Vittoria Siletti’s Strength Profile Revealed
Elite performance rarely depends on training harder. More often, it depends on understanding which physical qualities are already highly developed and which ones still limit performance. This principle applies regardless of the sport.
At Scirocco TF, although our roots are firmly grounded in athletics, our methodology has always been based on the science of human performance rather than on the technical specificity of a single discipline. Sprinting, hurdling, middle-distance running or fencing all rely on the same physiological foundations: the production, transmission and application of force.
This interdisciplinary approach recently led Italian épée fencer Vittoria Siletti, European Champion and World Championship silver medallist, to contact Scirocco TF for a comprehensive assessment of her strength profile and to review the direction of her physical preparation.
Performance diagnostics before programming
One of the most common mistakes in strength and conditioning is modifying a training programme before objectively understanding the athlete’s current profile. For this reason, our session did not begin in the gym, but with performance diagnostics.
The first step consisted of reviewing previous vertical jump assessments collected during national testing. Some of the recorded values immediately raised questions from a biomechanical perspective. Specifically, the reported results for the Squat Jump (SJ) and Countermovement Jump (CMJ) were virtually identical, a finding that is unusual in highly trained athletes, where the stretch-shortening cycle should normally produce a measurable advantage during the CMJ.
Rather than accepting the numbers at face value, we chose to verify them through a new testing session.
Objective testing to guide decision-making
Working alongside Scirocco TF endurance specialist Giorgio Errico, we carried out a complete neuromuscular assessment using a Chronojump Contact Platform.
The testing battery included:
- Squat Jump (bodyweight, +10 kg and +15 kg)
- Countermovement Jump
- Drop Jump
- Fifteen consecutive reactive jumps
The repeated assessment confirmed that the previously reported values did not accurately represent Vittoria’s neuromuscular profile. As expected, her Squat Jump and Countermovement Jump displayed distinct performances, providing a far more coherent picture of her force production capabilities.
More importantly, the testing allowed us to quantify the relative contribution of the different components of force production rather than relying on subjective impressions.
From maximal strength to sport-specific power
The analysis revealed a very clear profile. Vittoria possesses exceptionally well-developed maximal strength, an outstanding quality that undoubtedly contributes to her success at international level. However, the assessment also highlighted that explosive strength and reactive strength currently represent the largest opportunities for further development.
This distinction is crucial.
Producing large amounts of force is not identical to producing force rapidly. In fencing, where decisive actions often occur within fractions of a second, the athlete’s ability to express force quickly frequently becomes more important than increasing maximal strength itself. The objective therefore is not to become stronger, but to convert existing strength into faster, more efficient sporting actions.
This concept is extensively supported throughout contemporary strength and conditioning research and represents one of the key principles behind transfer of training.
Looking beyond jump testing
Performance testing should never stop at numerical values. Throughout the session we also evaluated movement quality during deep split-lunge positions, analysing Vittoria’s capacity to maintain force production through the large ranges of motion required by fencing.
From there, we progressed towards resisted sport-specific exercises emphasising horizontal force application, hip recruitment and efficient force transfer through the knee and foot. The session concluded with progressively more demanding plyometric exercises, alternating vertical and horizontal jumping tasks.
One of the most encouraging observations was not simply the quality of execution itself, but Vittoria’s exceptional capacity to learn new motor patterns. Within only a handful of repetitions, measurable technical improvements were already visible, demonstrating the adaptability that characterises elite performers.
Why multidisciplinary expertise matters
Although athletics remains Scirocco TF’s primary area of expertise, human physiology does not recognise sporting boundaries. The biomechanical principles governing acceleration, explosive force, stiffness, rate of force development and reactive ability remain fundamentally the same whether an athlete is sprinting down a track, attacking a hurdle or performing an explosive fencing lunge.
This multidisciplinary perspective allows Scirocco TF to approach athletic performance as an integrated system rather than through the narrow lens of a single sport. For elite athletes, this often becomes one of the greatest advantages: accessing specialised knowledge developed in different sporting environments and transferring it intelligently to their own discipline.
Scientific methodology beyond athletics
Working with athletes such as Vittoria Siletti reinforces an idea that has guided Scirocco TF since its foundation.
Our goal is not to apply athletics training to every sport. Our goal is to apply scientific reasoning to every athlete.
Whether we are analysing sprint mechanics, designing hurdle programmes, optimising marathon preparation or evaluating the explosive demands of international fencing, the process always begins with objective assessment, evidence-based interpretation and individualised intervention.
Because elite performance is rarely built by following generic methods. It is built by understanding precisely what each athlete needs next.
Ready to analyse your performance?
If you compete at national or international level and would like to evaluate your force profile, sprint mechanics or sport-specific physical preparation, Scirocco TF offers individual performance diagnostics, biomechanical analysis and evidence-based coaching across a wide range of sporting disciplines.
Contact us to discover how objective testing can help unlock your next level of performance.
The future is bright,
Scirocco TF
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