Italian World Champion swimmer Lorenzo Zazzeri has been forced to stop training for the last 3 months after a medical episode and will miss next week’s Italian Short Course Championships as a result.
Zazzeri posted about the experience on his Instagram page.
“This summer after anaphylatcic shock I faced some complications that required a serious of advanced medical tests,” Zazzeri said in the post. “The results of these tests are encouraging, I’m fine, and I’m trying to distract myself as much as I can.”
Anaphylaxis is the result of a severe allergic reaction. According to the Mayo Clinic, it causes blood pressure to drop suddenly and airways to narrow, which blocks breathing.
After Zazzeri’s announcement, his coach Paolo Palchetti elaborated on the swimmer’s medical condition.
“It started with a food allergy, which seemed to be controllable,” Palchetti said. “Then after the tests an enzyme was discovered in the heart.
“Stabilization of the enzyme in the heart is now awaited. A team of professionals is trying to understand what happened and how far away stabilization is.”
Palchetti praised his athlete’s attitude through the turmoil.
He is behaving excellently towards everyone, first of all about himself. He is trying to express his gifts, even in artistic exchange.
He has this resource and makes the most of it. But when they give him the eligibility he will put his swimming activity in the right box.
He has a truly excellent attitude towards professionals.
I am convinced that this is also crucial for the future.
Palchetti says that he has some information about a possible recovery time, but is not able to give it right now.
Zazzeri says that he has looked for opportunities in the break.
“In these months I am having the opportunity to slow down, to reflect and to focus on my interests outside the pool,” Zazzeri’s post continued. “Despite this, I can’t wait to resume training more determined than ever … because when what you love is taken away from you, looking back, you appreciate it even more.”
Zazzeri is a sprint freestyler who has won 4 major international gold medals, all on relays, and an Olympic silver medal as part of the Italian men’s 400 free relay in Tokyo. A late bloomer, Zazzeri didn’t go under 49 seconds in the 100 free until he was 23 years old and didn’t go under 48.5 until he was 27. At this summer’s World Championships, though, he got down to 47.96, ultimately losing a swimoff to qualify for the individual event final.
In 2022, Zazzeri has been Italy’s 2nd-fastest swimmer in the 100 freestyle.
He is also an accomplished artist – an Instagram account dedicated to his artwork has almost 20,000 followers.
The painting of the doctor during covid was absolutely incredible.