Gala Rizzatto, known mononymously as GALA, is an Italian pop singer and songwriter. Her debut album Come into My Life included the multiplatinum singles "Freed from Desire", "Let a Boy Cry" and "Come into My Life" which reached the Top 3 in music charts across Europe, South America, Russia and the Middle East. Gala has sold over six million records worldwide. 

2014 = Winter Olympics 2014 (Sochi) 
GALA performed live after Women’s Ski Jumping debuted in Sochi, Russia. 

2022 = ritish Grand Prix (F1) Men’s FA Cup Final*
FIFA World Cup (Qatar)* UEFA Women’s EURO Final* UEFA Europa League Final*

@ Photo Par Juan Valentin — This file was provided by the rights owner., CC BY-SA 3.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34213510

2023 = Six Nations (Rugby) Wimbledon (Tennis) Cheltenham Festival
(Horse Racing)    Royal Ascot (Horse Racing)
and  Claressa Shields Viral TikTok (Boxing)
UEFA Champions League* UEFA Europa League Final* Ryder Cup (Golf)

2024 = GALA performed "Freed from Desire" at the women's football final at the Summer Olympics in Paris

2025 = Rugby 7’s Hong Kong HSBC Hong Kong Sevens: Gala Live Performance

2026 = Official Song of the 2025 Club World Cup and the FIFA 2026 World Cup


Since 1996, Freed From Desire has become a global anthem, earning Diamond certification in France, triple Platinum in the UK and Poland, double Platinum in Belgium and Italy, and over half a billion streams on Spotify. The song has inspired sports fans and social movements worldwide, featuring at LGBTQ+ events, environmental protests, and women’s marches. From the Olympics in Paris, to Hong Kong 7s, to rugby fields, football matches, tennis courts, skating rinks, boxing rings, beaches, protests, flash mobs, and Pride events across Europe and beyond, Freed From Desire is everywhere. 

It’s been played by global DJ icons such as Melanie C, Diplo, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, and DJ Snake. Even Snoop Dogg was seen dancing to it at the Paris Olympics.  Recently re-recorded, the track now fully embodies its message of freedom. Reclaiming the rights and re-releasing the song marks a new era, amplifying GALA’s spirit of resilience and independence through global media in 2025 and beyond.

Her debut album featured the multi-platinum singles “Freed from Desire,” “Let a Boy Cry,” and “Come Into My Life,” earning Diamond certification in France;  triple Platinum in the UK and Poland; double Platinum in Belgium and Italy. “Let a Boy Cry” received Platinum in France and Belgium, while  “Come Into My Life” achieved Gold in France and Platinum in Belgium.  For the past 20 years, Gala has independently released music through her own label, consistently forging her own path.

“Freed From Desire” by GALA has become a global sports anthem, extending far beyond football to rugby, boxing, cricket, padel, tennis, horse racing, darts, and hockey. Its high energy makes it a favourite among fans and athletes, uniting crowds during iconic victories. 
In 2014, Gala performed the song at the Sochi Winter Olympics, celebrating the debut of women’s ski jumping with American Sarah Hendrickson making history as the first female Olympic ski jumper. Gala’s Medal Plaza performance amplified the moment. A decade later at Paris 2024, the track featured in both ceremonies — part of a bold, inclusive performance at the opening, and inspiring mass singalong at the closer. Gala also performed at both men’s and women’s finals. In boxing, 

Tyson Fury, undefeated heavyweight champion since 2015, made it his signature celebration song. Claressa Shields, multi-division world champion, added it to her 2023 training playlist and promoted it on social media. Her TikTok dance went viral, with over 2.8 million views. The song is also a popular boxing walkout anthem.
The track is synonymous with football chants worldwide. At UEFA Euro 2016, Northern Ireland fans created the viral chant “Will Grigg’s on fire,” which spread rapidly across Europe. Fans in England, Wales, and France made their own versions, making it an unofficial tournament anthem. Its infectious energy is embraced by clubs and national teams alike. Fans and players alike sing it in celebrations, and it features regularly in Premier League games, Women’s 

EURO 2022, and Champions League Finals. The England women’s team famously sang it at Trafalgar Square after their 2022 victory. Beyond the UK, supporters of West Ham, Manchester City, Inter Milan, and SSC Napoli have adopted it. National teams from France, Switzerland, and Poland used it as goal celebration music at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with continued presence at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and other tournaments. It’s a staple in crowds at events like the Six Nations, Wimbledon, British Grand Prix, Cheltenham Horse Racing, the Grand National, and the Ryder Cup, where in 2023 Team Europe celebrated with a singalong. 
From Olympic arenas to grassroots stadiums, Freed From Desire transcends sport, uniting fans and athletes worldwide in moments of joy, passion, and pride.