With less than three weeks to go until the 30th Swimmeeting South Tyrol on 7 and 8 November 2026, the international line-up continues to grow. Following the announcement of the first world-class competitors at the press conference on 15 October, organisers SSV Bozen have confirmed four more outstanding athletes: Brazil's Guilherme Caribé, Italian breaststroke specialist Federico Poggio, Finland's Laura Lahtinen, and Ireland's Charlotte Cullen. One of the most exciting prospects is the anticipated clash between Switzerland's Noe Ponti and Brazilian sprint sensation Guilherme Caribé. The 50m butterfly could bring together two of the fastest short-course swimmers in the world, setting the stage for one of the highlights of the anniversary edition at the Albert Pircher swimming pool. Guilherme Caribé – Brazil's sprint sensation takes on Ponti At just 23 years of age, Guilherme Caribé Oliveira Santos, from Salvador, has established himself as one of Brazil's leading swimming talents. His exceptional sprinting ability has brought him international success in the 50m and 100m freestyle, while his recent performances in the 50m butterfly have also attracted considerable attention. Caribé first made a major international impact at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, where he won three gold medals, including the individual 100m freestyle title. His breakthrough on the world stage followed at the 2024 World Short Course Championships in Budapest. There, the Brazilian claimed two silver medals, clocking 20.57 seconds in the 50m freestyle and 45.47 seconds in the 100m freestyle. His performance over the longer distance also broke the South American record previously held by Brazilian swimming legend César Cielo. In 2026, Caribé further demonstrated his versatility by emerging as a serious contender in the 50m butterfly. In August, he captured bronze at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, touching the wall in 22.88 seconds. Just weeks later, at the Brazilian Short Course Championships in São Paulo, he delivered another outstanding swim: 21.86 seconds in the 50m butterfly, placing him among the fastest swimmers ever to compete in the event.
That performance makes the prospect of a head-to-head battle with Noe Ponti particularly exciting. The Swiss Olympic medallist and three-time short-course world champion set a world record of 21.32 seconds in the 50m butterfly at the 2024 World Championships in Budapest, a mark that stood until October 2026. Caribé, meanwhile, continues to establish himself among the world's leading butterfly sprinters with his explosive speed and remarkable progress. Ponti versus Caribé – a showdown that could be worth the trip to Bolzano on its own. Federico Poggio – European champion strengthens Italy's breaststroke line-up Italy will be represented by another accomplished international swimmer in Federico Poggio, a 28-year-old breaststroke specialist from Voghera who previously competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Poggio's greatest individual achievement came at the 2022 European Championships in Rome, where he claimed silver in the 100m breaststroke in 58.98 seconds. At the same championships, he was also part of Italy's gold-medal-winning 4x100m medley relay team. His success extends to short-course swimming, where he has collected three European relay titles in 2021 and 2023. His personal bests of 26.28 seconds in the 50m breaststroke and 57.35 seconds in the 100m breaststroke underline his considerable sprinting ability. Alongside the previously announced world champion Simone Cerasuolo, Poggio adds further depth and quality to Italy's breaststroke line-up in Bolzano. Laura Lahtinen – Finland's butterfly star and World Cup winner The women's competition will also welcome an outstanding international talent in Laura Lahtinen, a 23-year-old Finnish swimmer who has built an impressive reputation in butterfly events. Lahtinen has enjoyed considerable success on the international World Cup circuit. Her 2024 campaign was particularly impressive, as she claimed victories in the 100m butterfly at both the Shanghai and Incheon World Cup stops, alongside several additional podium finishes. In 2025, she secured bronze in the 200m butterfly at the European U23 Championships in Slovakia. Later that year, at the European Short Course Championships in Lublin, she established a Finnish national record of 25.45 seconds in the 50m butterfly.
Her excellent form has continued into 2026. Earlier this October, Lahtinen won silver in the 200m butterfly at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Tashkent. With her international experience and proven short-course speed, the Finnish star will be among the swimmers to watch in Bolzano's butterfly events. Charlotte Cullen – Ireland's rising backstroke talent Joining the international field is Charlotte Cullen, widely known as Lottie Cullen on the international swimming circuit. The 22-year-old is part of an exciting generation of Irish swimmers and has established herself as a promising backstroke specialist. At the Irish National Championships in April 2026, Cullen captured the 100m backstroke title in 1:00.35, confirming her steady progress at national level. Her 2026 international campaign included appearances at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she reached the finals of both the 100m and 200m backstroke. At the European Championships in Paris, she further improved her personal best in the 200m backstroke to 2:12.22, advancing to the semi-finals. Cullen is also a strong short-course competitor, having recorded 57.31 seconds in the 100m backstroke in October 2025, a performance that established an Irish national record at the time. Together with previously announced European champion Danielle Hill, Cullen will give Ireland an exciting presence in the backstroke events at this year's Swimmeeting. Ten international swimming stars already announced The athletes previously unveiled at the 15 October press conference were Switzerland's Noe Ponti, Ireland's Danielle Hill, American Skyler Alexandra Smith, Italy's Annachiara Mascolo and Simone Cerasuolo, and Bermuda's Jack Harvey. With four additional international names now confirmed, the Swimmeeting South Tyrol continues its long-standing tradition of bringing established champions and emerging talents together for two days of world-class short-course swimming. The 30th Swimmeeting South Tyrol – world-class sport as a Green Event Beyond the excitement of international competition, environmental sustainability remains an important part of the Swimmeeting South Tyrol's identity. For its 30th edition, the event will once again be organised as a Green Event, continuing the commitment established over previous years. Through a range of environmentally conscious initiatives, SSV Bozen aims to promote responsible use of resources, reduce the event's environmental impact and encourage sustainable event organisation.
The Swimmeeting demonstrates how international sporting excellence, opportunities for young swimmers and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. World-class racing returns to Bolzano on 7 and 8 November On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026, more than 500 swimmers are expected to gather at the Albert Pircher swimming pool in Bolzano for two exciting days of international short-course competition. The programme includes 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. Spectators will once again have the opportunity to experience international swimming stars at close range, in the unique atmosphere that has made the Swimmeeting South Tyrol such a special event for three decades. And among the many exciting races expected this year, the potential showdown between Noe Ponti and Guilherme Caribé could prove to be one of the most memorable.