The dream accomplished. A dream that began from the bottom and in Catanzaro. Giovanni Caserta rewrote the history of Calabrian swimming 56 years later. The 22-year-old swimmer, registered with In Sport Rane Rosse and the Army, signed the time needed to be part of the Italian team during the Assoluti di Riccione in March, closing with the bronze medal in the 200 freestyle on his chest. A superlative performance, which allowed him to record his personal best: 1’46”88. Then, at the end of June, at the end of the Settecolli in Rome he definitively certified his qualification for Paris, finishing in fifth place in the A final. Signing the Olympic sheet was a special moment, an indescribable emotion, shared with his dearest loved ones, his family and his first coaches Maria Lo Forte and Vanni Celano. That dream that will come true in France was born with them. When his potential immediately appeared to be above average. It was 2015 and at that time Giovanni was only a Rookie A. However, it was then when the objectives were set. To reach them, the Catanzaro native never stopped. He worked hard and from every point of view. A self-denial and a spirit of sacrifice common to few and that in the end made the difference.
In Calabria, Caserta won everything in his youth. A clear supremacy that led him to take flight towards higher caliber stages. The growth path continued even outside the regional borders. At 22 years old, there are still many dreams and room for improvement. In China, in Chengdu, a year ago he obtained the silver medal, in addition to the individual bronze medal won in the same race in the 31st edition of the World University Games.
Now, however, comes the most flattering stop for any athlete, that of the Olympic Games, in which he will be part of the 4×200 freestyle relay.
Caserta will take to the pool for the heats on July 30. The relay is the last race scheduled between 11:00 and 13:45. The Azzurri will try to get the pass to the final, which will be held in the evening between 21:59 and 22:30 in the beautiful “Paris La Defense Arena” facility, located 15 kilometers away from the Olympic Village in Nanterre.