Elisa Valensin: The Rise of Italy’s Sprinting Sensation

Elisa Valensin represents the new generation of Italian track and field excellence, embodying a remarkable combination of raw talent, technical precision, and competitive drive that has propelled her to the forefront of international athletics at just 18 years old. Born on January 1, 2007, in Segrate, Italy, Valensin has systematically dismantled youth records across multiple sprint and hurdle disciplines while establishing herself as a dominant force in European athletics234. Her meteoric rise from a promising junior athlete to a double European champion and World Championships finalist demonstrates not only her exceptional physical capabilities but also her mental fortitude and strategic approach to competition. With multiple Italian national records across various age categories and distances, Valensin has become a symbol of Italy’s athletic renaissance, carrying forward the legacy of a nation that has consistently produced world-class sprinters and middle-distance runners.

Early Life and Athletic Foundations

Family Influence and Multi-Sport Background

Elisa Valensin’s athletic journey began in a family deeply rooted in track and field tradition. Born in Segrate, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Milan, she inherited her athletic prowess from her mother Monica Facchi, a middle-distance runner from Clusone in Val Seriana, and her grandfather Modesto, who practiced mountain running4. This genetic predisposition toward endurance and speed provided the foundation for her later success in athletics. Before settling on track and field, Valensin explored numerous sporting disciplines, including rhythmic gymnastics, ice skating, diving, swimming, and volleyball, demonstrating the well-rounded athletic development that would later contribute to her versatility in multiple track events412.

Initial Steps in Athletics

Valensin began her formal athletic career in 2016 at the age of nine with the Società Ginnastica Milanese Forza e Coraggio28. This early introduction to structured training provided her with the fundamental movement patterns and competitive experience necessary for her later specialization in sprint and hurdle events. Her initial coaching came from Nadia Mondello, who recognized her potential and guided her through the developmental stages of youth athletics4. The decision to focus on track and field proved prescient, as Valensin quickly distinguished herself from her peers through her natural speed and coordination.

Career Development and Breakthrough Years

Transition Through Athletic Clubs

The progression of Valensin’s career can be traced through her affiliations with various athletic clubs, each representing a new phase of development. In 2017, she moved to ASPES Milano, continuing her development under structured coaching2. The most significant transition occurred in 2023 when she joined Atletica Bergamo 1959, where she began working with coach Fausto Frigerio, a former international athlete whose expertise in sprint events would prove transformational24. This partnership marked the beginning of her ascent to elite-level competition, as Frigerio’s technical knowledge and race strategy expertise enabled Valensin to refine her natural abilities.

2022: First National Recognition

The 2022 season represented Valensin’s breakthrough at the national level, as she captured her first Italian championship in the U16 300m hurdles category24. This victory was particularly remarkable because it came just two weeks after her first competition in the discipline, demonstrating her exceptional ability to adapt and excel in new events4. The achievement also showcased her versatility, as she successfully combined the technical demands of hurdling with her natural sprinting speed. This early success in hurdles would later influence her training approach, contributing to her improved stride frequency and race rhythm in flat sprint events.

2023: International Emergence

The 2023 season marked Valensin’s emergence as a legitimate international competitor across multiple disciplines. Indoors, she achieved significant success by becoming the Italian U18 vice-champion in the 60m hurdles and capturing gold in the 4×1 lap relay while setting an Italian record28. Her outdoor campaign proved even more successful, as she won Italian U18 titles in both the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay events2. The highlight of her 2023 season came at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Maribor, where she won silver in the Swedish relay and set an Italian record23. Additionally, her participation in the U20 European Championships in Jerusalem, where she reached the 200m final and finished seventh, provided valuable experience competing against older athletes23.

International Success and Record-Breaking Performances

2024: The Breakthrough Season

The 2024 campaign established Valensin as one of Europe’s premier young sprinters through a series of record-breaking performances and championship victories. Her indoor season began with Italian records in the 200m on short track, which she improved multiple times throughout the winter23. The February victory in the Italian indoor U20 200m championships, where she clocked 23.72 seconds, demonstrated her ability to transfer her outdoor speed to the shorter indoor tracks3. Her success continued with a gold medal performance in the 4×2 lap relay at the Italian Absolute Indoor Championships, contributing to another U20 Italian record2.

European U18 Championships Dominance

Valensin’s performance at the 2024 European Athletics U18 Championships in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, represented the pinnacle of her junior career achievements. Her victory in the 200m final, where she clocked 23.09 seconds, established new Italian U18 and U20 records while also setting a championship best performance236. The race demonstrated her tactical maturity, as she successfully managed the pressure of being the pre-competition favorite while delivering a performance that placed her among the fastest European juniors in history6. Her second gold medal came in the medley relay, where she anchored the Italian team to victory in a European U18 best time of 2:05.232310.

World U20 Championships Performance

Valensin’s transition to the 400m distance proved successful at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, where she reached the final and finished sixth with a time of 52.69 seconds39. Her qualification for the final came through a heat where she set another Italian U20 record of 52.23 seconds, demonstrating her ability to perform under the pressure of global competition23. Additionally, her contribution to the Italian 4x400m relay team, which finished fifth in the final, showcased her versatility and team racing capabilities39.

Technical Prowess and Training Approach

Multi-Event Specialization

Valensin’s training approach under Fausto Frigerio emphasizes versatility across sprint and hurdle disciplines, enabling her to compete effectively from 60m to 400m distances4. This comprehensive approach has contributed to her technical proficiency in race planning and energy distribution, skills that prove particularly valuable in the longer sprint events. Her background in hurdles has enhanced her stride frequency and rhythm, contributing to more efficient sprint mechanics in flat races4. The training philosophy incorporates both explosive power development and technical refinement, allowing her to maintain speed endurance across the full range of sprint distances.

Geographic Training Centers

Valensin’s training is conducted across multiple locations, primarily between Bergamo and the Giuriati field in Milan, providing variety in training environments and access to different coaching expertise4. This geographic flexibility enables her to access optimal training conditions year-round while maintaining connections with both her current club and her roots in Milanese athletics. The dual-location approach also facilitates collaboration between different coaching perspectives, contributing to her well-rounded athletic development.

Recent Achievements and Future Prospects

2025 Continued Excellence

The early months of 2025 have demonstrated Valensin’s continued upward trajectory, with additional Italian U20 records in both the 400m indoor (53.04 seconds) and 200m indoor (23.39 seconds)35. Her performance in Metz, France, where she improved her 200m indoor record to 23.39 seconds, positioned her as the third-fastest Italian woman of all time in the event, trailing only Manuela Levorato and Virna De Angeli5. These performances indicate her successful transition from junior to senior-level competition while maintaining her record-breaking pace.

International Recognition and Media Presence

Valensin’s achievements have garnered significant international attention, including her nomination for the European Young Athlete of the Year award for 20243. Her participation in the European Athletics documentary series “My Fire” has provided insight into her personality and competitive approach, enhancing her profile beyond pure athletic achievement31013. This media exposure reflects her growing status as a ambassador for Italian athletics and a role model for aspiring young athletes across Europe.

Professional Development

Her recent signing with the Fiamme Oro Padova represents a significant step in her professional development, providing access to enhanced training resources and support systems414. This affiliation with one of Italy’s premier athletic organizations positions her for continued success as she transitions into senior-level international competition. The professional support structure will prove crucial as she prepares for future European Championships and potentially Olympic competition.

Conclusion

Elisa Valensin’s remarkable journey from a multi-sport youth athlete to a record-breaking international competitor exemplifies the potential of systematic development combined with exceptional natural talent. Her achievements across multiple sprint and hurdle disciplines, including double gold at the European U18 Championships and finalist status at the World U20 Championships, establish her as one of Europe’s most promising athletic talents. The consistency of her record-breaking performances, spanning from 2023 through early 2025, demonstrates not only her immediate capabilities but also her potential for continued improvement as she matures physically and gains additional international experience.

Her technical versatility, enabling success across distances from 200m to 400m and including both flat and hurdle events, provides multiple pathways for future specialization and success. The strong foundation provided by her family’s athletic background, combined with expert coaching from Fausto Frigerio and institutional support from elite Italian athletic organizations, creates an optimal environment for continued development. As she prepares for senior-level international competition, including potential participation in future European Championships and Olympic Games, Valensin represents the bright future of Italian sprinting and the continuing evolution of European athletics. Her story serves as an inspiration for young athletes while establishing her as a legitimate contender for global athletic honors in the years ahead.

Go Elisa!