Slalom paddler Raffaello Ivaldi has insisted that he is willing to fight through the pain barrier to represent Italy on the Olympic stage after revealing that he is suffering two hernias.
Ivaldi was forced to miss last month’s ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague due to a back problem.
The issue was sustained during the first World Cup of the season in Augsburg where paddlers endured torrid weather.
Ivaldi said he was informed by his doctor that he had picked up two hernias but insisted they were “under control”.
Despite the injury, Ivaldi returned to compete at the World Cup in Krakow and is now looking to paddle at the Olympics.
“I had some problems with my back so that’s why I didn’t race in Prague but the team did an amazing job,” said Ivaldi.
“I didn’t paddle for 10 days but I wanted to paddle one more time for the Olympics.
“I was feeling better in Krakow, the recovery went fast so I did one training session and then went straight into the race.
“I have two hernias so sometimes I have back problems.
“I had a blockage after my final run at the first World Cup in Augsburg.
“With the weather being really cold and the effort being so huge, the muscles blocked a bit but now it’s getting better.
“The doctor said it is still under control.
“I just need to be really careful with it, do a lot of exercises, a lot of physiotherapy and just keep it under control and then we will see after the Games.”
Ivaldi, who has been competing on the international circuit since 2012, is preparing to make his long-awaited Olympic debut in Paris.
Narrowly missing out on Tokyo 2020 was a huge blow for Ivaldi but he insisted that he used it as extra motivation to secure his place in the men's C1 at Paris 2024.
He claimed gold medals in C1 at last year's ICF Canoe Slalom World Cups in La Seu and the Paris 2024 Olympic course in Vaires-sur-Marne.
“I missed out on Tokyo by a few hundredths of a second so when I managed to qualify for Paris it was a dream come true,” said the 26-year-old.
“Right now I am 100 per cent focused on what I am doing.
“I am training so hard and then after the Games we will have time to enjoy.
“It’s everyone’s dream to compete at the Olympics and to bring home a medal but the field is amazing.
“Everyone is so strong and I just feel grateful to be in this group.
“I hope I will put down a good show in Paris.”
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