Breaking Boundaries
HPALS held the inaugural Italian-Sports symposium on the Friday 27 September 2024 as a request from the Italian embassy, Pretoria South Africa
Our theme was Breaking Boundaries
Speakers included Mr Marcelle Fiacasconaro and Professor Luca Tiano, Scientific Attaché at the Italian Embassy: “The Fiasconaro the Italian-SA story”
A/Professor Andrew Bosch: “Eliod Kipchoge: The Story”
A/Professor Jeroen Swart: “Current insights into tracking performance, lessons learnt in Italy by South Africans “
Dr Giovanna Ghiani, Italy:” Managing human limitations and extreme performances through sport science in the name of solidarity”
Dr Roxy Davis : “A PhD story using surf therapy to impact communities towards the World sports arena”
We were honored to have as our guest Mr Marcello Luigi Fiasconaro, who shared with us his journey from South Africa, a Rondebosch Boys high school learner, to Italy where he trained with the best and broke the 800m world record at the Arena Civica in Milan on 27 June 1973. He told his story as he moved meter by metre in the arena, against one of the strongest specialists in Europe, the Czechoslovakian Jozef Plachý. His time of 1'43"7 is still the Italian national record today. The audience remained engaged to hear the story behind champion.
- Professor Andrew Bosch is an Exercise Scientist & Running Physiologist at the University of Cape Town's Health, Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre (HPALS).
- Professor Jeroen Swart :Head of Sports & Exercise Medicine UCT. Head of Performance UAE Team Emirates. No1 ranked team globally and winner 2024 Tour de France and Giro D’Italia
- Dr Giovanna Ghiani is a senior lecturer at the university of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy within the Medical Sciences Department. Her main field of research is sport science and sports nutrition.
- Dr Roxy Davis, a champion, entrepreneur, and advocate for change, is a true force in the realms of business, surfing, and community empowerment. Not only is she a 9-time South African surfing champion, but she is also the founder of Surf Emporium and Ocean Freedom. She leads the Roxy Davis Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving mental and physical wellbeing through ocean-based therapy.
Professor Yumna Albertus, The Director of HPALS centre welcomed our audience and special guests.
H.E. Alberto Vecchi (Italian Ambassador) introduced the program of events and highlighted the value of breaking boundaries in everyday day society and not only in the sports arena.
The acting DVC for research and internationalisation, Professor Jeff Murugan thanked all the speakers, our special guests and dignitaries present in the audience and online
Professor Luca Tiano made the closing remarks on behalf of the Embassy
Professor Alison V. September was responsible for leading the symposium
