Benedetta Pilato

Teenage champion

Benedetta is of the greatest talents in Italian swimming. At just 14 years old she was the youngest Italian athlete to debut in a world championship, winning a silver in the 50m breaststroke. At 17 years old confirmed by winning gold at the World Championships, becoming the youngest Italian to have won the title. By forging all the stops at 15, she qualified for her first Olympics, Tokyo 2020.

Away from home

She was the youngest athlete to participate in the second edition of ISL in Budapest, and it was a long time away from home, “For me it was an amazing and growing up experience both as an athlete and as a human being. I had to stay far from home for 43 days but I had the chance to meet many champions. It was very challenging comparing myself with them every day.”