If I had a daughter, Giorgia Zanato, I would say: you might encounter many defeats, but you must never be defeated. Ever. In fact, it might even be necessary to confront defeat. It might be necessary to get over it. All the way through it. And go on.
I would teach her to laugh a lot—laugh at the silliest things—and yet be very, very serious when it matters. I’d teach her to love life. I’d bet you that.
Because, Giorgia, the world will try to tell you that “contest” is a word reserved for others. They will try to tell you that in the arena of sport, your value is measured only by the scoreboard, and in the arena of life, by how well you follow the script.
The Power of the Contest
To be a woman in sport and in life is to live in a state of perpetual motion. It is not just about the sweat on the court or the finish line in sight; it is about the audacity to take up space.
- In Sport: I would tell her that every muscle ache is a testament to her agency. The field doesn’t care about your doubts; it only knows your effort. Whether she wins or loses, the “contest” is where she finds out who she really is when the lights are bright and the breath is short.
- In Life: I would remind her that “winning” is often a quiet, internal revolution. It is the ability to look at a barrier and see a hurdle—something designed to be cleared, not something meant to stop her.
The Balance of Grit and Grace
I want her to know that being a “contest woman” doesn’t mean being hardened. It means being resilient.
“Character is not built in the absence of struggle, but in the decision to remain joyful despite it.”
Go ahead, Giorgia. Fall down. Get your knees dirty. Let the world see you fail, and then let them see you get up with a smile that says, “Is that all you’ve got?” Love the game, love the struggle, and above all, love the woman you become through the fire.
The world is waiting for your energy. Don’t just participate—compete. Not just against others, but against every version of yourself that ever thought you couldn’t.
Your Dad