The power of enthusiasm. The charisma of empathy. The pleasant sound of concepts, which reach the heart because they depart from the heart. Then, if during the interview two eyes like those of little Vittoria fix you, then Massimiliano Rosolino from Naples opens his door with a smile. A life of success, of triumphs, love and sacrifices, happy arrivals and bitter defeats, sport always and in any case with passion, enthusiasm, the engine of his days. «I did fifty thousand kilometers in the pool, without the passion it would not have happened». One of the strongest swimmers in the history of sport, an Italian flag like few others, today - at 44 and a 25-year-old physique - is a happy sportsman, an attentive father, a man-image overwhelmed by requests, a winning television personality because he is true, sunny, takes you unwittingly. The holidays are about to end at the Falkensteiner in Capo Boi, a resort where the emerald green of the sea blends with that of the vegetation. He, king of swimming pools and availability, even manages to give some swimming lessons. Children included.

Who is Rosolino today?

"After two weeks of vacation, I'm devastated." He laughs. «I'm with my family, my routine is made up of lots of bikes at dawn towards Costa Rei, wonderful roads. This sea, these places are vital and necessary. I'm fine, I picked the pears, I tried the figs. I am a happy man who enjoys family. I allow myself a nap sometimes even under an umbrella, but I'm the last to leave the beach in the evening ».

Rosolino yesterday according to Rosolino.

«To do something well you have to give up many others. But when that “thing” is a goal and gratifies you, it's different: on a bike, today, I like the climbs more than the descents. As a boy, I was in bed on Saturday at midnight, maybe on Sunday morning I was back in the pool. Today I'm still a professional, maybe a bit too much , but there are two ways: either you do it well, or it's just an attempt. Nobody has superpowers, it all comes with training. But it never bothered me, not even the very hard routine, because everything is demanding. I have always been full of euphoria, of enthusiasm. I got it from my parents, over 80, who get over everything with humor. Here, I have always been ready to enjoy everything, from an early age. It is not a sacrifice, even if it seems. And this "building myself" has given me the opportunity, today, to be a brand ambassador, a testimonial, to work with Federnuoto, to do some television. Without being very good, mind you, especially in racing ».

Was he in the stands at the European Championships in Rome: fun, work or passion?

"All. A great fortune for me to be there. My little girls often ask me "what do you do?" and this time they were with me and had this engaging and wonderful experience. I was there because that is my world ».

Why is the Italy of swimming so good?

“We have always had a great aquatic instinct. Stopwatch in hand, it was great. The most technical reason comes from training: in recent years there has been a large investment in coaches. Today there are people who want to be their own technician, serious people who prepare themselves and arrive with very high level knowledge. And we also have athletes like Paltrinieri and Ceccon who are number one and this is a great advantage for movement. In a country where the culture of sport is lacking in schools, this is an extraordinary result. First Tokyo, now Rome, from athletics to football and swimming. Pilato, Quadarella, a very strong army, which is already thinking of Paris, and we are not talking about water polo, diving, synchro ... ».

Rogue nostalgia or peace of mind, in the tub?

«Never peace of mind, even if you realize that when you do a race today, bike, run or other, the wrinkles begin to be felt. But if you have to be an athlete, you have to do it well. You would like to put on your racing suit every day, but you have to think carefully about what to do at least six months before ».

Pellegrini seems happy, without swimming: did he send her wishes for the wedding?

«Yes yes, of course, a beautiful dedication from the beach, here in Capo Boi, to you and to Matteo».

Why is Rosolino so popular even out of the water?

“In my opinion, because people need positive examples, education. We are bombarded with characters, let's say of a surreal eclecticism. Everyone - even me - takes pictures of the dishes, but I also love showing me the sweat of training at dawn, for example. And the enthusiasm ».

Who had the idea of a television career?

«Nobody, she has arrived. Sport gives you those certainties that perhaps in other channels you would not be able to achieve. Sport shapes you. Even today, when I do things where the risk is equal to the desire to withdraw, I always decide to take risks ».

Speaking of risks: was dancing on TV like swimming live in the world?

“On the one hand, more fun. I didn't give a damn about winning "Dancing", but to get to the end, yes. To learn the twelve dances yes. To make a good impression too. I was 28, my contract said that if this penalized swimming, I would leave. But I was organized like a war machine: physiotherapist, nutritionist, sport helped me, from "Peking Express" where tennis balls made me overcome my contractures, to "Dancing" ».

Did Rosolino as a kid dream of all this, past and present, or was there something else in his teen head?

“I've always had dreams and goals. I took pocket money, 800 lire a week, and put it aside: the remote-controlled car, the fishing gun, then the motorbike and the used car. At 10 I said: I will play the Olympics. And then I won it. I find it right to try to feed dreams ».

What would change of the reality show on the island? What do we not see that she can observe instead?

«The Island is a monstrous production, there are 180 people who work there day and night. The competitors are really upset, there are people who lose 20 kilos, it is very hard, someone sleeps all day because they can't make it. They look at me as a being from another world, with an implicit request to help them. I would increase the tests in the water, maybe ... ».

His love and life story with Natalia Titova moved everyone a little when it began. Describe your family.

“We're a bit like the Addams family… my girls are two swimmers, different and determined. I don't want to cheer when I go to see them, but when we do the challenges between us, I never let them win. I have a beautiful family, I'm lucky ».

What does Maestro Rosolino recommend to a parent with a small child?

«Sport must be part of life, of everyday life. In the last two years we have taken sports away from kids. I hope that many sportsmen will grow up. Not with the culture of success, but to try. Without goals. Sport is a lifelong meal. Let them start at four and stop at one hundred ».

What will he do when he grows up?

«Let's enjoy it every day. Calmly. Tomorrow we will see. The two minutes of the Olympics changed my life, two minutes which means 20,000 kilometers in the pool. I'm not in a hurry ».

Enrico Pilia

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