My adventure companion

I call my condition “Adventure Companion” and over time, it has almost become an ally: without “her” I would never have discovered how determined I am and that there are no limits.

In 2017, I received a dual diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia, but I also suffer from long QT interval heart disease, celiac disease, a lactose and nickel allergy that leads to an unhealthy diet, hypertension, and cervical and lumbosacral hernias.

But all this doesn’t stop me from chasing my dream.

The dream of ironman

I have been dreaming of triathlons, specifically Ironmans, for 30 years, and I won my first Ironman in Copenhagen at the age of 40, 8 years ago.

An Ironman is already a very tough race: 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42 km marathon.

With the “Adventure Companion” I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that everything was more exciting and challenging, as well as obviously more complex.

Listening to the body

To succeed, or at least try, I must first respect and listen to my body, practicing daily and meticulously over and over again to optimally balance training and recovery.

By my side, I have my husband, Fabio di Niccola, a highly skilled physical trainer, who, based on my feedback on my fitness, pain, and strength, continually adjusts my daily training program.

I combine this with mental work through mindfulness, which I have been practicing and teaching for years.

Racing around the world

Over the years, I have managed to complete Olympic sprint races, many half Ironman 70.3s, and above all, 6 Ironmans, traveling the world and bringing home unique experiences.

I have also increasingly understood how powerful the mind is, which provides support where the body cannot do it alone.

Managing chronic conditions

For my pathologies, I have been undergoing treatment since 2017 with biological drugs, Methotrexate and periodic cortisone, opioid patches and continuous physical therapies that allow me to keep the degenerative progression at bay.

I share my sporting and life experience with other women, especially those with chronic conditions, by developing targeted and personalized training sessions.

These sessions become tools for better managing the daily life of the disease and rediscovering motivation and concrete possibilities for a satisfying quality of life.

And, why not, even pursuing their own dreams, which the disease seemed to have erased.

Looking toward the next challenge

I am currently planning my seventh Ironman in South Africa in April 2026.

I don’t know if my body will be ready for this new challenge but, as Mindfulness teaches me, I live in the here and now and continue to train.

There are no impossible dreams or challenges too big; there is determination and patience, and maybe, I will hear myself say again for the 7th time:

Pamela, you are an Ironman!