Giorgia Cesarini, San Marino’s first Olympic woman archer living the “idyllic dream of Paris”

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT is presented by WIAWIS.

Giorgia Cesarini will make history this Thursday in Paris 2024 as the first female archer to ever represent San Marino in an Olympic Games.

Even before her, the number of male archers from the microstate were sparse. Paolo Tura consecutively shot in Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 and Emanuele Guidi was the last San Marinese archer at a Games in London 2012.

Cesarini’s spot was confirmed last month after being selected as one of archery’s universality invitee, along with Oscar Ticas of El Salvador, Lam Dorji of Bhutan and Fatoumata Sylla of Guinea.

“I was sleeping when the president of the federation called me to tell me that I had received the invitation, I jumped out of bed overwhelmed with emotions,” she said on when she found out the news.

“I had worked very hard and finally receiving the invitation was a confirmation of all the efforts and sacrifices made.”

The ‘sacrifices’ Cesarini mentions though aren’t the usual for rising archers. The 21-year-old first began her sporting career in athletics competing in the 100 metres, shot put, javelin throw and was a part of San Marino’s 4x100m relay team at the 2019 European Team Championships.

Whilst the COVID pandemic brought troubled change for many, it was the planet’s lockdown that sparked Giorgia to switch over to archery.

She had started shooting in 2019 as a hobby but after stopping athletics at university, she made the crucial decision that would eventually lead her to Les Invalides this summer.

“Even though I loved athletics, I felt I had to change the scenery and try to throw myself into archery and see where it would take me,” said Cesarini who is still yet to get past the second round in a major tournament.

“I didn’t initially imagine I would reach this level, especially in archery.”

“My journey began with athletics, and it’s amazing how life can take unexpected but rewarding turns.”

Being on the track and field is clearly different to the shooting line. Although she’d been shooting part time, nothing can compare to the tension and anxiety whilst competing internationally in a sport of such tight margins.

This change was something Cesarini openly admitted as difficult to manage at first but after learning the art of competitive archery, she feels she has learnt not only about the sport but herself too.

“The most difficult adaptation was changing mentality, moving from the explosive energy and physical endurance of athletics (particularly javelin throwing) to the precision, calm and mental focus required in archery,” the youngster explained.

“The precision, concentration and calm required in archery has led me to a new awareness of myself. The sense of accomplishment and personal growth I have experienced through international competition is something I deeply appreciate.”

It is truly remarkable what can be done in five years. After putting a halt to her endeavours in athletics, Cesarini was in a purgatorial stage of her career, unsure of what her next step be in sport and if there was one.

Now she has achieved what she called the “idyllic dream of Paris”, something she once pondered from afar.

She is yet to win an international medal and doing so in France is unlikely, but she proudly heads to Paris as a history maker.

Giorgia Cesarini, San Marino’s first Olympic woman archer.