Vincenzo Abbagnale, an Italian rower born in 1993, carries a legacy that is both monumental and personal. The son of Giuseppe Abbagnale, one of Italy’s most celebrated athletes in the sport, Vincenzo’s path to the water seems almost preordained. At the 2013 World Championships, he clinched a gold medal, a moment that undoubtedly solidified his place in the rowing community. Yet, the history woven into his DNA doesn’t entirely define him; he is a man of layered passions, including a fervent love for motorbikes.

Amid tales of his aquatic achievements, Vincenzo’s enthusiasm for the open road paints a different portrait—a contrast to the precision demanded by the sport. He first rode a scooter at age fourteen, ostensibly to lighten the burden on his parents’ early mornings. “I started biking for sporting needs,” he remarks with a hint of nostalgia, suggesting there’s more layers to his pursuits than mere hobby. Perhaps, it’s the thrill of speed, or the freedom found cruising along the Amalfi Coast, that resonates with him beyond the confines of rowing.

There’s an ambiguity in how he balances these facets of his life. While racing against the clock on the water, can the wind on his face and the sound of a revving engine provide the reprieve he craves? His words hint at a struggle; he misses his bike during training, almost as if it serves as a tether to a part of himself that allows for spontaneity.

Ultimately, Vincenzo Abbagnale exists between the worlds of competition and leisure, navigating the stranglehold of expectations with a scooter and a dream of conquering Route 66. He asks us not only to view him as an athlete but as someone who rides with purpose, twisting through life’s curves with more than just two oars.