Giovanni Saperdi

Giovanni Saperdi is an accomplished Italian kayak athlete and sports technician who plays a key role in developing paddling disciplines in Italy. He is highly active in both Wildwater Canoeing (canoa discesa) and Canoe Ocean Racing (surfski).

Athletic Career

As a competitive athlete under the Italian Canoe Kayak Federation (FICK), Saperdi has competed for clubs such as Shock Wave Sport. He specializes in challenging, high-endurance aquatic environments. Notable highlights of his competitive track record include:

• Ocean Racing: He has represented Italy on the international stage, including competing in the demanding Men's SS1 Senior division at the ICF World Championships in Lanzarote.

• Wildwater Canoeing: He regularly participates in high-level domestic and river competitions, such as the Italian Wildwater Championships on difficult rivers like the Noce.

Coaching and Technical Role

In addition to his career on the water, Saperdi is highly regarded as a Federal Technician (Tecnico Federale) for FICK.

• He serves as a specialized coach and technical director for the wildwater canoeing sector while also collaborating closely with the ocean racing discipline.

• He represents the Liguria Regional Committee of FICK, where he spearheads youth development. Saperdi frequently organizes and leads multi-disciplinary training camps (such as the one held at Lake Osiglia) to help young athletes smoothly transition between flatwater, slalom, wildwater, and surfski disciplines.

Saperdi was also featured by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Farnesina) in their Acque D’Italia documentary series. In the Taormina episode, he acted as a guide to promote Italian sports diplomacy, environmental sustainability, and the unique cultural heritage of Italy's waterscapes.