How Italian Champion Anita Bottazzo Found Balance in Swimming & Life at Florida

After training for 5 years in Italy with some of the best breaststroke specialists in the country, 20-year-old Anita Bottazzo needed a change. She wanted new stimulus both athletically and academically, so she decided to come to the University of Florida. Flash forward one year: Bottazzo has become an SEC Champion, NCAA All-American, and Italian champion, and is pursuing a degree in biotechnology. Listen to how Bottazzo has flourished in Gainesville and what tools she’s gained since her arrival in the USA.

• 0:00 Anita Bottazzo Introduction
• 1:45 Italian Championships
• 6:38 Deciding to come to Florida
• 13:04 Chasing Olympic Qualification
• 16:15 Adjusting to Florida
• 19:45 Pursuing Degree in Biotechnology
• 23:34 Training in Elite Italian Breaststroke Group
• 32:25 Training in Florida
• 37:21 Triple Taper
• 40:18 SEC Championships
• 43:05 200 Breast
• 48:27 NCAA Eligibility
• 49:38 Moving Forward

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

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Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com