Italian basketball loses one of its brightest figures: Mabel Bocchi, who passed away at the age of 72. Considered among the strongest players Italy has ever had, she represented the backbone of the Italian national team for years. Born in Parma to an Italian father and an Argentine mother, she soon became a point of reference in the basketball scene thanks to her physical presence, technical talent and a competitiveness that redefined the role of the center forward in our country.
View this post on Instagram
The triumphs with GEAS and the international consecration
Raised in Partenio Avellino, Bocchi arrived at GEAS Sesto San Giovanni at a very young age, with which she built an extraordinary list of successes: eight championships, an Italian Cup and, above all, the 1978 Champions Cup, the first European trophy won by an Italian women’s team.
Over the course of her career she scored over 3,300 points in Serie A and was also an absolute protagonist with the national team, contributing to the bronze at the 1974 European Championships and to the memorable expedition to the 1975 World Cup in Colombia, where she was recognized as the best player of the tournament.
From parquet to television screens
In 1978 he began a new phase of his professional life by becoming a journalist and sports commentator. His presence in programs such as Sports Sunday transformed her into a face recognizable by the general public, appreciated for her competence, rigor and passion. He also collaborated with La Gazzetta dello Sport and the Corriere della Serabringing an innovative perspective to sports communication that is deeply attentive to women’s sport.
A pioneer of female athletes’ rights and love for dogs
In addition to his sporting successes, Bocchi became known for his commitment off the field. She was among the first to denounce the disparities in treatment between male and female athletes, fighting for better economic and health protection. Her contribution marked a turning point for Italian women’s sport, making her a model for generations of athletes.
Bocchi was also known for her sensitivity towards injustices, for her support of fragile people and for her authentic love towards animals, in particular dogs, with whom she grew up and who accompanied her throughout her life. For years she dedicated herself to volunteering, engaging both in structures that looked after needy animals and in hospitals aimed at the elderly. A constant commitment, away from the spotlight, which tells us about a Champion in life too.
You might also be interested in:
