Sara Curtis is blunt about Jannik Sinner: her comment causes a stir

In an interview with *La Repubblica*, Curtis looked back on her incredible European Championships: Suddenly thrust into the spotlight for her two consecutive world records in the 50-meter breaststroke, the Italian swimmer won a total of six continental medals, establishing herself as the new rising star of the sport.

Jannik Sinner himself offered his congratulations; after her gold in the 50-meter breaststroke, he sent her a congratulatory message that thrilled the Italian swimmer. “Soccer deserves recognition for its historical and media significance, but that doesn’t justify the ignorant and arrogant comments made about our sports. I’m not asking for it, but a soccer player would never have come down from his pedestal to congratulate me the way Jannik Sinner did,” the Italian swimmer said emphatically. Her words immediately sparked controversy on social media.

Curtis also spoke about her decision to move to the United States to train: “They have the facilities, while here many pools have been unfairly closed due to unsustainable costs. But the real difference is the mindset, the sense of belonging to the team. You can’t skip a relay because you’re tired; if you’re an athlete, you have a responsibility, and if you’re wearing a uniform, you put on your cap and goggles and go.”

Her role model is the Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjöström: “She’s extraordinary, both physically and mentally. Sharing the podium in the 50 freestyle with her—who is my idol—was particularly moving for me. I hope that these examples will help women receive the recognition they deserve.”

In terms of results, the outcome of these European Championships speaks for itself: in addition to the gold medal with a world record in the 50-meter backstroke, Curtis won bronze in the 50 freestyle, lowering the Italian record to 23.99 seconds and becoming the third athlete in the world to break the 24-second barrier. Her performance was further highlighted by podium finishes in the relays, which contributed significantly to Italy’s overall haul: 43 medals in total, with the Italian team finishing well ahead in total medals despite placing second in the gold medal count behind Great Britain.