Susanna Riva In the second episode of the podcast "I Don't Do It for Fashion," hosted by Giulia Salemi, Federica Pellegrini was more than willing to address the tensions that arose with some colleagues in the sports world. The swimmer, still widely followed for her career, wanted to highlight what she calls widespread relentlessness , emphasizing that criticism should be expressed directly, not through articles or interviews.
A relentlessness that left its mark
During the conversation, the "Divine One" openly declared: " There's a lot of animosity towards me ." She explained that she sensed an almost irritating ease in questioning all the achievements she'd achieved in her sporting career. "I thought, 'I was there ten meters away from you, tell me to my face if you have problems,'" she summarized, emphasizing her direct nature and refusal to accept behind-the-scenes comments.
The words of the three athletes
Aldo Montano (2012)
The first tense incident dates back to 2012, immediately after the London Olympics. Aldo Montano, then a fencing champion, called Pellegrini "snobbish and haughty," claiming that, unlike other Italian athletes, she "just kept going" without saluting. The remark was reported in several interviews and left a lasting impression on the swimmer.
Massimiliano Rosolino (2013)
In 2013, Massimiliano Rosolino offered his assessment in an interview with Corriere della Sera, calling the young swimmer a "princess" even at 16, despite her lack of major titles. Rosolino later said Pellegrini was "rude" and that "you either love her or hate her," but he also admitted that he judged her career solely from a technical standpoint.
Thomas Ceccon (2024)
More recently, in 2024, young swimmer Thomas Ceccon expressed that the "Divine One" meant nothing to him, emphasizing that his comment stemmed from the fact that Pellegrini had never offered him words of encouragement. The criticism was seen as a further sign of the disconnect between generations of Italian swimmers.
Pellegrini's response: delete to protect yourself
Faced with these attacks, the champion revealed she's developed a defense mechanism called "gate ." "I have this very power, I gate in the sense that for me you no longer exist," she explained, adding that this process allows her to avoid fueling further conflict. Not everyone, however, is excluded: Pellegrini emphasized that she has mended relationships with other people in the sports world, who have come directly to clarify their words.
She then reiterated that, while remaining firm in her position, she is ready to evaluate each case individually, distinguishing between those who truly wanted to belittle her and those who simply misunderstood her words.