Noè Ponti Seems Forward To “A Nice Battle In Paris” Amid A Golden Age Of 100 Fly Swimming
A line on the high of the biography part on Noè Ponti’s web site states that it’s up to date “annually, in the course of the month of August.”
It particulars the Swiss athlete’s achievements from his first race as a six-year-old in November 2007 via to the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka.
Within the intervening years, the butterfly specialist has turn out to be an Olympic and European medallist and has made three journeys to the worldwide short-course podium.
There will probably be loads to write down about when the 23-year-old subsequent takes to his keyboard.
In December 2023, Ponti clinched an historic fly treble, together with a continental document of 48.47 over 100m, amongst 4 medals on the European Quick-Course Championships in Otopeni.
Noè Ponti: Picture courtesy: European Aquatics
On to April 2024 and a Swiss Championships to make the world take discover.
There he went 22.65 and 50.16 within the 50 and 100 fly respectively – then sixth-fastest all-time in each occasions – whereas 1:54.59 over 200m propelled him to inside 0.39 of his nationwide document and what was then third within the 2024 rankings.
On the European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade final month, Ponti topped the 100 prelims in 51.09 earlier than withdrawing with illness from which he quickly absolutely recovered.
Up subsequent is Paris 2024 the place Ponti will compete in his second Video games, three years after profitable 100 fly bronze in Tokyo.
After which to write down the newest instalment of his odyssey.
Ponti instructed Swimming World:
“I’d like my replace to be an excellent replace. As I mentioned many instances, we’re working to do the very best I can in Paris and I believe if every thing goes to work out it’s going to be excellent.
“So hopefully we’re going to have numerous issues to write down about within the biography.”
Turbulent Instances All “Half Of The Course of”
Ponti’s blistering 100 fly efficiency in Uster noticed him decrease his PB of fifty.74 that secured bronze in Tokyo behind Caeleb Dressel and Kristof Milak.
Two years and 9 months had elapsed since then throughout which he needed to navigate some turbulent instances.
He examined constructive for Covid on his return from the 2022 worlds in Budapest and, such was the impact on his respiratory, that Ponti went to see a lung specialist who recognized bronchial bronchial asthma.
Regardless of this, and the time spent out of the water, he received silver behind Milak on the Europeans in Rome in August that 12 months earlier than occurring to say 50 fly silver and 200 bronze on the World Quick-Course Championships in Melbourne, Australia.
The next 12 months, he arrived on the holding camp forward of the Fukuoka worlds in high form.
Noè Ponti: Picture Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Nevertheless, for the primary time Ponti felt the burden of media strain with expectation heightened as a result of absences of Dressel and Milak.
Moreover, he and his crew realised they’d began decreasing his coaching load too early and that he’d peaked forward of the competitors.
Ponti completed seventh within the 100 fly in Japan and didn’t make the 50 or 200 finals as he fell in need of the efficiency stage that had guided him to the Olympic podium.
Sincere conversations ensued with coaches Massimo Meloni and Andrea Mercuri on the Nationwide Coaching Centre in Tenero when he returned for the brand new season in September final 12 months.
He competed on the World Cup tour earlier than his success in Otopeni after which into what to date has been an Olympic 12 months that guarantees a lot.
It has although at instances been a path strewn with obstacles.
“So, it’s by no means simple, by no means good, not having the ability to swim PBs or compete for medals I’d say, however I believe it’s a part of the method,” mentioned Ponti.
“You’ve gotten some ups, some downs, and what you need to do is hold coaching and consider in your self and by no means hand over as a result of it may be one or two seasons that don’t go as deliberate however nonetheless, I had some excellent outcomes additionally these seasons.”
A Golden Age Of Fly Swimming
Six of the quickest eight males in historical past over 100 fly will converge on La Protection Area.
Becoming a member of Ponti will probably be Dressel and Milak – who set world and European data of 49.45 and 49.68 respectively forward of the Swiss in Tokyo – Josh Liendo (50.06 PB), Maxime Grousset (50.14) and Matt Temple (50.25).
Solely Michael Phelps (49.82) and Milorad Cavic (49.95) – who rank third and fourth all-time – are usually not competing at the moment.
Liendo tops the 2024 rankings along with his Canadian document on the nationwide trials in Might forward of Ponti and Dressel, who posted 50.19 on the US trials.
A golden age of fly swimming it appears as every man galvanises the following.
“I believe it’s each,” mentioned Ponti.
“I believe it’s a good time for fly swimming and as nicely we’re pushing one another alongside. If somebody is swimming that quick you wish to sustain with him.
“You’ve acquired to coach tougher and check out tougher and that’s what we’re doing. I believe that’s the great thing about our sport: I believe it’s going to be an incredible battle in Paris.”
Noè Ponti: Picture Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Grousset received the 2023 world title in 50.14 forward of Liendo (50.34) and the USA’s Dare Rose (50.46).
Ponti expects a minimum of one man to go 49 within the remaining in Paris with a 50-point low to make the rostrum.
He added:
“However then we will discuss instances as a lot as we would like nevertheless it’s the Olympics and on the Olympics you by no means know.
“There could be three 49s within the semis, after which perhaps you’ll win with 50.1 as a result of within the remaining on the Olympics it’s such a unique surroundings.
“It’s fully completely different than World Championships or European Championships.
“The strain is completely different, everybody feels completely different with it, it’s not like world champs that are each two years and every thing.
“These are the Olympics so solely as soon as each 4 years and also you’re going to have the ability to swim good in that perhaps two, thrice most and also you solely have one shot.”
Discovering The Proper Technique In The “So Very Onerous” 200
Ponti stands eighth within the 200 rankings topped by Japan’s Tomoru Honda along with his 1:53.88 en-route to gold on the World Championships in Doha.
He expects 1:53 low to make the rostrum, including: “(Leon) Marchand could have an incredible shot at it so we’re going to attempt to go quick as nicely however I believe between 1:51 and 1:53 there are going to be medals.”
Whereas he offers equal focus to each Olympic fly distances, Ponti struggles with the longer race which, he says, is “so very arduous”.
Noè Ponti: Picture Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
He has but to search out the proper pacing pacing and stroke charge, particularly on the primary 100: the slower he goes out, the tougher it will get.
“You’re going to ‘die’ anyway, should you exit quick or sluggish, ultimately you will be drained.
“So, it’s higher to exit quicker and possibly shut in the identical method that you’d shut should you exit slower.”
He added:
“You get to the purpose the place your legs…. you’re not as versatile as you was within the motion, the legs are hurting so dangerous that you would be able to’t actually use them that a lot anymore.
“The higher physique – particularly the arms and every thing – are burning so it will get to the purpose the place it’s arduous to even hold going, to maneuver.
“The factor is that you need to inform your self it’s solely going to be 10 extra metres however these are the metres that make the distinction within the 2-fly race.
“It’s actually arduous and painful ……it’s not enjoyable let’s say for that second however nonetheless if we’re doing it, it’s as a result of we like doing it.”
“Kristof Did One thing Unbelievable”
Mendacity second within the rankings is Milak, with a season’s better of 1:53.94 from the Monaco leg of the Mare Nostrum, his high time since 2022.
The Olympic champion solely returned to competitors on the Hungarian Championships in April after withdrawing from the 2023 worlds to deal with his psychological well being after which taking an prolonged break.
Milak despatched ripples throughout the water the world over in July 2019 when he went 1:50.73 to decrease Phelps’ WR of 1:51.51 that had stood for 10 years.
Kristof Milak: Picture Courtesy: Patrick B. Kraemer
Ponti mentioned:
“Kristof did one thing unbelievable, I believe. He broke it once more in 2022 in Budapest (1:50.34) after I was swimming subsequent to him and it wasn’t too good, I’d say.
“It felt like I used to be going 1:58 and I nonetheless went 1:54.2. It wasn’t very enjoyable.
“Nevertheless it’s loopy what he did. Data are supposed to be damaged and in the end all data will probably be damaged and folks will swim quicker.
“You simply must consider in that and that you are able to do it.
“In fact, I believe most individuals received’t see 1:50 for a very long time. I don’t know if Leon (Marchand) is able to doing it, I’m undecided if I’m able to swim that quick.
“I believe I can come right down to 1:52, 1:51, if it’s the proper race however 1:50, it’s actually robust.
“I believe it’s nice that there are folks that may swim that quick and it simply motivates you to swim quicker and prepare tougher.”
