Laura Letrari's emotional farewell

One swimming event follows the next: the World Championships began in Budapest a month ago, and the European Championships start in Rome in around three weeks (August 11th to 21st). Tickets are currently being awarded as part of the Italian Championships in Ostia. Laura Letrari doesn't have to worry about that: the 33-year-old ended her career on Thursday. In her final race, the 50 meter freestyle, she finished 14th. She then let her emotions run wild on social media.

“My beloved swimming,” writes Letrari in her farewell letter: “We have come to the end, I really can’t find any more words. I just want to say thank you: for this wonderful journey, for the roller coaster of emotions, for the thrills and the tears, for the incredible trips around the world, for the unforgettable people I was able to meet and work with, for my friends who accompanied me on this adventure. For being able to represent my country with pride, for being able to sing, laugh and scream with joy, for making my dreams come true and for being able to go to the Olympics. For all the sunsets and sunrises, for all the plane takeoffs that made me excited, for the hugs and beautiful words, for the friends and coaches, for the disappointments and difficulties that made me a strong woman, and for, that I was able to turn my greatest passion into my profession.”

Laura Letrari (2nd from right) at the 2009 Mediterranean Games with Erica Buratto, Giorgia Mancin and Federica Pellegrini. © AFP / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

Letrari will never stop thanking her parents and brothers for encouraging her to take this path. In the post, many of the South Tyrolean's companions wished her all the best, including Italy's former swimming star Federica Pellegrini.

The woman from Brixen can look back on a career full of successes. She won bronze three times at the European Short Course Championships, won an impressive 14 Italian championship titles and took part in the 2012 Olympic Games in London as a relay swimmer. She also won a total of three gold medals at the Mediterranean Games. Ballo with disappointment From a South Tyrolean perspective, the focus in Ostia was not only Letrari's farewell, but also Stefano Ballo's performance in the 200 meter freestyle. In order to snag a European Championship ticket, the man from Bolzano would have had to win the race. However, that didn't work; with a time of 1.47,90:XNUMX, Ballo came fifth in a top-class race. The European Championship dream in our own country has therefore burst.

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Laura Letrari's emotional farewell

A long and successful career came to an end on Thursday at the Italian Championships in Ostia: Laura Letrari stopped swimming at the age of 33.

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