He aspires to set a record in the "Sky Run 2022" race

A 78-year-old Italian prepares for a new challenge in Dubai: My heart is so young

Giovanni Potenza competed in the 2019 race and is back.

From the source

At the age of 78, Giovanni Potenza is looking forward to participating in the 17th edition of the Dubai Holding Skyrun Race, as he will climb 52 floors to the top of the office tower building in “Jumeirah Emirates Towers” ​​within minutes, aspiring to achieve a new record, during the race, Which is organized within the activities of the "Dubai Fitness Challenge".

The Italian rider is one of the athletes specialized in endurance racing, who are taking up this challenge to climb 1,334 steps of the ladder, with the aim of supporting Al Jalila Foundation.

This is not the first time Potenza has participated in the difficult race, as in 2019 he managed to climb the stairs three times in a row with an average of 13 minutes, setting a new record in the history of the race.

The Italian rider is looking forward to participating in the race that will be organized next Saturday, which is the latest version of the Dubai Holding Sky Run.

Potenza said: "In Dubai, I feel passion and enthusiasm thanks to the wonderful atmosphere in which the race is being held. The crowd is wonderful and gives me great energy to win and make every effort to achieve my sporting goals.. Dubai will always be in my heart."

He added, "Participating in as many races as possible is my greatest achievement, even though I am 78 years old, but my heart is still very young."

Potenza achieved many accomplishments during his career, as he managed to climb 70 floors in 15 minutes in the vertical race organized in London in July 2018. He also visited Milan in 2019 and climbed 50 floors in 10 minutes before heading to New York in June of the same year It then climbs 100 floors in 22 minutes.

Potenza follows a specific diet and training regimen in order to maintain an ideal physique for climbing skyscrapers, explaining, “You must focus on many things while training for the (Dubai Holding SkyRun) race, including mental focus and willpower. Therefore, I exercise two hours a day, whether on the road in the city or on the beach or even on the snow in the mountains, where the amount of oxygen is reduced, and I wear ankle weights of one kilogram and a backpack.”

He continued, “A healthy diet and getting enough rest contribute to enhancing the rider’s ability, and there is one thing that cannot be learned and that is passion, that is to challenge yourself to always achieve better results.

There is no specific technique for climbing stairs except to have the will, determination, athletic training and mental focus.”

Although he has won several endurance races, the Italian has no intention of stopping racing any time soon and is not thinking of retiring from the sport.

• 1,334 stairs, which Giovanni Potenza will climb, with the aim of supporting the "Al Jalila Foundation", as he loves achieving records and ascending skyscrapers.

Giovanni Potenza:

• "In Dubai, I feel passion and enthusiasm thanks to the great atmosphere in the race. The crowd gives me great energy to win and make every effort to achieve my goals."

Pioneering initiative

Dubai Holding SkyRun is an officially approved race, part of the annual calendar of events of the Dubai Sports Council, and a major event in the "Dubai Fitness Challenge", the pioneering initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, in year 2017.

The initiative encourages Dubai residents and visitors to adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle, by doing at least 30 minutes of daily exercise for 30 days.

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