Olympic Dreams

News and Stories by Nino Severino

The Olympics 2024 is well underway now, watching the inspirational coverage has turned my thoughts to my wonderful Olympic experience.

These glorious memories of my time at the Olympics with Elena Baltacha will stay with me forever. I thought I would share some treasured images from our time at the 2012 London Olympics with you all.

The period leading up to the Olympics was incredible, at our hometown, the Ipswich Borough Council arranged a celebration of our local Olympians, and Ipswich Town Football Club organised an opportunity for them all to walk around the stadium before the start of the match. This was a great experience for all the Olympians, to have all of the ITFC fans in the stadium, acknowledging their achievements of being selected for the great Britain Olympic Team. I was provided with a seat in the Directors Box to watch this wonderful experience unfold, I felt so much pride for Elena, and was so pleased all the athletes were applauded in this way.

This was an extra special event because of the connection with her dad, Sergei Baltacha, who was the first Russian player to join a British football team. Sergei was an exceptional World Class football player, who played for the world-famous football club FC Dynamo Kyiv.

Sergio Baltacha was on the winning side in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1986, the Soviet Top League and Soviet Cup four times, and the Soviet Super Cup on three occasions. He also appeared in the FIFA World Cup  in 1982 , was a finalist in the European Championships  in 1988 and won the bronze medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

To be members of the British Olympic Team, as athlete and coach, was such an honor, it meant so much to us both. Being part of your countries Olympic team is a dream that most athletes and coaches would have. Elena attended the large Adidas event, when all the British athletes went to collect their team kit. But I also remember how excited we both were to be invited to pick up our other kit from the official GB Tennis Team house in Wimbledon. 

The memory is still so vivid of our first trip on site at Wimbledon, the Olympic colours combined with the backdrop of Wimbledon itself was striking. It was incredible to see Wimbledon as an official venue for the Olympics, everywhere you looked you could see the Olympic branding, it was stunning! I can remember the feeling of being part of something very special, an experience that may never be witnessed again in my lifetime. As a coach, you can not ask for anymore, to be part of the greatest sporting show on earth, at one of the most iconic venues in the global sporting calendar.

Judy Murray, our Team Captain was exceptional, it was amazing to spend time with her, and the Head of British Women’s Tennis Iain Bates, on court, preparing for our first match. Judy Murray is an exceptional coach and was an outstanding Captain to all the team members. Judy’s presence, support and inspiration was so valuable to the whole team. She has a very calming personality and character, which comes from the massive amount of knowledge and experience she has banked over an impressive career in tennis over the decades. She ensures she delivers the right words of support, to reflect every experience the players were going through, good or bad.

Seeing the crowds surrounding Elena after the training sessions and matches filled me with so much pride, she was loved by the fans, and was always treated so respectfully by them. This was all part of the wonderful experience both Elena and I was part of, the training sessions, the matches, and the respect from the fans, all memories I will never forget. Being part of the Great Britain Olympic Tennis team also offered many other experiences, the team meetings and dinners, all privileges that were provided for both player and coach.

Watching Andy Murray and Dan Evans great performance in the first round of the doubles in Paris brought back so many treasured memories of Elena, memories that will stay with me forever.