The preparations for the South Tyrol Swimmeeting are in full motion. The event on short course in Bolzano will experience its 26th edition on November 5th and 6th. This

year Italian big names are missing, due to their participation at the Nico Sapio Meeting in Genoa, which is taking place at the same time. Bolzano relies on strong swimmers

from all over the world, as it has been tradition for a quarter of a century.

Many big names have stood on the starting blocks of the same pool in the last 25 years and this year again meeting head Christian Mattivi and his team from SSV Bozen have

succeeded in bringing relevant international swimmers to the town on the first weekend in November. As everyone knows, the Swiss Noè Ponti, who won the silver

medal in the 100 m dolphin at the European Championships in August, will be there in Bolzano. But athletes from the USA should not be missing either.

Backstroke and dolphin specialist Kendyl Stewart, 28y.o. from Newton, Massachusetts, has won eleven medals at major international events in her career. The third place with

the US relay team at the Long Track World Championships in Kazan in 2015 and the three gold medals with the US quartet at the Short Track World Championships in

Hangzhou in 2018 deserve special mention. That year Stewart was already at the start in Bolzano. So, this is her second time in town. An old friend is Madison Kennedy. The

American has already won three times at the Swimmeeting in Bolzano and will again be one of the leading actresses this year in the 50 and 100 m freestyle events.

The Bulgarian Lachezar Shumkov triumphed in the 50 and 100 m breaststroke race last year and wants to defend his title this year. Greece's Georgios Spanoudakis made a

name for himself at this year’s Mediterranean Games by finishing 4th in the 50m backstroke race. In addition, the organizers have committed two interesting swimmers

from Africa. Matthew Lawrence (Mozambique) and Maria Lopez de Freitas from Angola. As always, the top athletes (the three fastest series) will perform in a very short time

schedule. On Saturday from 3.30pm to 5.40pm and on Sunday from 1pm to 3pm. Even this year Bolzano is again a green event that focuses on sustainability.