In Sardinia with Veronica Ruggeri and Andrea Lanfri: redefining what limits can be

After surviving fulminant meningococcal sepsis, Andrea Lanfri's life changed forever. But instead of letting it define him, he chose to move forward. That decision marked the beginning of a new journey—one that would eventually take him to the summit of one of the world's highest mountains, driven by the desire to keep pushing beyond his own limits. In this new episode of Storie da Raccontare #UnaMarciaInPiù, Veronica Ruggeri joins Andrea in the crystal-clear waters of Golfo Aranci for a Hydrobike adventure and an inspiring conversation about the courage to start again, the freedom to choose your own path, and the belief that has guided every one of his achievements: limits do exist, but with determination and perseverance, they can be redefined.

In Sardinia with Veronica Ruggeri and Andrea Lanfri: redefining what limits can be

[00:00–00:16]
[We are in Golfo Aranci, in Sardinia, and the video stars with spectacular sea views. A Peugeot driven by Veronica Ruggieri carries Andrea Lanfri along a scenic road by the sea.]

[00:16]
Veronica: Andrea, welcome!

[00:17]
Andrea: Sardinia is beautiful, it’s been a long time since I last came here, I missed it.

[00:21]
Veronica: Do you like cycling?

[00:23]
Andrea: I do, I travel a lot by bike, but I also train a lot on my bike.

[00:27]
Veronica: I thought of something a bit special for you today.

[00:31]
Andrea: Okay, I trust you.

[00:33]
Veronica: Good.

[00:34–00:46]
[The car drives along the road by the sea and stops. The water is crystal clear. Veronica and Andrea get out of the car.]

[00:47]
Veronica: Magical, isn’t it?

[00:48]
Andrea: Not bad at all.

[00:51]
Veronica: Wow.

[00:55]
Veronica: Hi Giulia!

[00:57]
Giulia: Hi guys, welcome.

[00:58]
Veronica: These are our bikes.

[01:00]
Andrea: I’ve never done this before. This is completely new.

[01:03]
Giulia: Are you ready? I’ll help you get on.

[01:07]
Giulia: One hand here.

[01:08]
Giulia: Great.

[01:10]
Giulia: Okay?

[01:11]
Veronica: Yes.

[01:12]
Giulia: Perfect.

[01:13]
Giulia: And I’ll lower the propeller for you too.

[01:15]
Veronica: It’s so strange.

[01:17–01:19]
[Andrea, Veronica and Giulia get onto three hydrobikes and start pedaling on the water.]

[01:20]
Veronica: When did you realize that something in your life was changing?

[01:24]
Andrea: Actually, everything happened suddenly. On January 21st, I woke up with a very high fever, and then thanks to my dog I noticed these spots I had.

[01:33]
Veronica: Why thanks to your dog?

[01:35]
Andrea: She jumped on me to celebrate seeing me, and basically any touch, anywhere on my body, felt like a stab.

[01:42]
Andrea: That was a warning sign. I made a phone call and then I went into a coma due to fulminant meningococcal sepsis.

[01:49]
Veronica: And what was your reaction?

[01:50]
Andrea: I’ve always kind of seen this situation of mine… I’ve always seen it as something that wanted to stop me, and I always thought I would do the biggest thing possible to prove it wrong. It wanted to stop me, and I would do even more.

[02:07]
Veronica: And you started running, climbing mountains, even Everest. What is your relationship with limits?

[02:12]
Andrea: In recent years I’ve come to understand that limits do exist, but they change.

[02:17]
Andrea: In 2019, when I started thinking about Everest, I considered it almost impossible at that time. But I trained, I followed a path that made it more and more achievable, and today I’ve actually done it.

[02:31]
Veronica: And what is the next challenge?

[02:32]
Andrea: Definitely many more of the highest mountains in the world, other 8,000-meter peaks like the K2, Manaslu and many others that I dream of climbing.

[02:42]
Andrea: But the most beautiful thing is always being able to experience these adventures again, whether it’s on a mountain or on flat ground.

[02:48]
Veronica: Meanwhile, your next challenge is with me. 3, 2, 1, go!

[02:53]
[Andrea and Veronica race on the hydrobikes, laughing. Then the car is seen driving away.]