The Army triumphs at the Absolute Swimming Championships: 36 medals and historic records in Riccione
A shower of medals, broken records and outstanding performances. At the Italian Absolute Swimming Championships, just concluded in Riccione, the athletes of the Army wrote an extraordinary page of sport and national pride. As many as 36 times the star-studded champions climbed the podium, bringing home a haul that speaks for itself: 22 gold medals, 5 silver and 9 bronze. Staggering numbers, but that's not all: these Assoluti have consecrated the Army Sports Group as a true hothouse of talent and an absolute protagonist of Italian swimming.
Among the names that shone brightest was certainly that of the very young VFP4 Sara Curtis. The 18-year-old from Piedmont, already a star at the Paris 2024 Olympics with the 4×100 freestyle relay teamHe impressed with maturity, determination and class. In Riccione, she won four gold medals: in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle, in the 50 m backstroke and in the women's 4×100 freestyle relay. But above all, she rewrote history, setting a new Italian record in the 100 m freestyle and beating none other than legend Federica Pellegrini's record. Not content with that, she then improved her own record in the 50 m freestyle, stopping the clock at 24″43: this is the second world record of the year, just one hundredth off Belgian Florine Gaspard's time.
Golden relays and champion individuals
Alongside Sara Curtis, in the golden relay, other stars of the Army: VFP4 Lt-Gen. Sofia Morini, VFP4 Lt-Gen. Emma Virginia Menicucci and Grd. Sc. Giulia Verona. The quartet also dominated in the 4×200 freestyleconfirming perfect chemistry and excellent preparation. Among the men's ranks, another outstanding performance came from the 4×100 freestyle relay: with VFP4 Christian Bacico, Grd. Lorenzo Zazzeri, Grd. Federico Burdisso and Grd. Alessandro Pinzuti. Gold medals and a new Italian record for them too.
Christian Bacico was one of the stars of the Assoluti 2025, winning three golds in the 50, 100 and 200 m backstroke. A hat-trick that consecrates the 19-year-old from Lombardy among the new phenomena of Italian swimming. "These are tough days, but I did well to hold my own," he said excitedly after his victory in the 200 backstroke. "I did not expect to win three absolute Italian titles and for that I am proud. I dedicate these successes to my coach Verika and my family."
Not to be outdone was Grd. Federico Burdisso, who resumed his winning ways in the 100 m butterfly, a race in which he was Olympic bronze medallist in Tokyo. With an intelligent swim and his usual explosive finish, he finished in 51″83 ahead of a rediscovered Alberto Razzetti. For Burdisso, this is a return to the top, also the result of his recent return to training with Simone Palombi, the coach with whom he had already written important pages.
Between promise and veterans, the value of the team
Also on the top step of the podium were C.le Magg. VFP4 Francesca Fangio, first in the 200 breaststroke, C.le Magg. VFP4 Davide Marchello, who won the 800 m freestyle, and Grd. Pier Andrea Matteazzi, gold in the 400 m mixed. These results confirm the value and depth of the Army team.
But the Riccione 2025 Olympic Games offered much more than just rankings. They told stories of redemption, sacrifice and passion. Such as that of Anita Gastaldi, the new queen of the 100 backstroke, who, after coming second in the 200 medley, won the Italian title with a personal best of 1'00″46. Or that of Paola Borrelli, winner in the 200 butterfly with a personal best of 2'08″94, confirming a talent yet to be explored.
And then the emotion of Carlotta Zofkova's farewell to the races, greeted by the Riccione audience with a heartfelt applause. A symbolic moment that united the past, present and future of Italian swimming.
Also among the new faces promising to go far was Carlos D'Ambrosio, who triumphed in the 200 freestyle in 1'46″32, demonstrating maturity and cold blood. "A victory obtained with the head and the heart, more than with physical condition," said the Vicenza-based athlete of the Fiamme Gialle, who had just come down with the flu but was nevertheless able to impose himself on renowned names such as Filippo Megli and Marco De Tullio.
The Army Sports Group, once again, confirms itself among the excellences of Italian sport. Not just a breeding ground for champions, but a structure that combines top athletic performance with the values of military discipline: commitment, sacrifice, team spirit. The Italian Absolute Swimming Championships 2025 thus closed in the sign of the Army: 36 medals that speak of sweat and talent, of young promises already a reality, of broken records and new horizons to explore.
Published by Condoralex
Born Alessandro Generotti, C.le Maj. Parachutist on leave. Military Parachutist Patent no. 192806. 186th RGT Par. Folgore/5th BTG. Par. El Alamein/XIII Cp. Par. Condor.
Founder and administrator of the website BRIGATAFOLGORE.NET. Blogger and computer scientist by profession.
