Swimmeeting South Tyrol: Alessandro Miressi is the star

The meeting, which has been taking place for 27 years (there was even a regional edition in the Corona year), was presented on Thursday morning at the headquarters of the SSV Bozen in Gries. Also present was Walter Taranto, the president of the South Tyrolean Swimming Association, who had a lot of praise for the organizers around OK boss Christian Mattivi: "For many years, the organizers have managed to bring top athletes to Bozen, which is not easy. For our association, the meeting at the rectory is the starting signal for the new season."

In just over two weeks, this will be no different in 2024. "Even if the start of the season after the Olympic Games is never easy," admits OK boss Mattivi. Four months after the games in Paris, a new cycle begins, which will culminate in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. "One week after Bolzano, the Nico Sapio Meeting will take place in Genoa, and one week later the Italian Short Course Championships will take place in Riccione. In addition, our meeting overlaps with the World Cup in Asia," says Mattivi. The Swiss Noè Ponti, serial winner in Bolzano for the last three years, and the Italian Olympic champions Thomas Ceccon and Nicolò Martinenghi are also involved there.

Some top-class players in Bolzano Nevertheless, the organizers have managed to sign some swimmers of international renown this year. Starting with Alessandro Miressi. The 26-year-old from Turin will be the big attraction at the rectory this year. His track record includes three Olympic medals. A few months ago in Paris he won bronze with Italy's 4 x 100 m freestyle relay team, just as he did in Tokyo in 2021.

The event was presented in Bolzano on Thursday.

Miressi also won bronze in the 4 x 100 m freestyle at the World Championships in Doha in February, as well as silver in the 100 m freestyle. He also won gold on his favorite course at the 2021 Short Course World Championships in Abu Dhabi. Miressi holds the Italian records on the long course in 47,45 (2021 European Championships in Budapest) and in the 25 m pool in 45,51 (2023 European Championships in Otopeni). "Miressi is certainly capable of beating Marco Orsi's meeting record, which has stood at 46,98 seconds for nine years," says Mattivi. "But he has competition from his own camp." Ludovico Viberti, who was on the podium with Miressi at the World Championships in Doha, will start in Bolzano.

Simone Stefanì, who won three times in Bolzano in 2021 and won gold in the 2022 m backstroke at the 50 Mediterranean Games in Algeria, has also confirmed his attendance. Alessandro Bori (European champion with Italy in the 4 x 100 m freestyle two years ago in Rome) and the American Zach Harting, a specialist in the 200 m butterfly, are also taking part. In the women's category, Russian Nika Godun and Italian Alessia Polieri (she turns 21 on October 30), 18-time Italian champion and 2010 European vice-champion in the short course, have registered.

That's how much money there is As always, the best three series (Top 24) in each discipline (over 50 and 100 meters) will be shown in a compact format on Saturday between 16 p.m. and 18 p.m. and on Sunday between 13 p.m. and 15 p.m. to guarantee fans a special experience. The Swimmeeting South Tyrol has a total prize money of 19.130 euros. Event records are worth between 250 and 1000 euros (if they are older than three years). The oldest record is held by the American Nick Thoman, who swam the 100 m backstroke in 15 seconds 50,32 years ago.

Large crowds of spectators at the swim meeting.

The successful participant in Bolzano: Thomas Rupprath with 18 victories The most successful participant in Bolzano was Thomas Rupprath from Germany, who competed in Bolzano six times and won 2001 times between 2008 and 18. In 2001 and 2002 he managed five victories in one weekend. Noè Ponti equaled this record in 2022. In second place on the all-time winners list is Fabio Scozzoli, Italy's breaststroke champion, who ended his career a year ago. Scozzoli has 17 victories to his name in the Talfer city. He won the 2009 m breaststroke eight times between 2018 and 100. A swimmer from Germany is third on the podium. Janine Pietsch celebrated 16 victories in Bolzano, and was at the top six times in the 50 m backstroke.

Behind them are the "Bomber" Marco Orsi with 13 first places (six times 100 m freestyle), US champion Natalie Coughlin (11) and Noè Ponti, who has ten victories after his three victories last year. The three athletes with eight victories also include a South Tyrolean, Laura Letrari, who ended her career in summer 2022. She won the 2009 m individual medley six times between 2021 and 100.

tennis

hockey

Winter sports

football

Italy

International leagues

International

Learn More

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Favorites

Swimmeeting South Tyrol: Alessandro Miressi is the star

Comments (0)