He played football up to the age of 14, but following two selection tests with Avellino and Roma that were not successful, he decided to follow on his father Giovanni’s footsteps, immediately revealing his talent. So, at 21, he is about to experience his second Olympic adventure. Compared to London – where at the age of 17, he was the youngest of the Italian participants - in Rio he is no amateur either: the Sicilian weightlifter comes to Brazil as the current continental champion (with a silver and a bronze), protagonist of a historic feat in Italian weightlifting. His father competed in three editions of the Games, he aims to do more. Coming back with a medal around his neck is certainly no weight.