Thomas Ceccon and the gold on the Olympics: the monastic life, the daddy who was a nurse, the home in Verona along with his mom. “I knew since I used to be a baby that I’d win”

PARIS — A daring large. Cyrano who minimize his mustache just for aerodynamic causes. In a world view he stayed away from the sting that limits the paths for a second: eight seconds longer than the time it took him to win gold. Then she kissed the water, like a lover.

the shy and dedicated athletes, those for whom the essential factor is to enhance, do your greatest, make the staff win and so on.? Right here you might be, Thomas Ceccon it’s the reverse.

“I knew since I used to be a baby that I’d win the Olympic Video games. I used to be fifteen once I mentioned to Alberto, my coach: I’ll win the Olympic gold.”

Thomas, have you ever seen President Mattarella on the town? “Sure, fortunately they did not hold me lengthy” (he was clearly joking).

Thomas, did you dream the coin? “It was not a dream; it was an obsession. Though it was extra apparent than Nicolò” (which might be Martinenghi). “I had additionally already ready these interviews. By the best way, is it true that a few of you journalists mentioned that Nicolò gained by luck? Know that you do not win in swimming by luck.”

And this isn’t in any respect. Up to now he mentioned issues like: “There are only a few individuals in Italy who’ve a thoughts like mine, two or three at most. ” Right here in Paris, nevertheless, he arrived in Olympic mode. He donned Mark Spitz’s 70s mustache. He even shook his chest, which he by no means does.

Within the metropolis they gave him instruments like everybody else, together with a cell phone; he did not even ship them away, so he would not lose focus. « I additionally do it for my household; I’ve to pay her again for what she did to me. I am not right here to inform you concerning the sacrifices. However I keep in mind all of them.”

Paris Olympics, stay: all of the information and medals right this moment

The daddy is a nurse from Schio, who labored two shifts, day and evening, to permit his son to dedicate himself to swimming. To be near him, his mom moved to Verona, the place Thomas is coaching (sure, the Olympic champion lives along with his mom). He has a brother, Ephrem.

It is not a fortunate life, like Gregorio Paltrinieri, who on trip within the Aeolian Islands skilled by diving from his father’s boat at daybreak and swimming from Lipari to Vulcano and again. Thomas lives a monastic life. Get up at half previous six, at half previous seven already within the pool, three hours of coaching, 5 kilometers of swimming, nap, lunch, then again to the swimming pool, one other 5 kilometers, dinner at 8pm and early to mattress. Apparently hell. However he’s completely satisfied. “I began once I was seven. Even then I used to be coaching daily, and it did not hassle me in any respect. As a youngster it was harder to see different individuals going out at evening. However I could not.” And the way are you celebrating tonight? “With a trump sport. In two days I’ve the 200 meters.”

Thomas was pressured to swim. He does not take into consideration the rest. His fame as a foul boy was born when he joined the nationwide staff at sixteen, and he had little in frequent with the thirty yr previous veterans. So he was alone; “And anyway it wasn’t an excellent setting, not one of the large guys helped me get into the group. ”

The one veteran he likes is Michael Phelps. He has learn his biography 5 instances. till two years in the past he ate as he was: twelve thousand energy of junk meals; he pays extra consideration to it now. He additionally learn Mark Spitz’s autobiography. After which books on psychology and philosophy. Now he’s enrolling within the college. And his top of 97m on TV has made an excellent impression, he’s already getting clear messages on social media. “Am I a intercourse image? Hand. It is simply that you just at all times see us half-naked…”.

It’s a great evening for Italian swimming, the game par excellence, which saves the journey with heavy gold. Benedetta Pilato, enthusiastic, very good, laughs till she shouts: “I misplaced the bronze for 100… a little bit of an asshole!”.

Then two unusual issues occur. The Mameli hymn is enjoying. Ceccon is about to sing it, then he’s a little bit disenchanted, a little bit too emotional: «I used to be moved, however I used to be already moved earlier than the race, with the thought of ​​being right here». We could have listened to the hymn a thousand instances. However once you hear him play for a twenty-year-old boy, the age Goffredo Mameli was when he wrote that he was prepared for dying, and he actually was – so it was not rhetoric: it’s rhetoric when there are phrases on it the opposition to information; if the information show them, it’s flesh, it’s blood – once you see the French, the People, the Chinese language, the richer and extra highly effective individuals than us, who stand and who clap their palms to the anthem as a result of they do not perceive the phrases however they really feel they’re saying one thing essential, you’ll perceive why the Olympics are distinctive. And Thomas Ceccon understood this very effectively.

The second factor is that it reveals Federica Pellegrini. Stunning, along with her six-month-old daughter, Matilde, who’s teething for the time being, «however she lets us sleep as a result of we introduced her round instantly, she is used to it». Federica is right here to reward the 200 meter winner: her race. Silver in Athens, gold in Beijing, lastly in London and Rio: the best Italian swimmer of all time. “That is the primary time in twenty years that I’ve not been swimming on this remaining – he laughs -. However that is okay. There’s a time for all the pieces. In Athens I used to be sixteen years previous: a little bit woman. Now, in lower than every week, I will probably be thirty-six. It’s a new life: I’m Matilde’s mom, Matteo’s spouse. I’m proud that the primary two Italian gold medals in Paris got here from swimming. Thomas trains within the swimming pool I used to have. He lives to swim; and that is primary. The torch has been handed to a brand new era.” And right here everyone seems to be a little bit moved.