For Nataal, Itauma imagines himself preparing to take to the air, getting his pre-trip trim and putting together his sharpest wardrobe. It’s a story that embraces the nostalgic pride of his elders and his position among the Première Classe of athletes who know where they come from and refuse any limits. Ultimately, Itauma says, it’s about African unity: “Often when I hear Black people talking about where they're from, they don’t mention the country. They say 'I'm African' because they appreciate the bigger picture. We [Africans] are all one.”