The brand-new under 23 category was introduced this year to support, highlight and inspire young athletes at the beginning of their skyrunning career. So far, the U23s have risen to the occasion and are smashing the SWS races all over the world!
In this article you’ll get an exclusive look into the lives of the top-ranked male and female athletes in the U23 category of the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series. These young champions have not only conquered some of the most challenging skyraces but have also risen to the pinnacle of their sport at an incredibly young age. Through their stories, you’ll discover what drives them, the challenges they’ve faced, and their dreams for the future as they continue to reach new heights in the world of Skyrunning.
Meet the Athletes:
Carrodilla Cabestre: My name is Carrodilla Cabestre, Carro to almost everyone who knows me, I’m twenty and I come from a small village in northern Spain called Estadilla, just below the Pyrenees, in the region of Aragon.
I’m a La Sportiva athlete, competing in Skyrunning and trail races, and I’m currently studying Physical Activity and Sports Science at university.
I consider myself a movement and mountain lover who enjoys spending time moving fast in the mountains. I’m also someone who is naturally curious about everything related to endurance sports, such as physiology and training. Apart from sports, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, cooking, and reading.
My biggest achievement so far is the third place in the Skyrace des Gorges du Tarn last May. To be third after Oihana Kortazar and Júlia Font, with such a high level of athletes, was incredible.
Lorenzo Rota Martir: I’m Lorenzo Rota Martir, a 22-year-old from Bonate Sopra, a village 10 km from Bergamo. Currently, I live in Edolo, near the mountains, where I study the valorisation and development of mountain areas.
What inspired you to get into Trail/Skyrunning, and how did you get into the sport?
Carrodilla: On the one hand, I’ve been running since I was a child, encouraged by the example of my family: my parents and my brother are also runners. I started doing small cross-country races near my village and I did athletics for several years. I also did various mountain activities, such as trekking and climbing.
About ten years ago, when trail races became more popular, my parents started to run in some of them. I cheered them on and was impressed by the sport: running in the mountains was the perfect combination of the activities I enjoyed most and the atmosphere at the races was very special. I knew I wanted to do this sport in the future. Living near the Pyrenees was also a great motivation.
In 2020, when I was sixteen, I decided to quit athletics and start running in the mountains. I didn’t know if I would be good at it, but I wasn’t thinking of competing at the highest level, I just wanted to experience this activity and enjoy some races. That was when I started training with Olmo Allué, who has been my coach ever since. To my surprise, I had very good results in my first races. I hadn’t just found the sport that I liked the most, but also one that I was good at. Since then, I’ve grown every year, bit by bit, to where I am now.
Speaking more specifically about Skyrunning, since I started getting interested in this sport, the Skyrunning races were the ones that caught my attention the most. I remember watching videos of athletes like Kilian Jornet flying in races like Trofeo Kima, Limone Skyrace or Dolomites Skyrace. The athletes, the landscapes, the tracks… everything was very inspiring. I also saw that the races I enjoyed the most were the technical ones, so competing in the Skyrunner World Series became a big goal for me.
Lorenzo: During my childhood, I was always very active. Around the age of 14, I began exploring the mountains near my home, using an old bike to reach different places and challenging myself to run uphill until I reached the summit. It was during this time that I discovered some of the biggest and most famous Skyrunning races, such as the Grigne Skymarathon, Skymarathon 4 Luglio, and Trofeo Kima, which were not far from where I lived.
At 16, my journey in this sport truly began. Gradually, I built up speed and confidence, but the turning point came in 2021 when, after a few good races, I finished 4th in the short edition of the Grigne Skymarathon, part of the Skyrunning World Series.
How does it feel to be ranked No.1 in the U23 category of the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series?
Carrodilla: It feels special because this is the first year this category has existed. It also gives me extra motivation for the last months of this season to continue to give my best and defend this first position until the end of the SWS 2024.
I think the creation of this youth category ranking is a very nice initiative of the SWS, because it allows us, young Skyrunners, to compete in the series against the elite of skyrunning, but in a more accurate way for our age, not doing too long races and not competing too much. I hope that the SWS will continue to improve this youth ranking for the next few years.
When planning this season, I was looking forward to doing the shorter races of the 2024 Skyrunner World Series to experience these iconic races and test myself against the strongest skyrunning athletes. Then the U23 Trofeo Esteban Olivero was announced, and I knew it was the perfect opportunity to enter this world.
Lorenzo: As I approach 2024, my final year as an Under-23 athlete, it’s both a pleasure and a great achievement to be ranked first in the World Skyrunning U23 Championship. This milestone is incredibly meaningful to me as I transition out of the U23 category.
How do you balance your training with other aspects of your life, such as school, work, or other social activities?
Carrodilla: I try to organize myself as well as I can to be able to combine training and competition with the university. Sometimes it is hard, but when it happens, I try to stay calm and not be so demanding on myself: I will do the best I can, but without stressing too much. It also helps to have great people around you who are willing to help you: family, friends, my coach, my team, teachers…
Lorenzo: For me, it’s important to have a balance in my daily life, such as university studies, to avoid the risk of overtraining. This balance helps me manage the pressure of competition, allowing me to approach races with a relaxed mindset.
Have you faced significant setbacks or injuries? If so, how did you manage them?
Carrodilla: I’m lucky that I haven’t had any major problems. I try to do the best I can in terms of training, nutrition, and rest to avoid injury or illness.
Lorenzo: The last two years have been quite challenging due to some injuries that set me back. During these setbacks, which are common for athletes, it’s crucial to focus on the positive aspects of life and believe that it’s possible to return to your previous level sooner than expected.
What are your short-term and long-term goals in Skyrunning? Where do you see yourself in the sport in the next 5 years?
Carrodilla: My short-term goal is to have a great performance in Dements. It will be the last race of my 2024 season, and it would be great to finish with a good result and win the U23 Trofeo Esteban Olivero in its first edition.
My long-term goal is to continue to grow in this beautiful sport and go as far as I can. I want to run in the mountains and race for many years, so I don’t think I need to be in a hurry to increase the distance or the number of races. I will concentrate on doing the best I can to have a very long and healthy career.
In five years, I would like to see myself competing at the highest level and enjoying the sport as much as I do. I hope that I’ve grown as an athlete and that I still have a lot to learn.
Lorenzo: Looking ahead to the next five years in the sport, I dream of participating in classic Skyrunning races like Kima and 4 Luglio. However, I know I must be mindful of the distance and duration of these races because I’m still young. Ultimately, I want to remain passionate about this sport, continuing to discover the mountains and my limits without losing the joy and the magical emotions that Skyrunning uniquely offers.
What advice would you give to young aspiring Skyrunners who want to reach the top?
Carrodilla: Love what you do, surround yourself with great people, don’t rush and don’t focus too much on results. Stay calm and enjoy your work every day. Everything will come in its own time.
Lorenzo: To young aspiring Skyrunners, I want to say this: racing is only a small part of an athlete’s life. If you can enjoy the work, even the hard parts, your future will be rewarding. This sport is unique, with countless ways to train and improve—it’s up to you to find your path.
The journeys of Carrodilla Cabestre and Lorenzo Rota Martir in the Skyrunner World Series embody the essence of perseverance, passion, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. As the top-ranked athletes in the U23 category, they have not only demonstrated their prowess on the trails but also shared invaluable insights into balancing life, overcoming challenges, and staying motivated in the face of pressure. Their stories serve as a testament to the dedication required to reach the pinnacle of Skyrunning and inspire the next generation of young athletes to chase their dreams. As they continue to ascend in their careers, we can only imagine the incredible heights these young champions will reach in the future.
