For Giorgio Lamberti and his wife Tanya Vannini, who have won many races in their careers, this is certainly the best success of their lives. And Giorgio was a world record holder and world and European champion of the 200m freestyle, one of the greatest champions in the history of Italian sport: not just any one. Now, however, the scene is all for their children: both Matteo (25 years old, freestyle) and Michele (23 years old, backstroke), true Brescians, raised in Gam, the family company (like his sister Noemi, the little one in the group), they will go to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
A historic result also for swimming from Brescia, which had been missing since Beijing 2008 when breaststroker Paolo Bossini was present. To find a Lamberti at the Games, we have to go back to 1992 in Barcelona, when Giorgio however only participated in the 4×200 relay despite being the outgoing world champion in the 200m freestyle. Thirty-two years later, it’s his children’s turn: if Michele was already sure of the call-up, at least for the mixed relay (but he will also compete in the individual race, the 100 backstroke), after the extraordinary appearances last weekend at Settecolli, Matteo has hooked the last place thanks to the excellent Roman performances in both the 400 and 200 freestyle. A reward for the work of the two boys, who have never put sport before study (they both attend university), and for the foresight of the family, who agreed to let them train Michael in Verona with Burlina (together with Ceccon) e Matteo in Livorno with Morini.
They grew up in Brescia, but far from the nest they managed to fulfill their lifelong dream. To experience together, in just a month, like in a fairy tale.
