Benoit ´Piccolo´ Clemente: “the objective set with the IPD and my federation was met”

A few weeks before the end of 2023, the outstanding national surfer, Benoit ‘Piccolo’ Clemente, once again entered the sea to remember with great joy the gold medal he obtained in Santiago 2023, and which placed him as two-time champion of the Pan American Games in the Longboard modality.

“What I had in Santiago was a very nice experience. The objective set with my federation and with the IPD could be achieved. “You prepare for a long time, things happen along the way sometimes, but if the work plan is not broken, everything has a good ending,” said the member of the Athlete Support Program (PAD) of the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD). ).

Always eager for triumphs, ‘Piccolo’ assures that if he had not been injured in the middle of the ISA World Games in El Salvador, in May, the year would have been perfect.

“I had a good year, although I would have preferred to win the world title at the ISA Games, but due to a cut on my foot I couldn’t reach the final,” he added.

Winner of the 2023 PASA Pan American Games in Panama, the surfer is now getting ready for the 2024 season. “In the fortnight of January the new programming will be released and one must prepare for what is coming,” he indicated.

Among the things he is preparing for in the future, Clemente plans to remain active until 2028, to compete in the Olympic Games that year.

“I would have liked Longboard to be in Paris 2024, but there are great chances that it will only be included in 2028 and that is one of my dreams, to be on an Olympic podium. If confirmed, to work hard as always to bring another joy to the country,” he said.

While waiting for the holidays to spend with his family, the 41-year-old athlete is getting ready to start new projects in his Administration career, which he finished just a month before Santiago 2023.

Among his new professional goals is setting up a surf shop and expanding his board manufacturing business, with which several of his teammates even race.

‘Piccolo’ also took the opportunity to congratulate the IPD for “the great work they have done this year supporting athletes and we hope they maintain that path. The reception they gave us to the Santiago 2023 medalists was important because it showed that they are always with us and not just on certain days.”