Not because of resignation: South Tyrol's best swimmer is attacking again

Last summer, after a failed season in Caserta, Ballo had his sights set on the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He and Patrick Delladio from Bolzano had said goodbye to Campania and wanted to start anew in Vicenza. “Nothing came of it,” says Ballo.

“I spoke to the De Akker team in Bologna about this. Coach Massimiliano Mazzanti introduced me to a project that I immediately liked. “So I started training in Bologna on September 1, 2023,” explains Ballo.

Changed the entire diet But then came the shock. “I didn’t feel well from the start. I got a fever once a week, sometimes twice, and felt bad. After countless investigations, we figured out what was going on. I suffered from cytomegalovirus from February to August 2023. I developed stomach problems, had stomach pains, and could no longer tolerate yeast, lactose and gluten.” The native of Bolzano had to completely change his diet. “We’ve had certainty since mid-January, and I’ve been feeling better since then.” “I swim like a U11 swimmer.” Stefano Ballo On January 14th, Ballo also competed in his first competition after a 3-month break in the 200 m freestyle on the short course (1.52,12). A month later at the Swimcup Night Edition in Milan on February 17th he swam the long course 50, 100 and 200 m freestyle (26,91; 56,32 and 1.55,17). “Times aren’t great, I’m swimming like an U11 swimmer, but I’m back on track.”

Last weekend in San Pietro in Casale he stayed under 1.50 again on the short course (1.49,86). “It's slowly improving again, the times give me confidence when I see that I'm getting faster again. I’m on the right track and I’m training fully again.”

Stefano Ballo (right) in conversation with swimming colleague Thomas Ceccon. © www.deepbluemedia.photoshelter.com / Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Ballo currently has 8 training sessions in the water and 3 in the weight room per week on the program. “I feel really comfortable here in Bologna and everyone helps me. I don’t want to say I was afraid to compete again, but 3 years ago I was at the Olympics and now I don’t even have the qualifying time for the Italian Championships.”

Ballo will therefore not take part in the indoor title fights next week in Riccione (March 5th to 9th), but “I feel calm and relaxed in the water again. That's important because that wasn't the case in Caserta recently." As an athlete in the army sports group, Ballo is financially secure and can devote himself fully to swimming.

Step by step forward His big goal this year: “I want to be in as good shape as possible at the 'Sette Colli' in Rome at the end of June and swim well there. I'm not saying I want to go to the Olympics. I'm already aware that it's almost March and I only have 4 months left. But I want to be as prepared as possible for Rome. Then we'll see what happens next season." After the Sette-Colli meeting, head coach Cesare Butini traditionally nominates the Olympic team. As always, the last relay places will be awarded in the Foro Italico.

Ballo is South Tyrol's best swimmer.

Ballo will continue as an active swimmer at least until summer 2025. “I promised my coach that. A project must last at least 2 years. The army sports group gives me the opportunity to do that.” Ballo wants to take part in the next competition in Forlì on Sunday.

He feels right at home in Bologna “They revived me in Bologna,” jokes the native of Bolzano, who, along with Mattia Bondavalli, Luca Pinca and Andrea Ambra Pescio, is one of the top athletes in the training group. “We have a 50 m pool and a 25 m pool available, which is ideal.”

The Carmen Longo Hall is located right next to the “Renato dall'Ara” football stadium. “I haven't managed to see a Bologna game this season, but I still have to catch up, after all, Bologna is having a great season and is fourth in Serie A. Of course you get that in the city, even if you like I'm not a real Tifoso," says the Milan sympathizer.

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Not because of resignation: South Tyrol's best swimmer is attacking again

Recently it has become quiet about Stefano Ballo. South Tyrol's best swimmer of all time, who came tenth in the 3 m freestyle at the Olympic Games in Tokyo three years ago, did not end his career. On the contrary.

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