With the conclusion of the triumphalists European short course in Lublinthe curtain falls on the international activity of 2025. And after the final blows between the Assoluti and the Bremen Cup, the 25-metre season is about to give way to the great objective of 2026: the long tub. The appointment circled in red on the calendar is that of European Championships in Parisscheduled from 10 to 16 August 2026.
The transition from the short course to the Olympic course is never trivial. As professionals know well, the 25-metre pool rewards detail specialists don’t swim — starts, turns and dives — while the 50 meters enhance the power and technique of the swim. Although Italy leaves Lublin with a record haul of 20 medals (9 gold)projecting these results into the long course requires caution. However, by analyzing the growth trends and the technical characteristics of the Azzurri, it is possible to identify the names ready for the definitive leap in quality.
Christian Mantegazza It’s a name to follow. The twenty-year-old, already present at the Singapore 2025 World Championships, fits into an international context of the 200m breaststroke which, excluding Leon Marchand o one Qin Haiyang at the top, it appears open. The favorites for the European podium remain the Spaniard Carles Coll Martithe Dutch Caspar Corbeau and the young Briton Filip Nowacki. Added to these are the Russians Prigoda e Zhigalov and Mantegazza himself, all in the “under 2:10 club”. The Team Trezzo Sport athlete reiterated that he prefers the long course and could aim straight for the Italian record of 2:08.50 to earn a European final.
A very high level profile is that of Irene Burato (class of 2007). To the microphones of Talent Zonethe Italian admitted that she prefers the long course since diving and turns are not her strong point, making her an ideal prospect for the 50 meters. His improvement this year was impressive: in the 100 short course breaststroke she passed from1:08.08 of December 2024 all’1:05.54 signed at the last Absolutes. Despite, and indeed thanks to the stimulus, of the internal competition in the women’s breaststroke, the Vicenza native will also have wide margins in the 100 metres.
On the back shines the star of Daniele Del Signore (2007). The Roman, already on the podium at the World Championships in the 50 and 100, established himself at the Junior World Championships in Otopeni this summer by winning thegold in the 50m backstroke (24.91, Italian junior record) and silver in the 200m, preceded only by the Irishman John Shortt (fresh junior world record holder in short course). At the European Junior Championships in Samorin he achieved another silver in the 200 backstroke (1:57.94), beaten by the Hungarian Peter Zsombor. Ranking among the best promises together with his aforementioned opponents, who have already made the leap in category, Del Signore could join them in 2026.
In the butterfly it emerges forcefully Andrea Camozzi. Already vice-European U23 champion in Samorin last summer, he graduated in December Absolute Italian Champion for the first time. Camozzi signed the second Italian time ever in the 200 butterflypreceded only by Alberto Razzetti (who also holds the European record). Its possible inclusion in the panorama of the Italian butterfly should therefore not be underestimated.
Still in the field of the Genoese, the exploit is expected in the mixed Emanuele Potenza. The blue showed a clear improvement, lowering his personal best in the 400 medley by a good bit 7 seconds. It will be essential to understand how this progress will translate into the long course, considering that his rise will have to compete with the giant Alberto Razzettiwhich could act as a stimulus for the young athlete of 2005.
Among the very young she stands out Caterina Santambrogio (2009), sixth at the Junior World Championships in the 100 butterfly with 58.78. Suffice it to say that in the world, at her age, only the American has achieved better times Audrey Derivaux, already a promise of international swimming, and the Chinese Gong Zhenqi.
In the end, Emma Vittoria Giannelli (2007) is a candidate as heir to the blue fund. Already known for having beaten Simona Quadarella’s 1500m junior record in 2023, in 2025 she won the world junior bronze in Otopeni. His peak came at the Junior European Championships in Samorin with two silvers in the 800 (8:29.65) and 1500 (16:13.11)as well as bronze in the 400 freestyle (4:09.05). Results which, combined with her excellent strategic management, already project her towards the Olympic squad for Paris.
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