‘Le 3 Gambette’ to lead home side as World Series lands in Lignano

After an exciting start in Oceania, the Para Swimming World Series now travels to Europe for two action-packed meets.

The first of them kicks-off on Thursday (13 March) at Bella Italia Village, in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy which has been an important stop in the Para swimming calendar since 2018.

By Sunday (16 March), 295 athletes from 36 nations will dive into the pool for dozens of multi-class races. The competition will be live streamed here.

Among the stars in the field, Paralympic champions Simone Barlaam, Federico Morlacchi and Alberto Amodeo will lead the 87-athlete home squad.

The Italian trio were excited to race at home. They also shared about their unique friendship, the creation of an Instagram page that showcases not just their performances but their lives.

After an exciting start in Australia, the Para Swimming World Series now travels to Europe for two action-packed meets.

🛬🇮🇹 The first one is next week in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy that has been a key stage in #ParaSwimming calendar since 2018!

Who are we going to meet there? pic.twitter.com/5yC8pRDoim

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) March 5, 2025

Le 3 Gambette’s history

It was September 2021 in Tokyo, Japan – the most unusual edition of the Paralympic Games had just ended amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic - while waiting for a flight back to home at the Haneda Airport’s boarding room, Barlaam, Morlacchi, and Amodeo had an idea.

“We decided to create a silly page to celebrate our friendship and share some funny moments”, said Morlacchi.

For those who are wondering what ‘Gambette’ means, here’s the answer: it’s an Italian word often used in a loving or casual manner to refer to small or delicate legs.

“The logo is from ‘Le Tre Marie’, an Italian bakery products brand. We thought it would have been fun to put our faces on top of their bodies,” detailed Barlaam.

They three left that Games with medals to celebrate, stories to tell and, even more important, a group to share life and support each other. 

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From Tokyo to Paris

Amodeo won his first-ever Paralympic medal, a silver, after finishing second in the men’s 400m freestyle S8 event.

“The result was unexpected. I was the underdog. Sharing that moment with a mentor like Fede and a mate like Simo was truly special,” said Amodeo, who became the Paralympic champion in the same event in the following Games and clinched another gold in the men’s 100m butterfly S8 and a bronze in the 100m freestyle S8 event.

Fede, as addressed by Amodeo for Federico Morlacchi, is the oldest and most experienced one among the Gambette. He left Tokyo with a bronze medal in the 4x100m medley relay 34pts event but the most celebrated moment, for him, was Amodeo’s achievement.

“It’s probably not the best thing to say, but we broke every Covid-related rule to go there in the mixed zone and hug Albi [Alberto],” remembered Federico Morlacchi.

Barlaam, who had just become Paralympic champion by winning the gold in the men’s 50m freestyle S9, felt the same way.

“That race [the one that Amodeo got a silver medal] marked the end of a tough few years for all of us”, said Barlaam.

Italian Friendship

Since then, this Italian friendship was a key pillar in their lives, in and outside the pool.

“Sharing the pool with some of your best friends is a rare privilege. Fede now has a family, so we get to train with him less often. That makes every session we do together even more special,” said Amodeo and Barlaam.

The group’s profile on Instagram reunites some of the funny and cute moments of this friendship shared with thousands of followers.

“I like to watch Fede and Albi play Cuphead. That game makes them go crazy,” said Barlaam.

“When we’re away for competitions or training camps, we play Fortnite together. It helps us relax and strengthen our bond,” said Morlacchi.

“Simo and I like to DJ in our free time. Fede hates our electronic music. He calls it ‘random noise’.  And he’s right!”, said Amodeo.

When asked about the goals for this year, Amodeo and Morlacchi did not hesitate. “To finish Cuphead,” said the duo before laughing while Barlaam tried to explain it in a less informal way: “we will be training a lot and keep having fun together in and outside the pool”.