The destiny of Marcell Jacobs, the Italian sprinter who astonished the world by winning gold in the 100 meters at the 2021 Tokyo Games, is now questionable. In a notably straightforward interview with La Stampa newspaper, the athlete reflected on a personal and professional phase characterized by profound doubts, disillusionment with the sport, and tense relations with the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL). Jacobs, aged 30, stated that he is "still in a phase of reflection. I'm not rushing myself. Too many things have happened to make me lose my light". Jacobs revealed to Italian readers that he is not a sedentary individual, yet he also admitted that the attraction of the track, the innate desire to compete, no longer persists. One of the most difficult topics in the La Stampa interview is the now-strained relationship with FIDAL. The sprinter criticizes unfair treatment under the new technical criteria implemented following the 2024 Paris Olympics: "I've seen that I'm no longer among the top athletes. They gave me new parameters, and I soon discovered that things worked differently for others under the same conditions. I feel like they were mocking me". The clear reference is to Gianmarco Tamberi, an Olympic gold medalist in the high jump and a prominent media personality. He's a totally different figure from Jacobs, whose career has been quieter and fragmented, with coaching changes and extended stays in the United States. "Tamberi remained on that list, while I did not? Gimbo understands how to maintain ties with others, something President Mei appreciates. I have a different personality". FIDAL President Stefano Mei replied promptly in an interview with Italian news agency La Presse. Mei was stunned by Jacobs' tone: "I am surprised; there is no reason to conduct an interview like that. My concern is that he himself says he’s missing the spark". The president highlighted that there isn't an endless amount of time to prepare for the four-year period leading up to Los Angeles 2028, and that the top objective should be recovering motivation. Concerning the alleged discriminatory treatment, Mei addressed each point individually: "He claims he felt deceived? It’s not clear by whom or by what. I contacted him multiple times, offering him coaches in both the United States and Italy. He was the one who refused". When asked about a personal feud with Jacobs, Mei responded, "I sent him a greeting for his birthday on September 26th. If someone does not answer, it may be because they are not interested, but my door is always open". The president emphasized that the Italian athletics movement cannot be based on a single individual, even an Olympic champion: "It's not just Jacobs or Tamberi. There is a whole movement we need to focus on".