Egonu was born in Italy into a family of immigrants from Nigeria. In 2014, she received Italian citizenship, previously granted to her father.
The outlet released a recording where the 23-year-old can be heard just after winning the bronze medal at the World Volleyball Championships, shouting at his agent: “You won’t understand, you won’t understand. It’s my last game for the national team. They asked me why I’m Italian. I’m fed up.”
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“La Gazzetta dello Sport” pointed out: “These are a few words, but they are terrible if you think about the meaning of the athlete who uttered them.”
Italy’s biggest sports daily writes that the popular volleyball player – the best in the national team and one of the strongest in the world – is “tortured” because of racist insults on the internet.
She also quotes her calmer statement for RAI television: “I’m very tired now, maybe I’ll take a break from the national team, but I’m not saying I’m going to leave it.” Asked about the racist comments about her, she replied briefly: “You have to ask who is doing this.”
The newspaper, referring to the solidarity expressed with her, assures: “Everyone is with Paola”.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called her to assure her of his closeness. Her law firm said after their conversation: “The player is the pride of Italian sport, she will have the opportunity to win more trophies in the national team shirt in the future.”
The President of the Italian Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malago, also spoke to her to convey his support from the world of national sport. He also encouraged her to “not make hasty decisions”.
The press quotes Malago’s words to the competitor: “We are with you”.
“Paola Egonu is very attached to the Azzurri jersey. She reacted strongly to some morons on social networks” – noted Giuseppe Manfedi, president of the Italian volleyball federation.
In an interview with the Ansa agency, he regretted that the episode described by the media had pushed into the background another great success of the team which won the bronze medal of the world championship.
As he pointed out, Paola is after six months of training camp and was stressed.
“Now let’s all calm down, the next national team call-up will be in April 2023 and I have no reason to think it won’t be there. has nothing to do with racism,” he said. .
Solidarity with the player has also been expressed by politicians, including centre-left Democratic Party leader Enrico Lett and Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte.
League leader Matteo Salvini tweeted to congratulate Italy on winning the medal: “A big hug to Paola Egon, champion on and off the pitch, to whom we wish many more victories for the flag Italian tricolor.”
The daily La Stampa notes that some people have the pleasure of “hurting talent”.
“Representing Italy is a question of color. Yes. If you wear a blue jersey, you are Italian or Italian”, adds the newspaper, stressing that “this jersey is not only a question of citizenship, but also of identity.
Egon, who rose to popularity as a volleyball player, is also a rising TV star.
CM, PAP
Go to Polsatsport.pl
