fulfilling profession that will allow her to remain connected to sports and help other athletes achieve their potential.

Character and Work Ethic

Mental Toughness

Tavernini’s journey demonstrates remarkable mental fortitude. The difficult spring of 2024, marked by coaching changes, injuries, and near-misses for major championships, could have derailed many athletes. Instead, she used these setbacks as motivation, working intensively on both physical and technical improvements.

She has also worked with a mental coach, Sandra Đurijanček, reflecting her holistic approach to athletic development and understanding that success in high jump requires psychological strength as much as physical ability.

Training Philosophy

High jump is one of track and field’s most technical events, requiring perfect coordination of speed, power, and technique. Tavernini’s training under Chesani emphasizes:

• Technical refinement – improving her approach run and takeoff mechanics
• Explosive power development – working with Sergio Bonvecchio on strength training
• Competitive experience – regular participation in high-quality meetings to build confidence
• Recovery and injury prevention – applying her physiotherapy knowledge to maintain health

Team Mentality

Despite high jump being an individual event, Tavernini has embraced the team aspects of athletics. She contributed to Italy’s success at the European Team Championships and takes pride in representing the Fiamme Oro organization. Her willingness to compete for her team and support teammates reflects a generous spirit.

Impact and Legacy

Inspiring the Next Generation

As one of the few female athletes from Trentino competing at the international level in track and field, Tavernini serves as a role model for young girls in the region. Her success shows that with dedication, proper coaching, and resilience, athletes from smaller regions can compete with the best in the world.

Continuing Italian High Jump Tradition

Italy has produced some of the world’s greatest high jumpers, and Tavernini is positioned to carry this tradition forward. Her achievements at the World University Games, combined with her national title, demonstrate that she belongs among Italy’s elite and has the potential to achieve even greater success on the world stage.

Looking Ahead

As Asia Tavernini continues to develop technically and physically, the athletics world watches with anticipation. At 24, she is entering the prime years for high jumpers, when physical maturity combines with technical mastery and competitive experience. With her 1.92-meter personal best, she has already shown she can clear heights that place her among international contenders.

Her story is one of perseverance, intelligent training, academic dedication, and authentic passion for her sport. Whether in the high jump pit or completing her physiotherapy degree, Asia Tavernini exemplifies the modern student-athlete: accomplished, resilient, and committed to excellence in all endeavors.

The journey from a 15-year-old beginner in Riva del Garda to a World University Games silver medalist and Italian national champion demonstrates what can be achieved through hard work, expert coaching, and unwavering determination. As she continues to reach for new heights—both literally and figuratively—Asia Tavernini represents the bright future of Italian athletics and the enduring spirit of champions who overcome adversity to achieve their dreams.

Go Asia!