Swimming: Italian national team on training camp here-Italian stars mix with locals in the pool |27 October 2006

Head coach Alberto Castagnati, who swam on the Italian 4 x 100m freestyle team at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972 but did not win a medal, has described Seychelles as a good place to train, saying “the training conditions are very good here, but the only problem is that the water is too warm in the morning. Otherwise, everything is OK and we hope to come back next year.”

Coming from one of Europe’s top swimming nations, the star-studded team, who are staying at the Coral Strand Hotel, train twice daily – in the morning from 8 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and in the afternoon from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

When training in the Olympic-size pool at Roche Caïman, the Italians have alongside them local swimmers Steven Mangroo and Shannon Austin who are using the opportunity to enhance their swimming skills and work on improving their speed and endurance.

Both Mangroo and Austin told Sports Nation Thursday October 26 that it’s a good experience to train alongside some of the world’s best swimmers and that training is tough. They added that the coaching is good and that the Italians are friendly.

Speaking to Sports Nation after Thursday morning’s training session, 2005 World Aquatics Championships’ 100m freestyle gold medallist Filippo Magnini said that “I prefer training in Seychelles than in Rome. Seychelles is very beautiful. Although it’s a bit hot, it’s not a problem for me. I’m in the water. My only problem is that we wake up too early, at 6 a.m.  In Italy, we are used to getting up at 8 a.m.”

Nicknamed ‘Superpippo’, Magnini, who won the World Aquatics Championships’ gold medal in the men's 100 m freestyle with the time of 48.12 seconds, an all-time second fastest behind triple Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband's world record of 47.84 seconds, is aiming to defend his title in the next edition of the championships in Melbourne, Australia next year.

“I train to win and I’ll be all out to defend my title. But I know it won’t be easy. The 100m freestyle is a fast race and there are many good swimmers around,” said 24-year-old Magnini, who also won the 100m freestyle at the 2004 and 2006 editions of the European Swimming Championships.

It is to note that Magnini’s leg stroke is today considered the world's strongest one.
Silver medallist in the 200m freestyle at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and second in the same race at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, Canada, Federica Pellegrini had a message for young Seychellois swimmers.

With head coach Castanati acting as translator, 18-year-old Pellegrini said: “Tough training and your love for your sport will bring you what you want to achieve. I like swimming. Although training is tough, I persevere.”

Pellegrini’s 200m freestyle personal best is 1 minute 58.02 seconds (1:58.02).
Alessia Filippi excels in backstroke and medley races, as well as in middle-distance freestyle (400m to 800m). She was the first Italian female swimmer to win a gold medal at any international competition when he won the 400m individual medley at the 2006 European Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary. She also won a bronze medal in the same championship, and a silver medal in the 2006 short-course World Championships.

Filippi is the currently ranked number one in the 400m individual medley world ranking.
Butterfly specialist Francesca Segat won the silver medal in the 200m butterfly at the European Short Course Championships in 2003 and again finished second in the European Long Course Championships in Budapest in 2006.

The 23-year-old, who resides in Roma, said that “I’m looking forward to become the world champion next year and do equally well at the next Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in 2008.”

Apart from head coach Castagnati,three assistant coaches, a team doctor, a physiotherapist and a trainer have also made the tip to Seychelles. After visiting Ste Anne and Rounds island, the Italians are looking forward to go to Praslin this coming weekend before leaving on Thursday November 2.

It is to note that a Seychelles team are expected to train and compete in Italy but the Seychelles Swimming Association (SSA) and its Italian counterpart are still to work on the modalities.

Reached by telephone SSA chairman Jean-Paul Adam said that there is a possibility that Steven Mangroo goes there to prepare for the World Aquatics Championships scheduled for March, 2007 in Melbourne, Australia.

But right now, the SSA is working on preparing Seychelles’ team for the first edition of the Anoca (Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa) Games in Mauritius from December 8 to 10.

G. G.