The medal in the PR Mixed Double at the Coastal Rowing World Championships slipped away by a hair, but Australian Mac Russell overcame the disappointment of fourth place thanks to pesto: “It’s delicious,” he says, “I even tried it as an ice cream flavor, and I liked it a lot”.

But beyond his trip to Genoa, where he explored the wonders of the Ligurian capital, Russell also found it interesting to experience a different kind of beach. “There are more rocks here; it was nice to try something different”, he noted.

However, his true passion remains Coastal Rowing, “more unpredictable compared to traditional rowing,” Russell explains. “I prefer it because it makes me feel more connected to the team”.