The 2024-25 season: taking stock

The post-Olympic swimming season ended about ten days ago.
Here, in brief, are my main results: in October, 7 World Cup victories in Asia (1 x 100 IM, 3 x 50 butterfly and 3 x 100 butterfly), second overall in the general standings, and the short course 50m butterfly world record improved several times; in December, 3 short course world titles in Budapest (50m and 100m butterfly and 100m IM) and above all two more world records (21.32 in the 50m butterfly and 47.71 in the 100m butterfly); on the road to the long course World Championships in Singapore, in addition to 7 Swiss titles in April (4 individual and 3 in relays), I took some notable wins at major international meets (in particular, Mare Nostrum in Barcelona and Sette Colli in Rome); between July and August, at the Long Course World Championships in Singapore, I finished in style with 2 silver medals in the 50m and 100m butterfly.
I have already said a lot about that last competition in the many interviews given to the media: these were my first two medals at a long course World Championships, after the disappointment of Fukuoka and my decision to skip the Doha 2024 Worlds in order to prepare as well as possible for the Paris Olympics. The times I recorded clearly improve my previous Swiss records and push me even higher in the all-time world rankings: the 49.83 in the 100m butterfly has both symbolic and real value, because it allowed me to break the 50-second barrier for the first time, joining the very few swimmers who have gone under this limit. Even though I missed the world title in the 50m butterfly by just 3 hundredths, I am very satisfied with my races and results: twice second in the world in a truly global sport. I know I can do even better, and we will work towards that, to reach new and ever more ambitious goals.
The positive year that has just ended, after the partial disappointment of Paris (where I nevertheless achieved a fourth and a fifth place!), makes me proud of the way I reacted straight away; the results have given me ever more confidence in my abilities and great motivation to continue on this path.
While waiting to resume training in early September, I want to thank my whole team, which also includes my family, for the great work done and the unity of purpose shown. A big, heartfelt thank you also goes to all my sponsors.
Finally, I would like to warmly greet all my fans in Ticino, in Switzerland and around the world: thank you for always supporting me!