The European Athletics Future Leaders Programme is celebrating 20 years since its launch at the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg.
What began as a biennial forum has evolved into a long-term leadership pathway that continues to shape the future of the sport.
As we look towards the 2026 edition of the Future Leaders Forum which will take place in Birmingham from 12–17 August, this Future Leaders Focus series meets some of the past Future Leaders who have since established their career in athletics.
Here we meet Alessio Gorla of Italy.
Tell us about yourself, your current role and you the Future Leaders Forum you attended
I am a tech consultant for European Athletics and also a the co-founder of Sportwave. I was part if the e-Young Leaders E-Forum cohort and attended the Young Leaders Seminar in Sofia in 2019.
What are you doing now? Tell us about your current role.
I’m 100% into athletics and tech. I manage digital projects for European Athletics as a consultant and I run my company, Sportwave, which builds apps and services for the Italian athletics community.
What do you enjoy the ost about what you do?
I really love contributing to shaping the present and future of our sport and experiencing the energy of international and national competitions live on-site.
How did you get into this field?
I’ve been a sprinter and a software developer, and during university I started building apps with friends to help athletics grow. Over the years, we’ve created solutions for athletes, clubs, and federations by building community, digitalising processes, and making our sport easier to access.
What has been one defining moment in your career so far?
Being part of the EA team at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn was a key moment for me. It was when we released the official EA app, and it showed me how much value technology can bring to our sport on such a big international stage.
What skills or experiences helped you get to where you are today?
The Future Leaders programme played an important role for me, giving me the chance to develop leadership skills and bring my passion for athletics into a new direction.
Since my first experience in 2019, I’ve met many people I still run into at international events. Being part of such an inspiring international community is a great opportunity, and it’s truly valuable to me.
Who or what inspires you in your career?
Sport is about chasing dreams, and it’s full of inspiring stories. Being around that energy creates an atmosphere that constantly helps to find new ideas.
What motivates you to keep working in/around athletics or sport?
I’m driven by creating impact: building solutions that make athletics easier to follow and help the sport reach new people.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in sport or leadership?
Focus on how you can create impact through what you enjoy doing, and never forget why you started.
What’s something you wish you knew when you were starting your career?
Working behind the scenes can change how you see the sport compared to being an athlete, but it also helps you understand it better by learning from other people’s perspectives, ideas, and vision.
Any exciting projects or goals you’re working on right now?
With European Athletics, I’m part of the team delivering the mobile app and the live results platform. It keeps me close to every competition and to what the audience really needs. It’s also a constant chance to learn something new every day about our sport.