Interview – Gabriele Aufer (3m springboard) leaps into the Napoli 2019 Universiade diving finals

“This is my third Universiade and I treasured the experience of the two previous editions”: Trieste native Gabriele Auber, by now almost a veteran of the International University Games, aims at finals (which he conquered this morning at the Diving Centre in Naples’ Mostra d’Oltremare, during the diving 3m semi-finals on July 4^th). His main objective, however, is still the Olympics, and he confesses wanting to go all out for Tokyo 2020: “I got to the synchronized diving world finals and now I want to also train myself individually, a specialty which is definitely harder, but satisfying as well”, said Auber. “The public of Naples is fantastic, which also helps in gaining some points with the judges”, admitted the athlete, who thanks the city he already visited a couple of times and that has always fascinated him. “The reception and the hospitality here are wonderful – Auber continued -, I really liked Naples and all the cheering made me advance to the 1m and 3m springboard finals. I had to go against strong and fierce opponents (especially Chinese athletes), even if they were fewer compared to previous games, maybe because world championships are just around the corner”.