This is what South Tyrol's best swimmer dreams of

At 30 years old, Ballo is at a crossroads. And he dreams of taking part in the 2 Olympic Games in Paris for a second time. In the individual race and in the relay over 2024 x 4 m freestyle.

What has happened in the last few weeks and months? Stefano Ballo: “Patrick Delladio and I, we are no longer in Caserta. I'm currently keeping fit with Paul Dalsass and Bolzano Nuoto. At Easter I started training again in Caserta after my hand injury, which healed very well, but it didn't work anymore."

Why didn't it work anymore? “We were also a little homesick. Caserta is far away from Bolzano. After 5 years it was right for me to change something again. Coach Andrea Sabino gave me everything, he was an incredible coach and taught me a tremendous amount, but the relationship between a coach and his athlete is very close, and when something doesn't fit anymore, it's difficult to move on. The spark has gone out. Even though Andrea is like a big brother to me, I decided to make a change.”

What's next now?

“I'm back in Bolzano, but I'm behind on training and so I won't be taking any more breaks this summer. I want to build up my form so that I can be fit again in September. I don't know yet whether I'll take part in the Italian Championships in Rome at the beginning of August. It depends on how I feel and what shape I'm in. If I had to say yes today, I would say no, but there are still a month and a half until then.”

Stefano Ballo is at a crossroads in his career.

And what are your plans for the coming season?

“One of the reasons I came to Meran was to talk to Italy’s national coach Cesare Butini about my future. He said I should come to Meran and talk to him. It hasn't been decided yet, but 99 percent of the time I will go to Vicenza in September to train with Pier Andrea Matteazzi (third in the European Championships in the 400 m individual medley) and his brother Massimiliano under coach Federico Benda. Vicenza is certainly the right place to start again. And I will always do training sessions with Thomas Ceccon at the association center in Verona, especially because of the speed.”

So your career is just interrupted and not over?

“I will definitely continue until Paris. Then I'll see how it goes. My dream remains to qualify for the Olympics in the 200 m freestyle in the individual and relay, even though I know how difficult that is and that the competition in Italy is huge. Qualifying for the Olympics would change everything again. But I’m also aware that 30 is an old age for a swimmer.”

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This is what South Tyrol's best swimmer dreams of

Stefano Ballo was also at the Cool Meeting in Merano. But only as a spectator and star guest at the award ceremony. The season is practically over for the Olympic tenth place finisher in Tokyo, but his career is not over yet.

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