Luca Da Prato, Italian Paralympic swimming champion and Oris testimonial, brought the Olympic Flame of Milan Cortina 2026 to the Gorizia section.
Italian Paralympic swimming champion and testimonial Oris Luca Da Prato had the privilege of carrying the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Flame in the Gorizia section. The Olympic Flame will arrive in Milan on 5 February, the day before the start date of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Oris Italia accompanied Luca Da Prato in this new experience, one of many now lived by the athlete from Medea (GO), witnessing his energy and dreamy look that is very difficult to extinguish. A bit like the Flame he held in his hand.
Speaking of the privilege of being able to carry the Olympic Flame, a gesture with a strong symbolic value, Da Prato said: 'Carrying the Olympic Flame today has enormous value for me. It comes three years after the accident and after an extraordinary 2025, a year in which many of my dreams began to take shape. It is confirmation that, if you really believe in what you do and fight with determination, even what seems impossible can become reality. Doing it here, in Gorizia, has an even deeper meaning. This is my city, the place that gave me a second rebirth, a second life after the accident. Carrying the Flame through these streets is like closing a circle and, at the same time, opening a new one: it is a moment that I will carry with me forever.
Regarding the Olympic Flame's path to Milan, Da Prato said: 'If I think about the path of the Flame and relate it to my own history, the point that I feel most mine is undoubtedly Gorizia. But there is also another place that represents a milestone in my journey, and that is Naples. There I won one of my national championships, and the dream of turning sport into a true renaissance finally began to materialise. I also met people who profoundly marked my path: friends from Cercola, the Pianeta Mare diving centre and the National Association of Diving Instructors. With them I obtained my diving licence and had my sea baptism. It was another way to feel free, in and out of the water".
Oris Italy alongside Luca da Prato
The House of Hölstein testimonial and Paralympic swimming champion brought the Olympic Flame to his city, Gorizia.
In recent years, Paralympic sport has gained a new visibility. With regard to this aspect, Da prato commented: 'Although my journey has only started relatively recently, comparing myself with athletes who have been in the Paralympic world for many more years, I realised that above all the public's gaze has changed: Today, Paralympic athletes are perceived for what they are, athletes in their own right, no longer defined by their disability. This change in perception is fundamental. We have always been athletes, as shown by the hours of daily training, the sacrifices and the discipline that our sport requires. But today, this reality is finally recognised outside. In parallel, the awareness of the athletes themselves has also grown. Those who make Paralympic sport a profession and a life choice feel a responsibility to convey a message that goes beyond sport: the overcoming of obstacles, the possibility of changing one's destiny. Obstacles that, in different forms, we all face every day. Telling our stories means showing that change is possible. For everyone'.
Referring, however, to the importance of time in swimming (which is an objective measure, but not always an exact mirror of the work done), the Friulian athlete commented: 'My journey began at the end of 2024, when physiotherapy led me to get to know Gorizia Nuoto and the Italian Paralympic Swimming Federation. It was a rapid, almost surprising path: tortuous, but very fast. In a short time, national titles, international competitions and, in 2025, six Italian records arrived. But the beginning was undoubtedly the most difficult moment. The first races did not go as I expected, but my character helped me not to stop. After each disappointment I couldn't wait to get back to the pool the next day to work even harder. Difficult moments are part of sport and life. The important thing is to always look ahead, because it is often from those moments that the strength to achieve even greater goals is born.
Regarding his meeting with Oris, Da Prato said: "I met Oris at the Barcolana in October 2025 and it was immediately 'love at first sight'. The brand's values deeply reflect the way I am living this journey of mine, without knowing exactly where it will take me. Every journey in life is precious because it gives you something at every step: new experiences, new people, new awareness. The important thing is to live it with authenticity, without forcing it, remaining true to yourself. This is what really makes the difference. And these are values that carry enormous weight, especially for young people, who represent our future. To pass them on is a responsibility, but also a privilege'.
