Giulio Zorzi
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  South Africa |
| Born | 3 January 1989 Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Breaststroke |
| Club | Northern Tigers Swimming |
| Coach | Grant Kritzinger |
Medal record | |
Giulio Zorzi (born 3 January 1989 in Johannesburg) is a South African swimmer who specializes in breaststroke events. At the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Zorzi handed the entire medal haul for the South Africans with a one-three finish, as he picked up the bronze in 27.04.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Zorzi was brought up in Pretoria with a strong Italian influence at home, due to his father’s origins. From an early age he started swimming and training with Olympic gold medallist and Elite Team member Cameron van der Burgh, who has become a close friend.
After steady progress in 2011-12 international competition, 2013 emerged as Zorzi’s breakthrough year as he won 50m breaststroke gold at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, before going on to the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, two weeks later. Having finished sixth in the heats, he had a difficult semi-final, but nonetheless qualified in the eighth spot for the final. Zorzi surprised everyone by finishing third from lane 8, one-hundredth of a second ahead of fourth place. The result delighted Van Der Burgh, who called Zorzi up alongside him on the podium to sing the South African anthem arm-in-arm.
Along with Van Der Burgh, Zorzi is coached by German Dirk Lange, who is based in Austria and only sees his protégés a few times a year. He trains at the Players Swim Club in Pretoria under the guidance of local coach Grant Kritzinger.
References
[edit]- ^ "Cameron van der Burgh Reclaims 50 Breast World Title By .01". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "Gold for Cameron, bronze for Zorzi". Independent Online (South Africa). Reuters. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
External links
[edit]- Giulio Zorzi – Athlete profile at BCN2013.com
  | This biographical article related to a South African swimmer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1989 births
- Living people
- White South African people
- South African male breaststroke swimmers
- South African people of Italian descent
- Swimmers from Johannesburg
- World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming
- Italian diaspora in South Africa
- Summer World University Games medalists in swimming
- FISU World University Games gold medalists for South Africa
- Medalists at the 2013 Summer Universiade
- 21st-century South African sportsmen
- South African swimming biography stubs