On 7th and 8th November 2026, Bolzano will once again become a meeting point for the international swimming elite as the Greenevent Swimmeeting South Tyrol celebrates its 30th edition. Since its debut in 1997, the event has established itself as one of Italy's most traditional international short-course swimming competitions, regularly bringing Olympic medallists, world champions and rising international stars to the South Tyrolean capital. At this morning's press conference at the SSV Bozen headquarters, organisers unveiled the first six headline athletes for this special anniversary edition. Leading the line-up is Switzerland's Noe Ponti, Olympic bronze medallist, three-time short-course world champion and 50m butterfly former world record holder. He will be joined by Italy's reigning 50m breaststroke world champion Simone Cerasuolo, making his return to Bolzano after competing in 2025. The impressive international field also includes Irish European champion Danielle Hill, American breaststroke specialist Skyler Alexandra Smith, Italian Olympian Annachiara Mascolo, and Bermuda's national record holder Jack Harvey.
At just 25 years of age, Noe Ponti has established himself as one of the world's most exciting butterfly swimmers. The Swiss star first made international headlines at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, held in 2021, when he claimed a remarkable bronze medal in the 100m butterfly. Since then, Ponti has continued to climb to the very top of the sport. At the 2024 World Short Course Championships in Budapest, he delivered an extraordinary performance, winning three world titles in the 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly and 100m individual medley. His outstanding world record of 21.32 seconds in the 50m butterfly was one of the defining moments of the championships and was taken only recently. Ponti has also demonstrated his class in the long-course pool. At the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, he captured silver medals in both the 50m and 100m butterfly. In August 2026, he added another European Championship bronze medal in the 100m butterfly in Paris.
His appearance in Bolzano promises to be one of the major attractions of the anniversary meeting. On the 25-metre course, where his explosive speed and exceptional underwater skills have produced some of the fastest performances in history, Ponti will undoubtedly be one of the athletes to watch.
Simone Cerasuolo – the world champion returns Italian swimming fans will also welcome back Simone Cerasuolo, who competed at the South Tyrol meeting in 2025 and now returns as one of the world's leading breaststroke specialists. The 23-year-old from Imola enjoyed the greatest success of his career at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, where he won gold in the 50m breaststroke in 26.54 seconds, becoming the first Italian swimmer to claim the long-course world title in the event. Cerasuolo continued his remarkable run of success at the 2025 European Short Course Championships in Lublin, winning gold in the 50m breaststroke and two further gold medals with Italy's medley relay teams. At the 2026 European Championships in Paris, he added silver in the 50m breaststroke and bronze in the 100m breaststroke. During the same championships, he also set a new Italian 50m breaststroke record of 26.20 seconds. With his exceptional sprinting ability and outstanding international credentials, Cerasuolo could once again challenge the meeting records in the breaststroke events.
The women's competition will feature another outstanding international name in Danielle Hill, one of Ireland's most accomplished swimmers in recent years. The 27-year-old has represented Ireland at two Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and specialises in sprint backstroke and freestyle events. Her finest international achievement came at the 2024 European Championships in Belgrade, where she claimed gold in the 50m backstroke in 27.73 seconds, becoming Ireland's first long-course European swimming champion in 27 years. She went on to add a silver medal in the 100m backstroke at the same championships. With several Irish national records to her name and extensive experience competing at the highest international level, Hill brings both quality and excitement to the women's events in Bolzano.
Skyler Alexandra Smith – American breaststroke power Representing the United States will be Skyler Alexandra Smith, a 23-year-old breaststroke specialist who has emerged as an exciting talent on the international stage.
Smith developed her competitive career at the University of North Carolina, where she established university records and earned multiple All-America honours in the highly competitive American collegiate swimming system. Her international breakthrough continued in 2026. At the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in August, she claimed bronze in the 50m breaststroke in an impressive 29.90 seconds. Earlier in the season, she had also secured a podium finish in the 100m breaststroke at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis, recording a time of 1:06.90. Her speed over the shorter breaststroke distances will make her another exciting contender at this year's meeting.
Italy will also be represented by Annachiara Mascolo, a 25-year-old freestyle specialist with considerable experience at major international competitions. The Florence-born swimmer represented Italy at the Tokyo Olympic Games as part of the women's 4x200m freestyle relay team and has competed at several World Championships. At the 2024 World Short Course Championships in Budapest, Mascolo helped Italy establish a national record of 7:40.28 in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay. She subsequently represented her country at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. Her strong form continued in 2026, when she secured silver in the 200m freestyle at the Italian National Championships in 1:58.09, before competing at the European Championships in Paris. Mascolo's international experience and versatility will further strengthen the Italian presence at the anniversary edition of the Swimmeeting.
Completing the announced international line-up is Jack Harvey from Bermuda, a talented backstroke specialist who has represented his island nation at the highest level. The 23-year-old competed in the 100m backstroke at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and has established himself as one of Bermuda's leading swimmers. During the 2026 season, Harvey continued to rewrite the national record books. At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he set a Bermudian record of 25.20 seconds in the 50m backstroke. A few weeks later, at the Pan Pacific Championships, he further improved his personal best in the 100m backstroke to 54.51 seconds.
Harvey's participation underlines the international character of the Swimmeeting South Tyrol, which continues to bring athletes from both established swimming powers and smaller nations together in the same pool.

Thirty editions of international swimming excellence

extraordinary collection of Olympic champions, world champions and world record holders. Swimming legends including Ryan Lochte, Aaron Peirsol, Anthony Ervin, César Cielo, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Federica Pellegrini, Thomas Ceccon and Nicolò Martinenghi have all contributed to the event's remarkable history. One of the meeting's defining features has always been the opportunity for young swimmers to compete alongside some of their sporting heroes, creating a unique atmosphere that combines world-class competition with the enthusiasm of the next generation. “What began in 1997 has grown over three decades into a firmly established event on the international swimming calendar. The fact that we have managed to organise the Swimmeeting every single year, without interruption, and to welcome Olympic champions, world champions and world record holders to Bolzano for decades is a source of immense pride. However, we must never forget that none of this would have been possible without the passion and tireless dedication of so many people, our partners and everyone who has supported us throughout the years. We therefore look back on the past 30 editions with deep gratitude,” says Christian Mattivi – Chairman of the Organising Committee in retrospective and for the future outlook: “while looking to the future with humility and confidence. Our hope is that the Swimmeeting South Tyrol will continue to be a place where world-class champions and young talents come together, and where the passion for swimming is passed on from one generation to the next.”

The Swimmeeting South Tyrol traditionally takes place at the Albert Pircher swimming pool in Bolzano. Spectators can look forward to exciting races and the chance to watch top international swimmers competing for fast times right in front of them. More than 500 athletes will compete in all 50m and 100m events, as well as the 100m individual medley. The three fastest heats will take place on Saturday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm and on Sunday from 1:00 pm to 2:45 pm. Cash prizes of up to €1,000 will be awarded for new meeting records.

Everything is therefore in place for a truly special anniversary edition. On 7th and 8 th November 2026, the Albert Pircher swimming pool will once again belong to the international swimming elite for two exciting days – and to the next generation of young swimmers, who will have the unique opportunity to see their sporting idols up close.