Until Sunday 23 May, Budapest is scenario of European swimming championships 2020. Which, postponed due to the pandemic, only started on 10 May. For Italy, however, it was worth the wait: the Roman Simona Quadarella has pulverized the opponents, winning the gold medal in the 800 freestyle.
The fourth European gold
To victories, Simona Quadarella is used to. There are four golds obtained, including the triple at Glasgow 2018 (on that occasion he triumphed in the 400, 800 and 1.500 freestyle). Could the Budapest 800s be the start of his second treble? This is what the Roman athlete hopes, and with her the whole of Italy. After all, the premises are all there. Simona beat Anastasia Kirpichnikova and Anna Egorova in the time of 8'20 "23, the third of the year. Then writing on Instagram: "One More Time" ("Once again"). "I am happy, but I was expecting a better time”She commented after the race, with all the makings of a champion who is not satisfied.
"My dad was a hobbyswimming instructor and he put me in the water when I was a few months old, then I did the various courses”He said during an interview with Vanity Fair. "I always say that it is not the athlete who chooses the specialty, but the opposite. When I was ten I realized that the race in which I was doing better was the 1500s, that I had more stamina, so I concentrated on that". After the 1500s, the 800s and 400s arrived, in which Simona Quadarella triumphed. Again. As if to say that nothing is impossible.
Simona Quadarella, the career
Born in Rome in 1988, Simona Quadarella rose to prominence in Glasgow 2018. She won four European medals and three world championships: at the 2019 Gwangju World Championships she triumphed in the 1500 freestyle, scoring the Italian record. And her records are several, mainly recorded at the Tapei Universiade in 2017. After all, Simona grew up in water. Thanks to his father as a coach, he began to get serious when he was only eight years old. It was then registered for the Circolo Canottieri Aniene, and it is currently coached by former Olympian Christian Minottthe. The same champion that led her to win bronze on her debut at the 2017 Budapest World Swimming Championships (in the 1500 freestyle).
After Budapest 2017, it was the turn of Glasgow 2018. The real stage of its popularity. In Scotland she won gold in the 800 freestyle setting the Italian record (previously held by Alessia Filippi), and then in the 1500 and 400. It was finally repeated in Gwangju, before being forced to stop by the lockdown (and from the Coronavirus that hit her in the first person). Now Simona Quadarella is back, and she promises it: we will hear about her, again and again.
