Italy will participate in the competition with several athletes protagonists at the World Championships in long course in Budapest and in short course in Copenhagen. Together with the Italian athletes on blocks several swimmers from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Great Britain, Ireland, Faroe Islands, Libia, Liechtenstein, Lituania, Luxembourg, Norway, Holland, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Seychelles, Spain, Sweden, South Africa, Ukraine, Hungary.

The swimming competition will occur from Friday 29th June to Sunday 1st July. Heats at 9:30 am, Finals at 7:00 pm. Preswim from 6:00pm.

 

PRIVATE MEETING WITH POPE FRANCIS

On Thursday 28th June at 11:00 am, the Holy Father will receive a delegation of Italian and International athletes guided by the President of Federnuoto Paolo Barelli, in the Sala Clementina of Palazzo Apostolico, in Vatican City. In few years this is the third time that the swimmers are received by the Holy Father after the meeting of the last year always for the Trofeo Sette Colli and by the Pope Benedetto XVI occured in the courtyard of the Palazzo apostolico in Castel Gandolfo on 1st August 2009 during the 13rd edition of World Championships in Rome. 

  

THE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT PAOLO BARELLI

"The countdown is ended. The registrations are closed. The fans reserved their seats in the gallery. The athletes are ready to get in the blocks. From 29th June to 1st July the “classical” International swimming event in the Eternal City renews. At the Stadio del Nuoto in Rome, in the “most beautiful swimming pool in the world”, using the words said by Michael Phelps and Federica Pellegrini, the 55th Trofeo Sette Colli/Italy International Swimming Competition will occur. Also this year the competition will be broadcasted on Rai Sport + HD. Fifty-two years are a lot. For me and for the Federation, that I have the honour to preside over, having seen its birth and contributing to its growth is a great pride and satisfaction. This is an important goal for a sport event that, during the years, obtained interest and credibility, becoming an inalienable World “test event”. Its technical level and its high visibility make it unique and precious, first of all before one of the most important event of the season, the European Championships in Glasgow, from 3rd to 9th August. This swimming pool, that knew the Olympic Games in 1960, two World and one European Championships, lights up every edition adding some more stars to the International scenery. This Summer about 150 athletes from 28 countries will be welcomed by Gregorio Paltrinieri, Luca Dotto, Fabio Scozzoli, Federica Pellegrini and Simona Quadarella, guided by Federico Turrini. Before diving in the pool, on Thursday 28th June, we will meet Pope Francis in Vatican City for the second year. This is an absolute privilege, following the last year meeting and the meeting with Pope Benedetto XVI in Castel Gandolfo in 2009. This is a unique Christianity, sharing and aggregation opportunity for whom, like me, believing in family and sport values. 

Entertainment moments with the Olympic champion Massimiliano Rosolino and live broadcasting on Radio Roma Capitale-Radio Sei-Rete Sport (the official radio team of 55th SetteColli/Italy International competition) will make these three days more joyful. I greet and thank all the people who made possible the organization of the event, the Comune di Roma and Regione Lazio, the Police, the companies that supported us such as Arena, UnipolSai, Herbalife, Kinder+Sport, Uliveto, Baume & Mercier and Telesia. Enjoy the competition event". 

      

SETTE COLLI ON RAI SPORT, IN STREAMING AND IN RADIO ON RETE SPORT, RADIO SEI AND ROMA RADIO CAPITALE

The three days of competition will be live broadcasted on Rai Sport following the heats and the finals from 10:00am to 12:00am and from 07:00pm to 09:00pm, respectively, on Rai Sport + HD. In streaming, on facebook page of Federazione Italiana Nuoto and on live streaming the three days preshow from 05:50pm. The official Radio Rete Sport 104.2, Radio Sei 98.100, Roma Radio Capitale 93.00 will follow the event directly from the Stadio del Nuoto. 

  

SPONSORS

The importance of this event is proved by the presence and support of leader companies, such as  Arena, UnipolSai, Herbalife, Kinder+Sport, Uliveto, Baume & Mercier and Telesia.

  

BAUME & MERCIER

Baume & Mercier will be the official clock of trofeo Sette Colli: four Clifton Club limited edition Luca Dotto will be delivered, at the last day of the competition, to the athletes with the best male and female performances. 

See the press release of Baume & Mercier

  

TROFEO SETTE COLLI

The Trofeo Sette Colli was born in 1963 by the Federal Manager Mario Saini, whom the Trofeo is dedicated. Every year the Trofeo is granted to the country ranked first for score total. The Olympic individual races were seven, as the seven hills of Rome, and the specialties were matched to them. The 100/400/1500m-freestyle to Palatino, Campidoglio and Quirinale; 100m-backstroke to Celio; 200m-breaststroke to Viminale; 200m-butterfly to Esquilino and 400m-medley to Aventino. The world championships were not yet, so that was the first great competition at International level for the Italian swimmers beyond the Olympic Games. Since then all the great International athletes swam at the Stadio del Nuoto in Foro Italico – designed by the architect Annibale Vitellozzi for the Olympic Games in Rome at the slopes of Monte Mario – making Sette Colli the most prestigious swimming meeting in the world. 

        

AWARDS

Medals to the first three athletes in each race. In each race, included the two semi-finals of the athletes of F.I.N.P. (Federazione Italiana Nuoto Paralimpica), the following awards will be granted: 500 Euros to the athlete ranking first, 300 Euros to the second, 200 Euros to the third. Each event record broken in the final competition will be granted with 500 Euros. The following awards to the best 10 athletes: 1° 7,500 Euros, 2° 5,500, 3° 4,500, 4° 3,500, 5° 3,000, 6° 2,600, 7° 2,450, 8° 2,400, 9° 2,300, 10° 2,250. The event prize money is 90,000 Euros.

  

FINP ALWAYS WITH US

By now only one family, also this year Sette Colli will be enriched by the performances of Paralympic athletes in male and female 100m-freestyle at the opening afternoon session on Saturday. 

 

A STARS ROUND UP

  

PERNILLE BLUME

 

The star of Danish swimming was born in Copenaghen on 14th May 1994. Very young and with an extraordinary talent, she wins the gold medal in 50m-freestyle and conquers the bronze medal in 4x100m-medley in the extraordinary Olympic Games in Rio. 

Pernille Blume shines in the World Championships in short course in Doha 2014, where she fixes the World record in 4x50m-medley with her team companions. In the same competition, she wins the gold medal in 4x100m-medley and the bronze medal in 4x50m-freestyle. Again, in the European Championships in Berlin she is on the highest step of podium winning in 4x100m-medley, while in World Championships in Budapest she wins the bronze medal in 100m-freestyle. Some people swear to have followed the Olympic Games only for her unquestionable beauty. Very active on social networks, she shares photos with her friends and the sea, her huge passion.

 

LUCA DOTTO

 

He was born in Camposanpietro on 18th April 1990, but he grew in Tombolo in Padova area. Specialized in short distances in freestyle, he is European champion in 100m-freestyle both in short and long course. On April 2016, in Absolute Championships in Riccione, he swims 100m-freestyle in 47''96, becoming the first Italian who breaks the wall of 48” with the second world performance of the year. His success doesn’t stop: in European Championships in London wins the gold medal in 48’’25 and conquers two silver in 4x100m-freestyle and in 4x100m-freestyle medley. The swimmer – who trains in Rome since 2009 with the federal technician Claudio Rossetto  – is on podium again in European Championships in Copenhagen last year winning the gold in 100m-freestyle (46''11), the silver in 4x50m-freestyle and one bronze in 50m-freestyle. Dotto has a carrier as a fated man. In 2009 he broke the historical record of Giorgio Lamberti in 100m-freestyle cadet class with 49”22. After two years he conquers the silver medal in World Championships in Shanghai in 50m-freestyle with the best Italian time never swum with tissue with 21”90. The 2012 is a difficult year for him: a severe accident stops him for one month and half and he participates in London Olympic Games in a bad condition. During the winter season he rises again and wins the silver medal in 4x100m-freestyle in the World Championships in short course in Istanbul. In 2015 he is the star in Kazan, winning the bronze in 4x100m-freestyle. Tall, blond, green-eyed and with a beautiful smile, he is one of the swimmer that audience and sponsors follow: since 2012 his name is linked to many international brands. Son of the swimming instructor Guglielmina and railwayman Fabrizio, Luca Dotto begins swimming at the age of 6 years: launched in the water, he reached the poolside alone. Since that moment, a lot of strokes until the present successes. He considers water his natural element and he got a Japanese ideogram tattoo. He loves eating, listens to music, loves cinema and is a fan of the Swiss tennis player Roger Federer. Also his love life is linked to sport: his partner is the fencer Rossella Fiamingo.

  

JULIJA ANDREEVNA EFIMOVA

 

She was born in Groznyi, in Russia, on 3rd aprile 1992. She debuts in the International competitions in 2007 in European Championships in short course in Debrecen, winning three gold medals in 50m, 100m and 200m-breaststroke. At her Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008 she ranks forth in 100m-breaststroke, fifth in 200m-breaststroke and in 4x100m-medley. She arises in the World Championships in Rome 2009, where she shines in 50m-breaststroke and conquers the silver in 100m-breaststroke. At the Olympic Games in London in 2012, she ranks third in 200m-breaststroke. On October 2013 during an anti-doping control, she is positive to the steroid deidroepiandrosterone, so the Fina stops her sport activity for sixteen months. She comes back in time for the World Championships in Kazan in 2015, winning the gold in 100m-breaststroke and the bronze in 50m-breaststroke. In 2016, she risks the disqualification because of her antidoping positive result to meldonium. Thanks to TAS, in extremis she participates in Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 where she conquers the silver in 100m and 200m-breaststroke. She is fan of Michael Phelps e Alexander Popov. In 2012 she receives a medal for the value for the Nation. For three times, in 2008, 2015 and 2016, the Russian Swimming Federation named her as the swimmer of the year. 

 

ANDRIJ GOVOROV

 

His dream is to change Ukraine making it a better country. He was born in Dnipro, on 10th April 1992. he lives in Russia, where his father lives, and Kiev where there are his mother and wife. He studies Political Sciences and his desire is to follow a political carrier after his sport carrier that will no so long. Since the beginning of the conflict between Ukraine and pro-russian forces, in each competition he exhibits the Ukrainian flag with the written word Peace. His heart also beats for Italy, where since 2011 he trains with Andrea Di Nino in Caserta. He is a pure sprinter both in 50m-butterfly and in 50m-freestyle, showing great results: among World and European Championships fifteen medals; he wins the gold in European Championships in London in 2016, qualification that he will defend in Glasgow in August. 

  

JAMES GUY

James Guy was born in Great Britain in 1995. During his teenage he wins the bronze in European Championships in Anversa in 2012 in 400m-freestyle. The following year he has better performance winning two gold in 200m-freestyle and in 4x200m-freestyle relay in the Young European Championships in Poznan. During the same year he ranks second both in 200m and 400m-freestyle in Young World Championships in Dubai, winning also the gold medal in 4x200m-freestyle relay. 

He conquers his first important medal at World Championships in short course in Doha in 2014 winning the silver medal in 400m-freestyle. He confirms his skill at the World Championships in Kazan in 2015. He shines in 200m-freestyle, becoming the first British male to win a World qualification at this distance. Then he wins another gold medal in 4x200m-freestyle relay and a silver medal in 400m-freestyle. At the European in London 2016, he is on the highest step of podium winning the 4x100m-medley relay and a bronze medal in 200m-freestyle. At the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 he conquers two silver medals in 4x200m-freestyle relay and in 4x100m medley. Also at the last edition of World Championships in Budapest 2017 he wins three medals: gold in 4x200m-freestyle, silver in 4x100-medley and bronze in 100m-butterfly. He has meals of six thousands calories per day and he describes the afternoon “naps” as the best friends of swimmers. During summer he relaxes fishing. He is fan of the swimmers Sun Yang, Ryan Lochte and Kosuke Hagino and the boxer Floyd Mayweather. His motto is “Train hard and the fight is easy”.

 

RANOMI KROMOWIDJOJO

 

Her somatic traits shows her Javanese (maternal grandparents) and Suriname origins (dad). The beautiful Ranomi was born in Holland, in Sauwerd, on 20th August 1990. Specialized in freestyle, she obtains her first successes at absolute level in relay, winning the gold medal in 4x100m-freestyle at the European Championships in Eindhoven 2008, confirmed at the Olympic Games in Beijing in the same year and then at the World Championships in Rome 2009 and in Shangai 2011, where she shines also in individual competitions. She confirms her skills at the Olympic Games in London 2012, winning in 50m and 100m-freestyle, establishing, in both the specialties, the event record. Two years later in Barcelona she wins in 50m and the bronze medal in 100m-freestyle, in 50m-butterfly and in fast relay, already Olympic silver. At the World Championships in Kazan she lost the world sceptre of speed against the Australian Bronte Campbell, who wins in 50m-freestyle. At world level the competitions are more and more difficult and she obtains no medals at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, even if at the European Championships in London in the same year she is protagonist,winning 3 gold medals in 50m-freestyle and in speed relays and one silver medal in 100m. The following year she shines again at the Ungarian World Championships with the silver in 50m-freestyle, in 50m-butterfly  and in 4x100m-freestyle medley and the bronze in 4x100m-freestyle. She surfs the social network, and has a Chinese ideogram of water tattooed on her right wrist.

  

CHAD LE CLOS

 

The star of the South-African swimming Chad Le Clos was born in Durban, on 12th April 1992. He is the most loved sportsman in his country, where he received several recognitions for giving prestige to his country in the world. He definitely confirms his skills at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 winning the gold medal in 200m-butterfly with the time of 1’52”96, ahead Michael Phelps, and the silver medal in 100m-butterfly. At the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016, he wins the silver medal in 200m-freestyle and in 100m-butterfly: the disappointment for loosing the gold medal is huge, but the following year he shines again ranking first at the World Championships in Budapest in 200m-butterfly. From the beginning of 2017, he is trained by the technician Andrea Di Nino. Italy is his second country. He conquered five medals in long course at the World Championships (four gold and one silver medals) and eleven in short course (9 gold-three in Windsor in 2016 in 50m, 100m and 200m-butterfly- and two silver medals). In addition to the swimming, he had other passions: boxing and soccer game. He is a great fan of Manchester United and when he can he goes to the stadium to see the team.

   

GREGORIO PALTRINIERI

 

The golden boy of Italian swimming was born in Carpi on 5th September 1994 and he met the water element at the age of 4 months. The definitive consecration of a champion without limits, always discovering new motivations, becomes true. At the World Championships in Budapest 2017, even if he gives his primacy in 800m to his friend-rival Gabriele Detti, he confirms on the top of the world in 1500m-freestyle. In August at the Universiadi in Taipei, he wins the gold medal in 1500m, and shines in 10km in free waters that could be his third race at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020. At the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 he is on the lower step of podium and wins in 1500m-freestyle with 14’34’’57, with  Gabriele Detti who conquers the bronze medal with his personal time of 14’40’’86 (the second after the time obtained in 400m-freestyle). In Kazan in 2015 Greg captures the world that claps his conquest of gold title in 1500m-freestyle without his rival, the Olympic champion since 2011, the Chinese Sun Yang, who decides surprisingly to not participate in the final. Already European champion since 2012, for the tird consecutive time in London, in May 2016, Paltrinieri reaches his European record of 14'34"04: second time never swum in the history of swimming, ahead the 14'34"56 of the phenomenon Grant Hackett and behind the 14'31"02 of Sun Yang. In just 5 months the athlete of Stefano Morini breaks the Australian record – 3 Olympic gold and 10 World in his carrier – undefeated since 2001, after that in the European championships in the short course of Netanya, he fixed the first world record and of his carrier with the time of 14'08"06, breaking the previous time of 14'10"10. His 2018, after six months of training in Australia, is opened in April winning in 1500m at the Italian Championships with 14’50”35, thirs European seasonal performance. At the centre of the federal technical middle-distance project, coordinated by the technician Stefano Morini at the federal swimming pool in Ostia, Paltrinieri represents the “different twin” of his friend Gabriele Detti. Both share trainings, passions and playtime. Fan of Juventus football team, Paltrinieri has always cultivated his passion for basketball and for New York Knicks. His family was highly involved in the earthquake happened in Emilia when he was winning the European title in May 2012. His grandparents’ house in Mirandola was destroyed, while the house of his parents in Carpi suffered huge damages, making them to sleep in canvas. Now all is behind the shoulders, while the future of Gregorio has to be written telling of medals and other records.

   

ADAM PEATY

 

His unreachable breaststroke is of another dimension. He was born in Uttoxeter on 28th December 1994. IIt is said that when he was a child he feared water, but then all changed. He trains in Derby with his trainer the British ex swimmer Melanie Marshall. In 2012, he debuts at Young European Championships in Anversa, reaching the final race in 200m-breaststroke. While at the European Championships in short course in Herning in 2013 he conquers the semi-final in 50m. Since 2014, he started to get medals first at British National Championships and then at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (one silver and two gold medals). At the European Championships in Berlin, he wins in 50m (fixing the world record in 26”62 in semi-final) and in 100m-breaststroke, having success also in the medley relays. In April 2015 he becomes the first man to break the 58” in 100m-breaststroke at the British National Championships with 57’’92. Three months later he conquers three gold medals at the World Championships in Kazan: in 50m-breaststroke (reaching the World record in semi-final with 26”42), in 100m-breaststroke and in 4x100m-medley. At the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 he confirms himself as one of the gods of the world swimming: he wins in 100m-breaststroke breaking the World record with 57”55 in the heats and with 57”13 in semi-final. His passion is sport cars (his car has his surname on license plate). He has a big lion tatooed on his left shoulder and his most huge fan is his gradmother.

  

RIKKE MOLLER PEDERSEN

 

She was born in Odense, Denmark, on 9th January 1989. Specializes in breaststroke, she debuts in International competitions in 2009, at the age of 20 years, winning and fixing the European record in 200m with 2'16"66 at the Continenatl Championsips in short course in Istanbul. In 2010, she participates in the World Champioinships in short course in Dubai, conquering the bronze medal in 200m-breaststroke. At her first Olympic Games in London 2012 ranks forth in 200m-breaststroke. The following year conquers the silver medal in 200m-breaststroke behind the Russian Julija Efimova at the World Championships in Barcelona, fixing the World record in semi-final. She is on top also at the World Championships in short course in Doha 2014, winning in 4x50m-medley relay and 4x100m-medley, and ranking third in 200m-breaststroke. At the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 she wins the bronze in 4x100m-medley. In 2017 she wins the gold medal in 200m-breaststroke at the World Championships in Budapest. She started swimming at the age of six years. In 2009 she received the Arets Prize, the most ancient sport prize in Denmark. 

  

FEDERICA PELLEGRINI

 

The legend Federica pellegrini was born in Milan on 5th August 1988 from dad Roberto and mom Cinzia, who live in Spinea together her younger brother, Alessandro. Between swimming and her is love at first sight: this love lasts her entire life and she shines since she was very young. 

She  the Olympic gold in Beijing 2008, during the unusual morning finals, fixing the world record of 1'54"82; but just at the age of 16 years and twelve days, she becomes the youngest Italian athlete to reach the individual Olympic podium with a silver in 200m-freestyle in Athens 2004, an Italian swimmer with a medal 32 years after Novella Calligaris (silver in 400m-freestyle; bronze in 800m-freestyle and 400m-medley in Monaco 1972). During his carrier – since the first Italian title won in Ravenna on April 2003 to the spring championships in 100m-freestyle with 55"95 – she conquers 48 international medals, two Olympic (one gold and one silver), 10 world medals (5 gold, 4 silver and one bronze), 15 European medals (7 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze) in long course; 7 world medals (one gold, two silver and 4 bronze) and 14 Europeans medals (7 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze) in short course, establishing 11 world records.  She becomes the first and unique athlete to sign two double in 200m- and 400m-freestyle in two consecutive editions of World championships, turning to tissue swimsuit (Shanghai 2011) from “gum” ones (Rome 2009). With her gold medal won at the last World Championships in Budapest in 200m-freestyle, she becomes the first athlete to reach the podium for the same specialty for seven consecutive editions and the unique swimmer to win on the American record swimmer Katie Ledecky. 

On 21st May 2016, in London, she is still the Queen in 200m-freestyle winning the forth European consecutive title since Budapest 2010, through Debrecen 2012 and Berlin 2014. The Italian standard-bearer equals great champions such as the Russian Alexander Popov, the Ukrainian Jana Klochkova, the Polish Otylia Jedrzejczak and the Hungarian Katinka Hosszu. The years and the rivals pass, but Fede is always there, focusing on the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020. . She loves non only swim, but also nature. She likes spending her time with her mother (eating her famous Parmisan). She is a huge fan of Vasco Rossi. She is trained by Matteo Giunta at the Federal Centre in Verona after a long period trained by the Master Alberto Castagnetti. 

  

BENJAMIN PROUD

 

The British sprinter Benjamin “Ben” Proud was born in London on 21st September 1994. he grows in Kuala Lumpur, in Malesia, where his family moved when Ben was only 5 months. Here he starts to swim. In 2011, at the age of sixteen years, he comes back in England ans starts to shine: at the Junior European Campionships 2012 he conquers the silver medal in 50m-butterfly and the following year, in the same distance, he breaks the natioanl record at the British Trials, obtaining the opportunity to participate in the World Championships in Barcelona 2013. In 2014 at the Commonwealth Proud Games, he conquers his first two gold medals at absolute level. He wins both in 50m-butterfly and in 50m-freestyle. Some moths after the European Championships in Berlin, he wins his individual bronze and one gold medal in the relay. At the World Championships in Kazan 2015, he ranks eighth in 50m-butterfly and freestyle finals. At the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, he ranks forth in 50m-freestyle, for one of the seven wood medal of Great Britain at the Games. He reaches 21”68, at nineteen hundredths behind the bronze won by Nathan Adrian. In 2017 he moves to the Swim Club International Standard Energy in Turkey. At the World Championships in Budapest 2017, he wins the gold medal in 50m-butterfly with 22”75 (national record) and the bronze medal in 50m-freestyle with 21”43. at the Commonwealth Games 2018 breaks his national record in 50m-freestyle with 21”30. Before each race he works to relax. He learnt this way from the best international athletes at the World Championships in 2013. 

 

SIMONA QUADARELLA

  

She was born in Rome on 18th December 1998. She falls in love with the swimming pool when she was very young and at the age of eigth years she practices swimming at agonistic level. Between 2012 and 2015 she wins at the Young Italian Championships while, since 2014, shows her talent also at the Absolute Championships. The definitive consecration arrives in 2017: bronze medal in 1500m-freestyle at the World Championships in Budapest, first rank in 800m and 1500m-freestyle at the Universiadi, and the lower step of podium at the European Championships in Copenhagen in short course. 28th January 2018 writes an important page of the history of Italian swimming: she fixes the national record in short course in 1500m-freestyle with 15’47”33 breaking the previous record and fixing the World tenth chrono of all the times. She has close to her heart several social themes giving her support also on her Instagram profile. When she can she “excapes” to the sea where she loves spending her freetime.

  

FABIO SCOZZOLI

  

He was born in Lugo, in Ravenna province, on 3rd August 1988. He starts swimming at the age of seven years, influenced by his sister, swimmer herself. Specialized in 50m e 100m-breaststroke, he conquers his first International medals in 2010: in August, at his debut, at the European Championships in Budapest he wins the gold medal in 50m-breaststroke and the bronze medal in 100m-breaststroke. The following year gets the second step of podium for two times at the World Championships in Shangai. Also 2012 is a good year: at the European Championships he wins the gold medal in 100m-breaststroke swimming in 1’00”55, the silver medal in 50m-breaststroke and, with Mirco Di Tora, Matteo Rivolta and Filippo Magnini, gives Italy the first gold medal in 4x100m-medley relay in the history of the event. After the Olympic disappointment he arises soon becoming World champion for the first time in his carrier, winning the gold medal in 100m-breaststroke in short course at the Championships in Istanbul. In this way he enters in the Italian swimming history becoming the first swimmer to obtain one individual gold medal in short course at Olympic level. On September 2013 he breaks his anterior cross ligament of his right knee during a training. He faces a surgery and after a period of rehabilitation, he comes back at the end of 2014. He gets the podium again at the World Championships in short course in Windsor in 2016: he wins the bronze medal in 100m-breaststroke. The World Championships occured last year represent the rebirthing of the swimmer: he fixes the Italian record in 50m-breaststroke semifinal with 26”96; in finals he ranks sixth with 26”91. Always in 2017, he participates in European Championships in short course in Copenaghen. He ranks second in 100m-breaststroke behind theWorld recordman Adam Peaty (56”15, Italian record). In 50m he wins on the British establishing the European record with 25”62. At the Absolute Championships in Riccione in 2018, he wins two races in 50m and 100m-breaststroke, breaking his personal record. In short distance the time of 26”73 is Italian record. He loves cinema and spend his time with his friends. He is a fan of Milan and Pippo Inzaghi.

   

SARAH FREDRIKA SJÖSTRÖM

 

She was born in Salem (Sweden), on 17th August 1993. In 2007, at the age of thirteen years, at the Olympic Festival of European Youth in Belgrado she wins three medals: gold in 100m-freestyle, silver in 100m-butterfly and bronze in 4x100m-freestyle relay. Two year after, she participates in the World Championships in Rome 2009 winning the gold medal in 100m-butterfly and breaking twice the World record. After a period of bad condition, in 2013 at the World Championships in Barcelona she wins the gold medal in 100m-butterfly and the silver medal in 100m-freestyle. The following year, she adds other medals at the European Championships in Berlin obtaining three gold (4x100m-freestyle, 50m-butterfly and 100m-freestyle) and four silver (100m-butterfly, 50m-freestyle, 4x200m-freestyle and 4x100m-medley). 2015 is a good year for her. The Swedish athlete at the 52th Trofeo Sette Colli at Foro Italico fixes the European record (56”04). Some weeks after, she shines in 100m-butterfly at the World Championships in Kazan fixing twice the world record (55”64). From Russia she comes back with another gold (50m-butterfly), two silver (100m-freestyle and 4x100m-medley), and one bronze medal (50m-freestyle). At the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, she conquers not only one silver in 200m-freestyle and one bronze medal in 100m-freestyle, but also wins in 100m-butterfly another time, becoming the first Swedish woman to win one gold medal at the Olympic Games. Last year at the World Championships in Budapest she confirms herself as the queen of 50m and 100m-butterfly, and also of 50m-freestyle. She ends the competition winning one silver medal in 100m-freestyle. In 2015 she receives the Swedish Prize “Victoria Scholarship” for her excellent sport results. She loves to spend her time with her friends, and her passion is climbing. She is a fan of the soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic. She is also ambassador of Project Playground, a no-profic organization that helps children to practice sports and social activities.

  

DAVID VERRASZTO

 

He was born in Budapest on 22nd August 1988. He is the son of Zolt Verraszto – gold at the World Championships in 1977 in 200m-backstroke – and brother of Evelyn, swimmer herself. He dives in water when he was eigth years old after having experienced other sports. Specialized in 200m and 400m-medley, he shines for the first time at the European Championships in Budapest in 2010, conquering the silver medal in 400m-medley. Two years after, he gets the podium again at the continental competition in Debrecen: he swims the 400m-medley in 4’14”23 ranking second behind Laszlo Cech. He participates in the Olympic Games in London obtaining no medals. He gets the higher step of podium at the European Championships in Berlin 2014 (4’11”89) and in London 2016 (4’13”15). Silver at the World Championships in Kazan behind the Japanese Seto in 400m-medley, he conquers the same medal two years later at Budapest. Medalist for six times at the European Championships in short course: three gold in Eindhoven, Herning and Netanya, and three silver in Istanbul, Stettino and Chartres. He likes drinking coffee, seeing the matches of Conor McGregor, driving cars, and he always follows the races of the British rally driver Colin McRae.