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| Gonzalo
ECHENIQUE |
| Sport |
Water Polo |
| NOC |
Italy
|
| Gender | Men |
| Born | 27 Apr 1990
in Rosario, ARG |
| Height | 1.94 m |
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Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
Pro Recco: Italy |
General Interest |
Famous relatives |
His brothers Ignacio and Tomas have represented Argentina in water polo. Tomas won gold medals at the 2021 and 2018 South American championships and also competed at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. (SportsDeskOnline, 24 May 2021; masdeporte.as.com, 01 Apr 2016) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
He practised swimming before taking up water polo. He switched because he got bored of swimming and his friends and his brother were playing water polo. |
Name of coach |
Sandro Sukno [club], CRO; Alessandro Campagna [national], ITA |
Preferred position / style / stance / technique |
Driver, Wing |
Handedness |
Left |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began swimming at age six. He took up water polo at age 12 in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina. |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Languages |
English, Italian, Spanish |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Chalo (waterpolista.com, 16 Dec 2014) |
Other information |
FROM ARGENTINA TO SPAIN TO ITALY
Born in Argentina, he represented his birth country in water polo at the Pan American Games in 2007 and 2011. He moved to Barcelona, Spain in January 2010, after Spanish water polo player Daniel Ballart helped him secure a move to the CN Montjuic club. He had spells with Spanish clubs Sabadell and Barceloneta before being granted Spanish citizenship in 2015. In 2016 he began representing the Spanish national team, including at that year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In 2017 he moved to Italy to play for Pro Recco. That same year he made the switch to represent Italy after being granted Italian citizenship due to his grandmother originating from Catania, Italy. (elciudadanoweb.com, 13 Jul 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 24 May 2021; ilsecoloxix.it, 04 Oct 2017; oasport.it, 11 Jan 2017; miradorprovincial.com, 16 Jan 2015; waterpolista.com, 16 Dec 2014)
FAMILY LIFE
He is the 10th oldest in a family of 12 siblings. He has eight sisters and three brothers. (miradorprovincial.com, 16 Jan 2015; waterpolista.com, 16 Dec 2014) |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Genoa, ITA |
General Interest |
Hobbies |
Supporting Argentinian football team Newell's Old Boys. (prorecco.it, 01 Jan 2020) |
Injuries |
In 2018 an injury prevented him from competing in the European qualification tournament for the 2019 World Super League Final in Belgrade, Serbia. (total-waterpolo.com, 11 Nov 2019) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Representing Spain at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (mfsport.net, 19 June 2020) |
Most influential person in career |
His parents. (mfsport.net, 19 June 2020) |
Hero / Idol |
Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi. (ricerca.repubblica.it, 07 Dec 2016) |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 7 |
2021 |
Tokyo, JPN |
Team |
|
| 7 |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
Team |
|
World Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2024 |
Doha, QAT |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2023 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2022 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
Team |
|
World Cup |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2023 |
Long Beach, CA, USA |
Team |
|
European Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 3 |
2024 |
|
Team |
|
| 6 |
2020 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2018 |
Barcelona, ESP |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2016 |
Belgrade, SRB |
Team |
|
Pan American Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 5 |
2011 |
Guadalajara, MEX |
Team |
|
| 6 |
2007 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
Team |
|
| |
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