Citi World Series 2024: Lignano sees inspiring Simone Barlaam meet future stars

The Citi Para Swimming World Series 2024 is approaching a new chapter as hundreds of athletes from all over the world land in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy for four days of multi-class races from Thursday to Sunday (14 to 17 March).

It is the third meet of the year and also the most numerous so far as 341 athletes from 55 nations are expected at the Bella Italia Village. 

Plenty of world and Paralympic champions will be in the water, racing in their main events. All the action will be live streamed on the Italian Para Swimming Federation YouTube channel.  

Among those names, none other than Simone Barlaam will be leading a 69-strong squad representing the host nation. Although still young at 23, Barlaam has already won Paralympic and world titles, broken innumerous world records, and also many awards. 

Last year, he received the first-ever PARA SPORT Awards in the Best Male Summer Sports athlete category. This year, he was shortlisted for the prestigious Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award.

“More than a responsibility, it’s also an immense pleasure to be able to inspire kids with disability all over the world. In some sense, it’s more rewarding than medals. It’s probably the most important part because you are kind of changing the society of the future, making it more inclusive, making people with disability surer about themselves and their possibilities”, said Barlaam.

The magic of the World Series

In that sense, the Citi Para Swimming World Series meets offer a great opportunity for intergenerational encounters as multi-champions compete alongside newcomers and promising young swimmers.

Barlaam (S9) will dive into the Bella Italia Village’s pool for eight events during the four-day competition, including the men’s 50m freestyle in which he is the current Paralympic and world champion and also world record holder. He will be seen in action in the 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke, 50m and 100m butterfly.

In a Paralympic year, despite so many achievements and awards, Barlaam says that is still room for improvement. 

“First of all, of course, [I want] to improve myself as a person and as an athlete, and to enjoy the process and the experience more. In Tokyo, I didn’t enjoy the Paralympics experience at all, I wasn’t ok with my head,” he said. “Now, thankfully, I am and I want to enjoy the Paralympics and the whole year at their fullest and just try to do my best and enjoy every moment.”

Three years ago, millions of people around the planet were struggling with the mental health impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was no different for high-performance athletes such as Barlaam at Tokyo 2020, even though he returned from Japan with his first-ever Paralympic gold.

“I became a little bit of a hypochondriac. I was always afraid of being infected, test positive, and not to be able to perform and race. I isolated myself from my friends and my family. I didn’t enjoy the experience. There were times in Tokyo that I felt almost sick of getting into the water,” he said.

But as Paris 2024 is getting closer, Barlaam believes that everything is different now.

“It was a long process after that with my psychologist and I worked on myself, got to know myself better. And with all the work, I’m back on my feet and I love swimming more than ever. I’m more than happy to do what I’m doing now and I can’t wait to see what the future has for me,” he added.

The future sees Barlaam

Speaking of it, the future of Para Swimming cannot wait to see Barlaam at his best again either. Lignano Sabbiadoro will offer a new generation the chance to compete and experience the event near their idols. One of them is Emma Lancini (S6) who will enjoy the opportunity as a birthday gift as she turns 18 at the end of the month.

“The person who inspired me the most is my mom above all, because she used to swim during her young age at a competitive level and since I was a child, she has always encouraged me to do the same. Simone is also a great inspiration for me. He is a real champion, he swims in a way that I really like, and that over the years has been confirmed at the highest level demonstrating a great commitment, perseverance and determination in training and races,” she said.

Lancini will compete in the women’s 50m, 100m, and 400m freestyle in addition to the 100m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

Being in the biggest international Para swimming event of the year in her country alongside an athlete that inspires her makes Lancini proud.

“For me it is a source of pride but at the same time a motivation to continue to improve myself, with the ambition to achieve the same results,” she said.

Heavyweight visitors

Among the visiting nations, USA has the largest delegation with 21 athletes spearheaded by the 29-time Paralympic medallist Jessica Long (S8) who will compete in the women’s 50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly, and 200m medley.

Germany and Poland come next with 15 swimmers each in Lignano Sabbiadoro.

The 2024 Citi Para Swimming World Series kicked off in Great Britain followed by Australia both in February.

You can follow all the action on the World Para Swimming channels on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).