On a January morning in La Spezia, nestled between Genoa and Pisa on Italy’s Ligurian coast, Dr. Riccardo Bianchi jogged along a familiar road with an Olympic torch in hand. On Jan. 9, Bianchi was not just a neuroscientist, educator, or marathon runner; he became a bridge between past and present, carrying the Olympic flame through streets that shaped him.
Dr. Bianchi is an associate professor and associate dean at SUNY Downstate. Born in Pisa and raised in La Spezia, a city overlooking a beautiful harbor, he completed his schooling there before attending university in Pisa.
His love for science and nature led him to a PhD in neuroscience at the University of Pisa, focusing on brain activity in epilepsy. Fascinated by these studies, Bianchi moved to New York at 28, joining Dr. Robert Wong’s lab at SUNY Downstate.
Initially planning a one-year stay, Bianchi was drawn to the intellectual freedom of the lab and Brooklyn’s charm, settling in Park Slope with his Italian wife, a fine art restorer. Now, he balances neuroscience research and medical education, overseeing curricula and teaching students.
Bianchi enjoys his job because it connects him with young people, keeping him young and stimulated. He takes pride in Downstate’s diverse students, many first-generation Americans or immigrants. The student body collectively speaks up to 42 languages.
Outside academics, Bianchi is a runner, joining the Brooklyn Road Runners Club in 1998 and witnessing New York’s growing running culture. By 2025, he had completed 25 marathons.
Bianchi views sports as a lifestyle, teaching discipline and respect, aligning with Olympic ideals. Watching the Festival di Sanremo, he learned about the call for Milan Cortina Olympics torchbearers, open to Italians. His wife joked about him applying.
Despite initial skepticism, he wrote essays on running, teaching, and health advocacy. After applying in March, he forgot about it until October, when he learned he was selected, assigned to run in his hometown, La Spezia.
Participants gathered at the sports center, receiving uniforms and learning that of 1.5 million applicants, only 10,001 were chosen. Bianchi felt honored. The relay was precise, with each torch ignited by the previous one. Bianchi jogged slowly to savor the moment.
Friends, family, and neighbors watched, including children from schools. Afterward, strangers asked for photos. Bianchi kept a pin from the torch base, his uniform, and later received a certificate. Colleagues in Brooklyn celebrated him.
The experience felt fulfilling beyond personal achievement. He was moved by children watching, recalling his own memories of sporting events in La Spezia. He hopes the children have similar lasting memories.
Bianchi views the Olympics as bringing people together, countering divisive forces. Back in Brooklyn, he follows the Winter Olympics, cheering for Italy and the U.S., admiring athletes’ dedication. For him, the Olympic spirit is about doing one’s best, a lesson he shares with students and carries through life, connecting Brooklyn to La Spezia with the Olympic flame.
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