Ricky was born in Locarno and raised in Mosogno (in Valle Onsernone). Having attended elementary school in the valley, he achieved his middle school diploma at Collegio Papio in Ascona.
He took his first sports steps in football (he was selected to play for Team Ticino), but from summer 2015 he decided to devote himself to athletics. This was partly owing to his having seized the spotlight in 2012 when he came second place in the national final 60m race of the Migros Sprint and the 1000m race of the Mille Gruyere.
He soon became aware of his abilities as a thoroughbred sprinter, showing his special talent in the 400m races when in 2016 he had the privilege of competing in the U18 European championships in Tblisi, and subsequently claimed the title of Swiss category champion. 2017 was an especially impressive year, when he won the U18 Swiss outdoor championships in 60m, 200m and 400m, and repeated his successes indoors in September with titles in the 100m, 200m and 400m. He was named Swiss indoor vice-champion in the 400m, took ninth place in the U20 European championships in Grosseto and, last but not least, achieved the title of Swiss champion with the 4 x 400m Virtus relay.
In November 2017, Ricky moved to the banks of the Limmat river to join LC
Zürich. This club, with the support of the coach, Flavio Zberg, has been formulating a sports and vocational training programme over the course of several years.
http://www.rickypetrucciani.ch/