Milan, 5 February (LaPresse) – ‘Winning is essential for me, but there is also much more.’ So said Italian skier Giovanni Franzoni during an interview with Credere, a weekly magazine published by Gruppo Editoriale San Paolo, which features him on the cover of its latest issue, on newsstands today. A small but great man that alpine skiing needed, writes the newspaper: ‘I've never had much self-esteem, I've always had doubts, even when competing in sport with stronger people. On skis,’ says Franzoni, ‘I become super competitive, but in life I've always preferred to be kind, polite and respectful.’ Coming from a religious family, faith has always been part of their lives: ‘When we went to school, we had to bring a prayer book to learn by heart: the most difficult one? The Salve Regina, how long it was… but now I know it!’ jokes Giovanni. Even the parish priest of Moniga del Garda and well-known cartoonist dedicated a cartoon to him with the words “The Lord skis with you”. ‘As soon as we can, we all go to Mass and then we eat pizza. It's a way to stay close and remain anchored to a healthy normality in the midst of chaos,’ he says. And on the parable that has remained most impressed on him, he explains: ‘The one about the speck and the log. I think of those who judge us athletes from afar. I try never to judge, because I know how much effort they put in.’ Finally, on his friend and almost brother Matteo Franzoso, who recently passed away, he confides: ‘I feel him close to me and, as I said from the beginning, he will always ski with me in my heart. Because I am sure we will meet again. If I didn't think that was possible, nothing would make sense.’