Thomas Ceccon on Italian Swimming: “The Movement is Growing”

Italian Olympic Champion and World Record holder Thomas Ceccon, who has risen to unprecedented heights within the backstroke world, nonetheless feels that the Italian swimming motion is rising, even with the reintroduction of the Russian and Belarusian swimmers.

In an interview with Italian publication Elle, Ceccon mentioned that in the previous couple of years, Italian swimming has grown and seen loads of wins, largely as a result of absence of Russian swimmers.

“The movement is growing, yes: there are many young people, and in recent years we’ve won a lot, especially given Russia’s absence,” Ceccon mentioned. “This is also something I was saying: it’s true, we’ve won more also because they were missing. Winning more than that is difficult, but the fact that there’s a great movement is equally true, so I think we’re doing very well.”

Ceccon was very open in regards to the upcoming European Championships in Paris, the place he listed a few of his prime rivals, together with France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard and rising South African star Pieter Coetzee. He additionally mentions Kliment Kolesnikov and Miron Lifintsev, although Ceccon believes they should show it after the International Olympic Committee lifted Russia’s suspension final week.

Aside from France’s Ndoye-Brouard and South Africa’s Coetzee, if Kolesnikov and Lifintsev each carry out nicely, they’ll be the strongest on the sector.” Ceccon mentioned. “Obviously, they have to prove it, but in my opinion, they’re very strong. Am I happy? Yes. If they’re not there, well, even better. I’m actually happy that we can have a final like last year’s, with all the best athletes.”

Ceccon hung out coaching in Australia beneath legendary coach Dean Boxall, the place, within the interview, Ceccon mentioned that he was very open with everybody, one thing he admitted he by no means did in Italy.

“In Australia, I’ve been very open with everyone, something I never did in Italy. I said to myself, “These people don’t know me, I’ll show them that I’m very open, that I try to talk, I make friends with everyone.” In Italy, there’s nonetheless an excessive amount of of a “Yes, but you’re too strong, too weak.” There’s at all times a reasonably tense ambiance amongst athletes, which is completely superb,” Ceccon mentioned within the interview with Elle. “But Australian athletes don’t care if I’m good or bad, whereas in Italy it’s the opposite. It’s fair, because I want to beat the Italian in question, not get beaten, but here, I don’t know how to put it… It’s getting more and more aggressive.”

On that very same word, he drew a comparability to American swimmers, saying he has seen variations amongst Australian, Italian, and American athletes.

“Americans, for example, have this “they know it all, they do it all” angle. In Italy, everyone knows one another, we’re all us now: I’ve by no means had any issues with anybody, really, I’ve at all times been calm with everybody. But I’ve seen the distinction.”

Ceccon then went on to explain his relationship inside the Italian nationwide staff as extra of a “relationship between colleagues”.

“Is it more of a relationship between colleagues, can you say “national teammates”? Then there are additionally associates who’re on the nationwide staff. I repeat, I favor to not have an excessive amount of to do with the swimming world.” Ceccon mentioned. “I prefer to have a couple of friends outside of swimming: they don’t go around saying, “Oh, so and so said,” they don’t care. I can speak to them about completely something. In swimming, I believe it’s tougher, and I don’t need to be too uncovered with my enterprise within the swimming world both.”