After winning her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris, 37-year-old Caterina Banti has decided to step back from competitive sailing. This choice was a thoughtful one; she feels a pull toward new life adventures beyond the wind and waves.
Here are some snippets of the article adapted and translated from La Rebubblica:
More Than Just an Athlete
Banti is unique—not only for her incredible talent but also for her path to get there. Unlike most pro sailors, she didn’t start competing until age 23. Before sailing, she focused on her studies, earning degrees in Eastern and Mediterranean History and learning multiple languages, including Arabic and Turkish. This academic background gave her a broader perspective, one she feels has helped her think independently and challenge some of the traditional norms in competitive sailing.
The Physical Journey
Growing up, Banti faced taunts about her weight, often being teased as a teenager which led to a brief struggle with bulimia.
Reflecting on her journey, Banti acknowledges the challenges she faced growing up. “As a child, I was chubby, and they called me ‘bantenottera.’ I struggled with bulimia, which forced me to confront my body as a teenager. Learning to accept myself and push my limits became my first real competition. A medal is not won without addressing personal challenges. No one is perfect; success is about growth and embracing diversity, not just individual achievements. There’s always something to learn from others, and we should never be ashamed to ask, ‘How did you do it?’ The world is evolving, and we need to move beyond stereotypes.
Gender Bias in the Sailing World
Banti also felt anger and disappointment regarding the gender dynamics in sailing. She believes the sport still caters mainly to men, with “initiatives” for women often feeling more like token gestures than genuine progress. Even though the International Olympic Committee (IOC) promotes the 2024 Paris Olympics as the first-ever gender-equal games, featuring 50% male and 50% female participants, Banti was surprised to see her name missing from the Women’s category for the World Sailor of the Year Award. This was unexpected, given that she and her male teammate, Ruggero Tita, had won every title together, including World Championships, European Championships and two Olympic golds. While she was happy for Tita’s nomination, it felt strange that, at a time when the IOC, national federations and National Olympic Committees like CONI (the National Italian Olympic Committee) are working towards more gender equality—especially with two mixed-gender Olympic classes—she was overlooked.
@Nacra17sailing
