A Bitron talent in the Olympic relay: the story of Simone Monti
A Bitron talent in the Olympic relay: the story of Simone Monti
It is not often that you find yourself a few meters from the Olympic flame. For Bitron, it happened thanks to the sporting and professional path of Simone Monti, an employee of the Savona office and torchbearer in Sanremo on January 10th.
Born in 2002, Simone Monti practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu at a competitive level, and in his career as an athlete, he has collected many experiences of international importance. In 2019 he represented Italy at the Under 17 World Youth Grappling Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. In 2022 he competed at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships in Abu Dhabi and then was called up with the senior national team for the European Grappling Championships in Bucharest in 2023.
"It was a very strong emotion to be able to be part of the journey of the Olympic flame," he says. "The dream, as I imagine that of many athletes, is to be able to participate in the Olympics once in a lifetime." Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a discipline, he explains, is not yet an Olympic discipline, but, like many others, it is being evaluated for possible future inclusion.
"Last year I applied to become a torchbearer. They have personal information and details about my sporting career. Some time later, I learned that the request had been granted: I was one of the 10001 torchbearers selected. For me, it was one more step towards that dream."
On January 10 in Sanremo, Monti had the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron and carrying the flame, a moment that repays the spirit of sacrifice that he has always followed and continues to follow with discipline and constancy, not only in his sporting life but also in his university life, first and now at work.
"The method does not change. Even in the office, dedication and determination are fundamental. Not to settle, to push the limits is essential. This is what I try to convey to younger athletes as well: in Brazilian jiu-jitsu you face an opponent, but the first challenge is always with yourself."
For Monti, sport is also a school of collaboration, a principle that he finds every day in the work context: "At work everyone has their own goals, but without mutual support the results do not come. Individual contribution is important, but the best results come from working side by side."
Thank you Simone for your commitment and for bringing a small piece of Bitron to an iconic event.