A warrior, in and out of the water. Margherita Panziera is defined this way because everything he has conquered in studies and swimming, he earned it day after day. And today, the accumulated loot is important and shining, ready to be put back on the plate for a new challenge, yet another and perhaps the most important: Tokyo Olympics.
Born in 1995, the swimmer from Montebelluna holds the Italian record in the 200 backstroke and still is reigning European champion on distance in short course, after wearing the gold medal at the last Glasgow edition in 2019 (with a time of 2’01 ”45).
Furthermore, having been postponed the European long course championships of 2020 to next May 2021, Margherita is also the reigning European champion of the 200 meters back in the 50 meters pool with the gold she won in 2018 again in Glasgow (with a time of 2 ‘ 06 “18). What began in 2018, in fact, was a great ascent for the swimmer, culminating precisely in the continental event and waiting for the Japanese summer 2020, before the abrupt stop caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.
A bright fire burns in the backstroke’s blue eyes, which she tries to mitigate with a gentle smile, but which one cannot help but notice. There is little time left for the Italian Absolute Championships in Riccione which will be staged from March 31st to April 3rd and which will finally represent a testing ground. “I haven’t competed nationally since August,” he says. “And I honestly can’t wait.”
What stopped her?
“I had Covid between November and December and this obviously put me in the pits. Luckily it took me mildly, I only had a little sinusitis, but nothing more. Those that came later were intense months where I tried to do my best to recover and return to pre-contagion training levels. I feel that I am on the right path and I am curious to see how this event will be organized with the new regulations ».
An athlete is such because he competes, confronts, fights. What does it become when it cannot compete?
«An athlete is an athlete not only because he competes, but because he is hungry for victory, for confrontation, for struggle. But he has to find other goals in order to continue to feel like a warrior. The first lockdown held us down for two months and for a swimmer, who needs sensitivity with the water, they are endless. It was difficult to find motivation, we didn’t know if there would be races or not. It is difficult to find the impetus in the long term, so it is better to face small challenges day after day ».
What advice do you feel you can give to swimming enthusiasts right now?
«The advice I would like to give to everyone is to set small achievable goals of any kind: to be able to regain a healthy weight, for example. Using sport as an escape valve from daily stress because it is not an easy situation for anyone, but sport is good for body and mind and if you cannot enter the water, we compensate with dry work. There are groups on social networks with personal trainers who give video lessons: being able to find a group to train with even at a distance is certainly an extra help ».
Does the group help? Yet his is an apparently very solitary sport …
«True, in the water you are alone, you are there for yourself. What I like most about my sport is being in the water even without swimming, because just feeling the contact with my element relaxes me and allows me to throw away negative thoughts, freeing me from mental confusion. But without a group that supports you, you remain an isolated pawn. And you don’t know how important it is to feel the team and its strength when you are swimming. It is an emotional issue, because in sport it is not just physical preparation that counts ».
What do you mean?
«I mean that a race does not take place in a single moment, but is a path that passes through all the days that precede it. It is necessary to be able to remain in the right emotional state so as not to wear yourself out inside. And to do this I found my method: I chat, listen to positive music and try not to think about it. When the time comes to get on the starting block, the tension is there, and thanks to experience I have learned to manage it ».
Do you manage your daily life in this way too? Lightly?
“For nothing! I am a very apprehensive girl about everything, I always want to do things to the maximum from swimming, to studying and my obsession with perfectionism is probably the reason that led me to have the results I have obtained. I envy those who apply philosophy Take it easy. As a young girl, swimming was fun for me. When I decided to become a professional athlete I was already in the fifth grade and my approach was immediately very mature and responsible. Before I took it as a game, I didn’t put pressure on myself, then when more expectations came on the table, both for me and from others, it started to become much more difficult to be carefree ».
What do you see in the future?
“I am a person with short-term goals. This year it will be Tokyo and it will certainly be able to make a good impression to have my say and give your best. At the same time, I also want to see a rebirth of the world of swimming pools that are going through a really difficult period and to which I feel like saying to hold on and not give up because swimming is a beautiful sport and it is imperative that these places survive to teach people to love. ‘water”.
Sporty, intelligent and also very beautiful. Has this ever been a “problem” in your being an athlete?
“Absolutely not and I hope it never is. I want to be appreciated for my pool work and my intelligence above all. And if you also find me beautiful … thanks, but it’s all genetics, there’s nothing mine! Thanks to mom and dad! ».
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