Achille Polonara has made a remarkable return to the basketball court, marking a significant milestone in his health journey after a ten-month absence. Last June, he received a diagnosis of myeloid leukemia, a challenging setback that came just two years after he had successfully overcome testicular cancer. Now, the Italian athlete is thankfully out of immediate danger and has begun individual training sessions at Sassari, his formative club where he signed earlier this summer.
Polonara shared his emotional experience of touching a basketball again in a recent interview. He described the moment as “beautiful, exciting,” recalling how it initially felt “like playing for the very first time.” However, he quickly added, “shot after shot, the feeling quickly returned.” He clarified that he will not rush his return to competitive play, aiming to rejoin the team for the start of the next season. Polonara plans to begin team training this summer, acknowledging the need for caution to avoid injury. He also mentioned the long-term perspective, stating that it will take “two or three years before being sure that there is no more risk” concerning his health.
