Giulio Zorzi

Giulio Zorzi

Personal information
Nationality	South Africa
Born	(1989-01-03) 3 January 1989 Johannesburg, South Africa
Height
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Breaststroke
Club	Northern Tigers Swimming
Coach	Grant Kritzinger
Medal record Men's swimming Representing South Africa World Championships (LC) 2013 Barcelona 50 m breaststroke Summer Universiade 2013 Kazan 50 m breaststroke

Giulio Zorzi (born January 3, 1989 in Johannesburg) is a South African swimmer who specializes in breaststroke events. At the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Zorzi handed the entire medal haul for the South Africans with a one-three finish, as he picked up the bronze in 27.04.

Biography

Zorzi brought up in Pretoria with a strong Italian influence in home, due to his father’s origins. From an early age he started swimming and training with Olympic gold medallist and Elite Team member Cameron van der Burgh, who has become a close friend.

After steady progress in 2011-12 international competition, 2013 emerged as Zorzi’s breakthrough year as he won 50m breaststroke gold at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, before going on to the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, two weeks later. Having finished sixth in the heats, he had a difficult semi-final, but nonetheless qualified in the eighth spot for the final. Zorzi surprised everyone by finishing third from lane 8, one-hundredth of a second ahead of fourth place. The result delighted Van Der Burgh, who called Zorzi up alongside him on the podium to sing the South African anthem arm-in-arm.

Along with Van Der Burgh, Zorzi is coached by German Dirk Lange, who is based in Austria and only sees his protégés a few times a year. He trains at the Players Swim Club in Pretoria under the guidance of local coach Grant Kritzinger.

External links

• Giulio Zorzi – Athlete profile at BCN2013.com