He started swimming the tender age of three and a half, on the advice of his doctor, due to a few back and shoulder problems and hasn't stopped since. The 24-year-old is the Italian record holder of the 50-meters breaststroke and is coached by a specialist of the likes of Hungarian, Tamas Gyertyanffy. He likes bands such as AC/DC and Sonata Arctica; in short, music energises you. In Rio, he aims to do well because, even if it's not rock, he especially likes the notes of the Italian national anthem. And he will do everything he can to get it played at the Estádio Olímpico de Desportos Aquáticos.