Gianni Iapichino: “Larissa can reach 7 meters and 20”

Florence, 21 August 2024 – "I would have put a mortgage on the house that Larissa would have achieved in Paris above 7 metres". Fortunately Gianni Iapichino, father and coach of Larissa, did not mortgage his beautiful house at the foot of the Florentine hills. Yes, because at the Olympics Larissa stopped at 6,87: a not inconsiderable measurement which earned her an excellent fourth place in the long jump. "If we look at the cold numbers – continues the Tuscan coach – one wonders what the problem is: fourth place at 22 years old, 6,87. But as a coach I am sure that it is worth well beyond that measure. And you know it too. If had done the race she always did in those situations, bringing out something more from herself, but not something more than it's worth...".

According to the father-coach "Larissa didn't bring out that motivation to give her best. A similar thing also happened to the Indoor World Championships in Glasgow, it's something we need to analyze, it's not a technical problem and she arrived in Paris in top form. It's a psychological problem."

Of course, the expectations were different, given Larissa's talent: "Not only after qualifying at 6,87, but even before going to the Olympics, I thought that Larissa could achieve a result between 7,10 and 7,20. That's what it's worth."

Before the Paris race, Gianni encourages his daughter by telling her that to win you have to go beyond 7 metres. "She replied: Yes dad I want to do above 7 metres".

Things, as mentioned, went differently and it should be noted that Davis won, in fact, with 7,10 and that Larissa only missed the podium by 9 centimetres.

And now? How do we start again? Focusing on Los Angeles 2028?

"The thought is there, but in this four-year period there are many important competitions, indoor and outdoor European and World Championships. Now Larissa will compete in September in Brussels in the Diamond League final, then a bit of holiday and we will start again a bit later than usual. Next season will be very intense. I will add some tools for next year that I didn't have available until now", concludes father Gianni.