Anyone who is a doctor, surgeon, veterinarian, dentist, or any educated person cannot afford to ignore how hard, exhausting, and challenging the slow journey of an athlete is—pushing beyond the limits of performance to understand and perfect the human machine.
Even a cursory examination of the books that tell our story represents a true historical journey—a return to the roots of a sports community born in 1995 in a building known as the "Casa dell'Antonelli."
This is the story that embodies SPORTFORMA. All documents detailing how, when, and by whom the Association we all love was founded are available to members, from its establishment to the grand inauguration on September 23, 1995, up to today.
It can be said that the Sportforma Association was born from the Carli family and a group of friends and training companions whom Guido involved in his project of renovating an abandoned house to allocate it for gyms that became the sections of the multisport club. In addition, communal spaces such as the bar, cafeteria, banquet hall, and guesthouse were established—transforming into a true sports community promoting sports for all, alongside recreational and social activities.
The first amendment to the Statute took place following the reform on non-profit organizations (Legislative Decree No. 46 of 4-12-1997), changing the name of "Associazione Sportforma" to "SPORTFORMA
Associazione Poli-Sportiva Dilettantistica." The club became a breeding ground for numerous athletes engaged in the CONI federations in Wrestling, Boxing, and Weightlifting.
The enhancement of activities was achieved through the qualification of coaches, designating Sportforma as a youth sports training center. Over the years, our young athletes have participated in tournaments organized by national federations such as FIPCF (Italian Weightlifting Federation), FPI (Italian Boxing Federation), and FIJLKAM (Italian Federation of Judo, Wrestling, Karate, and Martial Arts), dreaming of the honor of representing their country.
Weightlifting, physical culture, boxing, wrestling, martial arts, educational activities, recreational fitness—these disciplines, developing along parallel or sometimes diverging paths, have ultimately converged into one grand river of sport. This journey is something that professionals and amateurs alike can follow with curiosity and interest.
The history of Polisportiva Sportforma is a story of progress, intuition, and groundbreaking discoveries, but also of errors and incredible comebacks, leading to triumphs in the world of sports as we know it today. Each sector is entrusted to a responsible person, whose direct testimony contributes to the living legend of Sportforma—not only experiencing it firsthand but often playing a key role in shaping its legacy.
The rich and stunning iconography accompanying Sportforma’s history is full of surprises and charm. Even those unfamiliar with these events can gain an enlightening and immediate vision of the traditions, training methods, equipment, and gear—things you may have heard of but never fully visualized.
Through the links provided below, you can trace the evolution of the past generations of young athletes whose dedication to sport has allowed Sportforma to achieve milestones that every member is proud of today.
By 2008, however, the very location that housed our gyms and communal spaces—cafeteria, banquet hall, guesthouse—was overtaken by a massive construction project for the underground railway system. The safety and health of our facilities were compromised, forcing us to drastically limit access for individual members and groups, leading to a sharp decline in registrations. Apart from legal expenses, compensation for the incalculable damages was never granted. Despite the intense political and economic pressure surrounding the "Martyrdom of the Torino Rail Passante/Spina 3," which gained widespread media attention, we persevered in upholding our institutional purpose at our current headquarters, where we are now in full "revival."
Today, Sportforma is experiencing significant growth once again, thanks to the hundreds of athletes and young people who attend daily, along with their parents—many of whom are also our members and supporters. Our affiliated organizations and partnerships are crucial as well. Leading up to and during the 2012 Olympics, Sportforma established numerous connections in the international boxing community.
In 2013, after attending a meeting in the UK where Evander Holyfield was present, Sportforma became the official Italian delegation of the EBF (European Boxing Federation), introducing the White Collar Boxing brand in Italy. EBF Boxing Italy
Further in 2014, shared experiences with international coaches, such as Ricky Hatton, significantly improved the knowledge of the Sportforma staff, elevating the quality of training and helping our athletes reach a much higher level.
Starting from the 2015/16 sports season—marking Sportforma's 20th anniversary—we decided to directly offer young athletes international competitive opportunities. This initiative allows them not only to practice their sport but also to connect with peers from other countries, enhancing both their technique and language skills.
This methodology has led to the personal development of young athletes while fostering strong inter-community relations to support social growth in the region.
Since 2018, Sportforma has aimed to become a fully independent association. The necessary documents are nearly ready for submission, formalizing our transition under the Unified Third Sector Register as an NGO. This will allow us to continue our international activities, for which we are recognized in Europe by major boxing organizations as one of the most important liaison points.
The development of a European consciousness comes from dialogue and relationships between communities of different countries. Typically, these exchanges involve the host association covering expenses for food, lodging, and organizational costs, while visiting athletes cover their airfare.
Today, around seventy local under-18 athletes regularly train at our gym in Via Chiesa della Salute. We have a network of six hundred young registered athletes for whom we organize various training programs, particularly in boxing, which remains at the core of our activities.
At many local competitions, we realize how many young boxers are trapped within small social circles, mistaking them for the entire world. At the end of 2016, following the FPI regional elections and facing opposition to our international projects, Sportforma decided to dissociate from the Italian Boxing Federation, allowing our athletes to choose the best platform and structure for their development.
Free from constraints, Sportforma saw 2017 as a year of recognition. Guido Carli was awarded as a coach and manager by the prestigious British and Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA).
The development of a governing commission for professional boxing is the natural result of a solid international partnership. This vision led to the creation of a new division in 2018: ITABoxing, the Italian Authority of Boxing.