Skip to main content

“I expect an atmosphere of sporting spirit and friendship“

Italian rower Giovanni Borgonovo talks about his expectations for the World University Games in Germany. 

Johannes_GöbelInterview: Johannes Göbel , 10.07.2025
Giovanni Borgonovo (3rd from left) is a successful athlete.
Giovanni Borgonovo (3rd from left) is a successful athlete. © Imago

A student of medicine and surgery at the University of Insubria in northern Italy, 22-year-old Giovanni Borgonovo has already competed successfully in several international events. At the last World University Games in Chengdu, China, the lightweight rower won both a gold and a silver medal. 

Giovanni, as an experienced student athlete – what makes the World University Games so special in your view? 
I think it’s exciting to compete against other athletes who are also managing to juggle both their studies and sport. It’s not easy to carve out the necessary time for training at university. But the World University Games show that others manage it too – and that motivates me. 

What are your expectations for the upcoming World University Games? How do you rate the German team? 
Since it’s recently been hard for me to find time for training, I’d be satisfied with a solid race – regardless of the final result. I expect an atmosphere of sporting spirit and friendship. That’s what I’ve always experienced at previous major international competitions, and I assume that’ll be the case in Germany too. In lightweight rowing, Germany has always fielded strong competitors. The German teams I’ve encountered in past races have always been up to the challenge. 

What are your goals for the future? 
I want to keep training as intensively as possible, despite my university commitments. I’m not setting any major long-term sporting goals, but each year I plan new steps – always based on the level of fitness I feel confident I can achieve. Sport helps me structure my time and stay ambitious. That benefits my studies – and will surely help me in my future career as well.