Chat with last year's 42km winner Giacomo Gobbato

26. June 2026

How long have you been inline skating?

Giacomo: I’ve been doing inline skating since I was a child, following in my sister’s and my dad’s footsteps.

What motivates you to keep on inline skating?

Giacomo: To all children, skating is a game; it was the same for me, and I never would have thought that behind such a seemingly playful activity there would be so much hard work and a whole world to discover.
Skating clears my mind… but when you start ‘skating’ for real, everything changes into a succession of sensations, some of which even clash with one another… emotions, fears, quick decisions, pain, sweat, the smell, disappointments, anger, joy, exhaustion.
In a way, competitive sport has made me realise that it really is the best who come out on top, without any compromises or shortcuts.
I often travel all over Italy and parts of Europe – is it tiring? Yes, but… it’s fantastic; I hope to have the chance to visit places further and further afield.
In 2024, I managed to win the bronze medal in the 500m sprint at the Junior World Championships. A truly wonderful experience.

Do you have any special preparations for the marathon races? Any special preparation for this year's race in Ljubljana?

Giacomo: I’m a sprinter; I haven’t done any specific training for marathons. I skate marathons because I enjoy them. Ljubljana is a beautiful city; I’ve visited it several times. The marathon is also lovely, with a lovely route that winds through a very peaceful area with no traffic or pollution.