Idea Pieroni: Italy’s Rising High Jump Star

Personal Information

Idea Pieroni was born on September 18, 2002, making her 23 years old as of 2025. She was born in Barga, Lucca, in the Tuscany region of Italy, and currently lives in Filecchio di Barga, in the scenic Garfagnana valley. She stands 1.84 meters tall (6’0″) and weighs 68 kilograms (150 lbs), with physical attributes well-suited to her specialty in high jump.

Family Background and Early Athletic Influences

Idea comes from an athletic family. Her mother previously played volleyball, and she has an older sister, Viola, who is a discus thrower and is two years her senior. This athletic environment undoubtedly contributed to her early exposure to sports and competitive spirit.

Early Athletic Journey and Sports Background

Before focusing on athletics, Idea explored various sports including dance and swimming, which provided her with a diverse movement foundation that would later benefit her high jump technique.

Her entry into athletics came through school competitions when her middle school teacher, Luigi Cosimini, who was also her sister Viola’s coach, introduced her to track and field. She initially tried long jump and hurdles before discovering her natural talent for high jump.

Club Affiliations and Training Structure

Idea maintains multiple club affiliations that reflect her journey through Italian athletics:

• Primary Club: Atletica Virtus Lucca athletics club in Lucca, Tuscany
• Original Club: Grupo Marciatori Barga in Barga, Tuscany (where she began her athletic career)
• Military Affiliation: Centro Sportivo Carabinieri (Italian armed forces sports section), which she joined in 2020

At age 18, Idea was selected to join the prestigious Centro Sportivo Carabinieri, becoming the youngest among four new inductees chosen from Italy’s most promising young athletics talents. This was described as “one of her dreams” that had been realized.

Coaching and Training Evolution

Idea’s coaching journey has been marked by strategic progressions:

• Early Development (2016-2020): Trained under Vinicio Bertoli in Barga, working on gymnasium floors, asphalt tracks, and at the Fornaci field
• Advanced Development (2020-2023): Worked with Stefano Giardi, a federal coach based in Siena who also trained Elena Vallortigara, Italy’s prominent high jumper
• Current Training (2023-Present): Since spring 2023, she has been coached by Luca Rapè, a former long jumper, while training in Lucca

Despite her military affiliation with the Carabinieri, Pieroni continues to train in Lucca under the tutelage of federal coach Stefano Giardi.

Personal Best Performances

Idea’s current personal best in high jump is 1.93 meters, achieved on September 21, 2024, at Campo Scuola Renato Martelli in Livorno, Italy.

Progression of Personal Bests:

• 2020 (age 18): 1.90 meters – came within one centimeter of the Italian junior indoor record of 1.91m
• Summer 2024: 1.91 meters
• July 2024: 1.92 meters (competing in Prato, Italy)
• September 2024: 1.93 meters (current personal best)

Other Event Performances:

• Triple Jump: 12.06 meters (September 21, 2024)
• 100m Hurdles: 16.35 seconds (May 11, 2019)

Major Accomplishments and Championships

National Championships

Idea is a 1-time national champion and 1-time national indoor champion.

Key National Titles:

• 2024 Italian Athletics Championships (La Spezia): Won high jump in June
• 2025 Italian Indoor Athletics Championships (Ancona): Won high jump with 1.91 meters

International Competition Results

2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships (Apeldoorn, Netherlands): Selected for the championships but did not progress to the final, with her competition ending at 1.89 meters

2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships (Nanjing, China): Finished in eighth place overall with a best clearance of 1.89 meters. This performance was seen as a significant character-building result, as she successfully rebounded from her European Championships disappointment.

2025 European Team Championships (Madrid, Spain): Contributed to Italy’s victory with a fourth-place continental finish, clearing 1.91 meters on her first attempt without any errors at lower heights

Early International Success:

• 2018 European U18 Championships (Gyor): Finished fourth in her debut at major international competition
• 2019: Reached the continental U20 final

World Rankings and Recognition

As of 2025, Idea holds the #24 ranking in the world in women’s high jump, establishing her as one of the elite high jumpers globally.

Notable Achievements and Records

• 2020: At 18 years old, cleared 1.90 meters in an international meet in Minsk, coming within just one centimeter of the Italian junior indoor record
• January 2025: Won the “Padova high jump contest” with 1.91 meters, setting an indoor personal best and establishing herself as Italy’s best female high jumper

Career Trajectory and Development

Idea has been identified as “the largest youth prospect of the Italian women’s high jump” and a key figure in the future of Italian high jumping.

Her progression has been marked by steady improvement and increasing international recognition. The 2025 World Indoor Championships performance was particularly significant as it demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level and learn from previous experiences.

Military Service and Dual Career

Idea’s selection for the Centro Sportivo Carabinieri represents not just athletic achievement but also a commitment to serving Italy through its armed forces. She expressed that joining the Carabinieri was “one of my dreams and it has been realized” and that she considers it “a true honor to be able to wear the Carabinieri jersey”.

This military affiliation provides her with professional structure and support while allowing her to continue her athletic career at the highest level.

Training Philosophy and Support System

Idea has consistently expressed gratitude to her support network, thanking “my coaches: Stefano Giardi and Vinicio Bertoli. Then a special thanks goes to all of Virtus Lucca, my family, friends and my boyfriend. Thanks also to the MasterFit gym in Gallicano which helped me with athletic preparation last winter and obviously to the Gruppo Marciatori Barga, where I was born athletically”.

Personal Interests and Character

While specific details about her personal interests beyond athletics are limited in public sources, several character traits emerge from her competitive career:

• Resilience: Her ability to bounce back from the disappointment of the European Championships to achieve eighth place at the World Championships demonstrates significant mental strength
• Gratitude and Humility: Her consistent acknowledgment of coaches, family, and support systems shows appreciation for those who have contributed to her success
• Ambition: Her progression from a small-town athlete to world-class competitor reflects determined pursuit of excellence

Community Connection and Local Pride

Idea maintains strong connections to her hometown community in Barga and the Garfagnana region, where she is celebrated as a local hero. Local media follows her career closely, with headlines celebrating her achievements and international appearances.

Future Prospects and Goals

At 23 years old, Idea is entering her prime years as a high jumper. With her current world ranking of #24 and personal best of 1.93 meters, she has positioned herself as a legitimate contender for major international medals.

Upcoming Major Competitions:

• 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo: Selected to represent Italy in high jump
• Future European Championships and potential Olympic qualification

Legacy and Impact

Idea’s success represents a “historic result” for Atletica Virtus Lucca, contributing to what the club describes as an “unprecedented” period of achievement. Her inclusion among Italy’s world championship team alongside athletes like Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs demonstrates her status among Italy’s elite athletes.

As “the future of Italian women’s high jump,” she carries the hopes of Italian athletics as she continues to develop her potential on the world stage.

Technical and Athletic Profile

Idea has demonstrated remarkable consistency and reliability at high levels, often clearing heights on her first attempt and showing technical proficiency under pressure. Her ability to compete effectively in international competitions while maintaining her technical standards marks her as a mature competitor despite her young age.

Go Idea!