Embodying the classical Roman virtue of constantia – steadfastness in the face of adversity – 87-year-old Franco Puilcati's life story reflects what the ancients always knew: that the body's limitations are often set by the mind's boundaries.
BY GIOVANNA G. BONOMO
February, 2025
Watching Franco Pulicati in action is a perspective-changing experience. It was a crisp March afternoon in 2006 when I first witnessed him barreling down the paths of Villa Borghese, where he trains every Sunday afternoon, an acrobatic sight that left me questioning the very limits of human capability, but that was when he was still in his 60s. After sitting with him for this interview, pushing 90 without a trace of aches or pains, Franco put my assumptions about aging to the test, leaving me to wonder what other seemingly impossible things might be within our reach if we change the way we interpret the cards we are dealt.
Born in February 1938, Franco Pulicati’s life has been a lifelong trajectory of resilience and determination. Prematurely coming through the birth canal at 8 months, doctors warned his mother that baby Franco's kidneys weren’t fully formed, and his chances of survival were slim. However, even as a newborn, Franco defied all odds, and as he puts it, “The doctors said if I survived, no one would be able to kill me because I have a will to live. This story is important for me because it reminds me of the spirit I was born with.”
Franco’s passion for sports and testing boundaries has been constant throughout his life. From his early days as a boxer, when he was set to participate in the Rome Olympics, to his stint with Italian circus performer Moira Orfei at age 12, Franco has always embraced movement. His talent and zest for life haven’t gone unnoticed. He has become a sought-after performer, appearing on various Italian TV shows.His splits-on-ice act caught the attention of Ghiaccio Spettacolo creators, earning him an invitation to join their summer tour across northern Italy in 2014, alongside figure skating world champion couple Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte and Olympic champion Carolina Kostner. In 2016, he participated in the Well Over Fifty Festival in Montenegro, inspiring posts on The Age of Happiness Project. The following year, he made his first intercontinental journey, flying to Los Angeles to appear on the NBC program “Little Big Shots: Forever Young” with Steve Harvey.
But don’t type cast him an athlete. His talents stretch beyond his blades. As a former carpenter, he has honed manual and inventive abilities, which he now applies to adapting skating gear and body protection. Franco has designed wrist braces and knee guards with additional wheels, modified and reinforced skate shoes with homemade slider pads, and crafted innovative braking devices using wood blocks, screws and rubber. Franco has created his own monopattino — a customized, battery-powered paddock scooter that propels him forward on his skates and in splits across parks and in more daring situations.
When asked about his secret to longevity, Franco’s answer is simple: “I eat normally, bread with tomatoes, whatever I have at hand. I don’t follow diets or take vitamins, and I don't drink much, but if I want a beer, I won't deny myself. ” He attributes his vitality to a non-restrictive diet that includes fruit and a liter of Italian milk each day (though not recommended by nutritionists) and not a fancy kind of milk either, just regular cow's milk. The true secret to Franco’s youthful spirit he believes, lies in his approach to life and ability to convert negativity into positivity. He believes that from disappointments, including early health challenges and living through the war, inner strength is activated. “From disappointments, pride and ability are born within you, making you live better,” he says. For Franco, age isn’t a barrier to pursuing passions and enjoying life’s simple pleasures. “I live life to the fullest, discovering new things within myself every day with the same will to live that defied all odds almost a century ago.”