Mexico City 2017: Ariel Quassi hoping Worlds will be seventh time lucky

“I experienced many emotions at many swimming events all over these years. I have never won a Worlds medal, but I always swim targeting the podium and this time will not be the exception."

Ariel Quassi is preparing for what will arguably be his last World Para Swimming Championships in Mexico City, from 2-7 December. The Argentinian seeks to conclude his career on a high note in the near future before fully focusing on his life outside Para sport.

Quassi will swim the men’s 50m backstroke S5 and the 100m breaststroke SB4 at Mexico City 2017. “It is going to be my sixth World Championships, which is no small achievement,” the 34-year-old said.

“I experienced many emotions at many swimming events all over these years. I have never won a Worlds medal, my best results were two fifth places at Durban 2006 and one at Montreal 2013. But I always swim targeting the podium and this time will not be the exception.

“My first goal, however, is to improve my year’s best time. I am mostly confident about the 100m breaststroke and training especially hard for that event.

“This is a sport where it does not matter what the other is doing so much if you do not give the best you got. My biggest rival at this moment of my career is the chronometer.”

Quassi was in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, with the Argentinian swimming team when the 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the country’s capital city on 19 September. “We were adapting ourselves to the altitude. The first days were a bit tough, but then we were already feeling better, stronger and faster.

“I remember the day of the earthquake, I was about to go to take a nap before the afternoon training session when I started receiving messages from my family and friends asking how I was, very worried about me. I turned on the TV and could not believe what I was seeing.

“I went back to Argentina and kept training non-stop, so I will reach the World Championships in a high-level. Unfortunately we will not be able to do another training camp to adapt to the altitude, but we will surely be at the fore.”

After closely missing the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Quassi decided to extend his career for another year. “I want to conclude my career at an important event. After competing at the World Championships, I am hoping the second Para South American Games in Buenos Aires in 2018 are confirmed so that I can retire in front of my people.”

The Argentinian is an advertising University professor and is hoping in the future to combine his passion for both sports and communications. “I enjoy what I do very much. It is hard to train and work at the same time. But I always say that a skilled and well-educated athlete is also a better athlete.”

More information is available on Mexico City 2017’s website.