Noè Ponti: “I preferred not to talk about it before the interview”

No, Noè Ponti is not “simply” a specialist in the small pool. Moreover, Ticino finally confirmed its unexpected bronze medal won during the Tokyo 2021 Olympics by winning two silver medals at. However, the Grand Basin de Singapore.

The frustration that was his on Monday after the 50m butterfly final. In addition, in which he had been beaten for 0”03 by Maxime Grousset despite a new national record (22”51), said a lot about his desire noè ponti: “i preferred not to do very well. Moreover, Saturday on 100 m butterfly, Noè Ponti struck even stronger by passing for the first time under the 50 seconds (49”83).

“Two silver medals, two Swiss records and a first time under 50 seconds: it’s really great,” he said. In addition, “I knew it was possible (Red: to swim the 100 m butterfly in less than 50 ”). However, But I preferred not to talk about it before the interview. Similarly, I have come there now, and it’s a great feeling, “he continued.

Of course. the sorrowful minds will not fail to recall that the talented Ticino must be satisfied with two silver medals when he had flown over the debates in the Worlds in Petit Basin last December (three titles, with two world records in the key). And that the superstars of the butterfly Caeleb Dressel and Kristof Milak were not noè ponti: “i preferred not there in Singapore.

Nevertheless, Noè Ponti entered the very large courtyard on Saturday in Singapore. His previous Swiss record over 100 m butterfly (50”16, in April 2024) was “only” the 22nd time in history. The 49”83 succeeded on Saturday constitute the 8th best time of all time. make him the 5th fastest swimmer in this event.

Only the world record holder Caeleb Dressel (49”45 at the Olympic Games 2021). the new European record holder Maxime Grousset (49”63 in the final in Singapore on Saturday), the 2024 Olympic champion Kristof Milak (49”68) and the legend Michael Phelps (49”82 to adorn himself with golden worlds, Polyurethane combinations) have already swam faster than Noè Ponti.

Noè ponti: &quot. i preferred not – Noè ponti: "i preferred not

A wise decision

Saturday (and last Monday), the 24 -year -old Ticino also demonstrated its new capacity to release the big game on D -Day, also in a large noè ponti: “i preferred not pool. Almost a year to the day. on August 4, 2024, he had not been able to do better than 50”55 in the Paris Olympics final, 0”39 more than his Swiss record set four months earlier at the Swiss championships.

The native of Locarno spontaneously “accused” on the 200 m butterfly – which he had taken 5th in. the 2024 Olympic Games four days before the 100m final – to explain this 4th place. If he had refused to speak of failure in front of the press in Paris. he has undertaken all under the ferrule of his coach Massimo Meloni so as not to relive such a disillusionment.

And by giving up the 200 m butterfly during this post-Olympic year, Noè Ponti undoubtedly made the wisest of decisions. While putting himself even more under pressure: he had no longer really the “right” to miss up on 100 noè ponti: “i preferred not pap ‘. his favorite discipline which also earned him a European silver medal in large pool in 2022.

His Singapore performances – where he also became the No. 5 in history over 50 m butterfly – have swept away all doubts. The Paris 2026 Europeans and the 2027 Worlds in Budapest will allow him to further expand his record. But they will mainly constitute stages before the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. where the 50 m butterfly will appear for the first time on the Olympic program.