Thomas Ceccon, the Italian Olympic Champion and World Record holder, is a man on a mission. In an exclusive interview, he discusses the state of Italian swimming, the impact of the reintroduction of Russian and Belarusian swimmers, and his own journey to success. Ceccon is a man who speaks his mind, and his insights offer a fascinating glimpse into the world of competitive swimming.
A Growing Movement
Ceccon believes that Italian swimming is on the up, despite the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes. He attributes this growth to the absence of Russian swimmers in recent years, which has allowed Italian swimmers to shine. "The movement is growing, yes: there are many young people, and in recent years we’ve won a lot, especially given Russia’s absence," he says. "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."
But Ceccon is quick to point out that the absence of Russian swimmers has not been the sole factor in Italy's success. "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 still too much of a ‘Yes, but you’re too strong, too weak.’ There’s always a pretty tense atmosphere among athletes, which is perfectly fine, 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."
The European Championships
Ceccon is looking forward to the European Championships in Paris, where he will face off against some of the world's best swimmers, including France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard and South Africa’s Pieter Coetzee. He also mentions Kliment Kolesnikov and Miron Lifintsev, though Ceccon believes they will have to prove it after the International Olympic Committee lifted Russia’s suspension last week. "Aside from France’s Ndoye-Brouard and South Africa’s Coetzee, if Kolesnikov and Lifintsev both perform well, they’ll be the strongest on the field," he says. "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."
A New Perspective
Ceccon's training in Australia under legendary coach Dean Boxall has had a profound impact on his approach to swimming. "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 still too much of a ‘Yes, but you’re too strong, too weak.’ There’s always a pretty tense atmosphere among athletes, which is perfectly fine, 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."
A Different Culture
Ceccon also draws a comparison between American, Australian, and Italian swimmers, noting differences in their attitudes and relationships. "Americans, for example, have this ‘they know it all, they do it all’ attitude. In Italy, we all know each other, we’re all us now: I’ve never had any problems with anyone, actually, I’ve always been calm with everyone. But I’ve seen the difference."
A Man of Few Words
Despite his success, Ceccon is a man of few words when it comes to his relationships within the Italian national team. "Is it more of a relationship between colleagues, can you say ‘national teammates’? Then there are also friends who are on the national team. I repeat, I prefer not to have too much to do with the swimming world. 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 talk to them about absolutely anything. In swimming, I think it’s harder, and I don’t want to be too exposed with my business in the swimming world either."
In conclusion, Thomas Ceccon is a man who speaks his mind, and his insights offer a fascinating glimpse into the world of competitive swimming. As he looks ahead to the European Championships, he is confident that Italian swimming is on the up, and he is ready to face off against the best in the world. But Ceccon is also a man who values his privacy and his relationships outside of swimming, and he is careful not to let his success go to his head. It is a delicate balance, but one that Ceccon seems to have mastered.
