Matteo Restivo is a competitive swimmer who competes for Italy internationally.
2017 World Championships
In Budapest, Restivo swam a 1:58.37 in the prelims of the 200 backstroke finishing 17th and just missing the semi finals.
2018 European Championships
After qualifying for the final heat of the 200 backstroke at Euro’s, Restivo won his first international medal, a bronze, by touching 3rd with a time of 1:56.29. That time was a new personal best and also rebroke his own Italian national record in the event from the previous year. Restivo also swam on the prelims of the mixed medley relay, which went onto to place 3rd in finals. He also took part in the 4×100 mixed relay leading the team to the finals, however he didn’t swim in the finals Arianna Castiglioni, Elena Di Liddo and Luca Dotto.
2019-2021 and Tokyo Olympics
In 2019 he qualified for Gwanju World Championships, swimming a time of 1:57.67 in the 200 back.
One of the competitions before the Olympcs was the European Championships in Budapest where Restivo placed 18th in the 200 backstroke, not making to the semifinals.
However, Restivo qualified for Tokyo 2021 and was a member of Italy team. He swam his speciality event, the 200 backstroke and placed 20th, with the time of 1:58.36, far from his personal best.
2022-2024 and Paris Olympics
After the Olympics he took part in two important appointments before the next Games in Paris.
During the home European champioships held in Rome, in August 2022, he touched the wall fifth in the 200 backstroke with 1:57.30. In the 100 back he didnt’ make the finals, concluding 15th, as the fourth fastest italian with 54.69.
In 2023 he participated to the World Championships hosted in Fukuoka, where he arrived 17th in the 200 back.
At the 60° Settecolli Trophy in June 2024 he competed in the 200 back, winning the gold medal in 1:57.42 and earning the qualification for his second olympics, tying the OQT set by World Aquatics.
