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Stefano TEMPESTI
Sport Water Polo
NOC Italy   
GenderMen
Born09 Jun 1979 in Prato, ITA
Height2.05 m
 Human Interest 
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team
CC Ortigia: Siracusa, ITA
General Interest
Awards and honours
He was presented the Liguria Sports Oscar award in Italy in 2016. (stellenellosport.com, 29 Feb 2016)

He received the 2014 Golden Caravel for International Sport from the mayor of Genoa, Italy. (prorecco.it, 13 Oct 2015)

In 2013 he was named Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by the president of Italy. (stefanotempesti.com, 05 Jun 2013)

In 2012 he received the Gold Collar of Sporting Merit from the Italian National Olympic Committee [CONI]. (sicilia.coni.it, 17 Apr 2012)

He was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. (FINA Aquatics World Magazine, 14 Aug 2011)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach
Stefano Piccardo [club], ITA
Preferred position / style / stance / technique
Goalkeeper
Handedness
Right
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began playing competitive water polo in 1987 with the Futura 2000 club in Prato, Italy.
International Debut
Year
1997
Competing for
Italy
Further Personal Information
Occupation
Athlete
Languages
Italian
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
On a routine visit to the doctor when he was a child, his parents were advised he should take up swimming to improve his posture. He then got the chance to try out for a water polo team and, due to his height, he was made goalkeeper.
Further Personal Information
Family
Wife Betta, children Adele and Alessandro
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Water polo is a perfect discipline for young people. It helps to live in a group and take responsibility." (nannimagazine.it, 01 Feb 2013)
Most influential person in career
His family. (ilsecoloxix.it, 12 Jun 2019)
Hero / Idol
Italian water polo player Francesco Attolico. (federnuoto.it, 10 Jan 2016)
International Debut
Opponent
Greece
Location
Bari, ITA
General Interest
Nicknames
The Albatross of Prato (waterpolista.com, 05 Nov 2015)
Other information
KEEP GOING
As a veteran player, he tries to ignore his age and still wants to compete. "I stopped looking at age many years ago because every year that passes I still want to get back into the game and experiment with new types of training to raise my fitness level more and more. When this fails, I will have the utmost serenity in hanging the cap on the nail. But I hope to still have many challenges ahead." (eurosport.it, 01 Dec 2020)

NATIONAL TEAM RECALL
He announced his retirement from the Italian national team after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. However, he was recalled to the team for the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, as a late replacement following a measles outbreak in the Italian squad. (gazzetta.it, 15 Jul 2017; fina-budapest2017.com, 23 Jan 2017)
Injuries
In March 2017 he had surgery on a fractured thumb. (genova24.it, 08 Mar 2017)

He underwent eye surgery in June 2016 due to a partial detachment of the retina. He recovered in time to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (oasport.it, 01 Jun 2016)
Hobbies
Reading. (ilsecoloxix.it, 12 Jun 2019)

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA Team  
2 2012 London, ENG Team  
9 2008 Beijing, CHN Team  
8 2004 Athens, GRE Team  
5 2000 Sydney, AUS Team  
World Championship
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2017 Budapest, HUN Team  
4 2015 Kazan, RUS Team  
4 2013 Barcelona, ESP Team  
1 2011 Shanghai, CHN Team  
11 2009 Rome, ITA Team  
5 2007 Melbourne, AUS Team  
2 2003 Barcelona, ESP Team  
4 2001 Fukuoka, JPN Team  
World Cup
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 1999 Sydney, AUS Team  
European Championship
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2016 Belgrade, SRB Team  
3 2014 Budapest, HUN Team  
2 2010 Zagreb, CRO Team  
5 2008 Málaga, ESP Team  
5 2006 Belgrade, SRB Team  
9 2003 Kranj, SLO Team