The strong Italian national open water swimming team includes the following athletes: [Front Row] Simone Ercoli (coached by G. Pistelli), Fabiana Lamberti (coached by L. Piscopo), Federica Vitale (coached by Emanuele Sacchi), Gianlorenzo Parmigiani (coached by Emanuele Sacchi), Rachele Bruni (coached by G. Pistelli), Martina Grimaldi (coached by F. Cuzzani), Nicole Cirillo (coached by M. Divano), Diego Polani, Coach Valerio Fusco,
Coach Lino Borello, Coach Massimo Giuliani, Coach Pino Palumbo. [Second Row] Simone Ruffini (coached by M. Forni), Alice Franco (coached by P. Palumbo), L.Stochino (coached by F. Tassara), Stefano, Luca Ferretti (coached by S. Franceschi), Federico Vanelli (coached by Emanuele Sacchi), Andrea Amedeo (coached by Emanuele Sacchi), Nicola Bolzonello (coached by B. Dinic), Coach Fabio Cuzzani, Dr. Sergio Crescenzi, Coach Stefano Franceschi and Mattia Alberico (coached by F. Tassara). Valerio Cleri, Giorgia Consiglio and Emanuele Sacchi are not pictured.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.