Simona Quadarella: "Everything is going towards the Olympics, the bronze in Tokyo helped me"

Reusch, more than 90 years of history and a recognized leadership in the production of sports gloves, inaugurated its new headquarters in Vignate, in the province of Milan. The event was attended by numerous ambassadors of the company’s brands including skier Lara Colturi and swimmer Simona Quadarella. Who Sportal.it had the opportunity to interview exclusively.

What are your next goals? Are you already thinking about Los Angeles?
Yes, of course Los Angeles is a big goal, but now we are focusing on more short-term goals. In December there’s the European Championships in the short tank, and then next year in August the one in the long tank. Those are two important milestones, although a little quieter than an Olympics. However, everything we do is still going in the direction of Los Angeles, which is in three years.

How much did it help you, in overcoming the disappointment of Paris, that you had already won an Olympic medal?
It helped me, yes. If I hadn’t already won it, it probably would have been a lot harder to digest. I have the medal, and that remains. I still felt the disappointment, though, and it’s something I had to face and overcome.

How important was it for you to have coaches who guided you from the beginning, even outside the pool?
A lot. I always had pretty strict coaches. My first was Marco, then Cristian, with whom I was practically 15 years. They raised me, even outside of sports. I was almost a daughter to them. It is essential to have a figure to guide you, not only in training but also in life. They were also strict, but I think that’s right, especially when you’re working with young athletes. I’m 26 now, I changed coaches when I was 25, but I went through my whole adolescence with them, from 15 to 18 and beyond. They have been my guide.

Swimming is an individual sport. Have you never felt like trying a team sport?
I don’t know. I’ve always been used to swimming, being on my own, handling everything by myself. I don’t know how I would react in a team sport. Maybe it would bother me not to have total control. In a team, the outcome depends on everyone. I like to be in control of the situation, and in an individual sport you have that.

Federica Pellegrini left swimming a few years ago. How have you younger people experienced this change?
I would say we are a young group but already very solid. Those who are going strong today had already started getting results before Federica stopped. So we have carried ourselves forward. Obviously she remains a legend and a reference, but the new generation is there and they are doing well.