Sports cardiology: A glorious past, a well-defined present, a bright future.

The attention towards sports cardiology has dramatically grown after the introduction of the pre participation screening (PPS) and the need for specific education on ECG interpretation in athletes, given the differences between athletes and the general population. The present article stresses the need for specific skills, knowledge, and clinical expertise in sports cardiology, which are essential for appropriately screening competitive athletes to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) and avoid overdiagnosis. However, disqualification from sports competitions may lead to sports inactivity, and athletes may enter a grey zone where little or no information is provided about what they can or cannot do to stay active. However, modern sports cardiology cannot neglect the patient's needs and the importance of the safe practice of regular exercise. In this context, the personalized exercise prescription plays a crucial role in the core curriculum and the clinical activity of professionals involved in sports cardiology programs. Given its specificities, sports cardiology requires a formal education plan for medical school students and all residents. Additional education and practice are required for young colleagues who want to focus their professional lives on sports cardiology. The future directions of emerging modern sports cardiology should not neglect the importance of a scientific community that works together, designing multicenter international outcomes-based research to address the many remaining areas of uncertainty. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.