Thomas Ceccon among the stars of the Nico Sapio Trophy in Genoa

The indoor swimming season is kicking off. It starts as per tradition with the 51st Nico Sapio Trophy to be held Nov. 7-9 at the Sciorba pool in Genoa. The event, organized by Genova Nuoto My Sport, will see a large presence of Italian and international champions who will do battle in the first two days of series races with fast ones from the afternoon. Rai coverage is planned with live broadcasts on Raisport HD on Friday from 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday on Raiplay with deferred coverage on RaiSport HD on Monday at 3 p.m.

Returning from the World Cup in North America, Thomas Ceccon comes to Genoa after two years on the strength of Italian records set in the 200 backstroke and 200 freestyle in Toronto. One gold, one silver and two bronze medals in two Olympics: the Italian will compete in the 200 mixed with home star Alberto Razzetti, a finalist in Paris 2024 in three specialties. Simone Cerasuolo, the’only Italian world champion at Singapore 2025 in the 50 breaststroke, will also be there. Watch out for Lorenzo Zazzeri, a silver and bronze medalist in the last two Olympic Games with the 4×100 freestyle (silver in Singapore), Lorenzo Mora, an 11-time medalist at the World Championships in the short course, and Alessandro Miressi, a silver and two Olympic bronze medalists. Filippo Megli and Alessandro Ragaini will compete in the 200 freestyle, Luca De Tullio trying out in the 1500. In the women’s field, the spotlight will be on Costanza Cocconcelli, Arianna Castiglioni, Anna Chiara Mascolo, Bianca Nannucci and Lisa Angiolini.

From the United States, comes Hunter Armstrong, two-time Olympic champion first in Tokyo 2020 with the 4×100 mixed and then in Paris 2024 with the 4×100 freestyle. A multiple World Cup star, compatriot Finn Brooks will also arrive in Genoa. The spotlight will also be on Switzerland’s Noah Ponti, bronze in the 100 butterfly at Tokyo 2020 and silver at the World Championships in Singapore in the 50 and 100 butterfly. Maximum attention will also be paid to the performances of Austria’s Leon Opatril, Switzerland’s Marius Toscan and the U.S. Brian Benzing.

Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8, the finals will be at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 9, the daily program will be dedicated to the Rookies and Boys. The 51st Nico Sapio Trophy is supported by the Italian Swimming Federation, the Department of Sport of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Region of Liguria and the City of Genoa.