Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Siracusa, ITA |
Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
CC Ortigia: Siracusa, ITA |
Name of coach |
Stefano Piccardo [club], ITA |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Languages |
English, Italian |
Sport Specific Information |
Preferred position / style / stance / technique |
Centre forward |
General Interest |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." [Muhammad Ali] (Facebook profile, 25 Jul 2018) |
Famous relatives |
His brother Giovanni played professional water polo in Italy. His sister-in-law Anne-Marie Keenan played water polo at collegiate level with Stanford University in the United States of America. (ilsiracusano.com, 04 Jul 2017; gostanford.com, 17 Apr 2013; paloaltoonline.com, 30 Sep 2010) |
Other information |
RETURN TO SYRACUSE
After spending four years with AN Brescia, he had thoughts of retirement. In 2017 he decided to continue and joined CC Ortigia, which is his hometown club. "In the last season [of playing with AN Brescia] I was unable to express myself as I would have liked. I have so many ideas in my head, and not all of them are related to water polo. I had little time at my disposal and I returned to Syracuse to show my desire to play and do well. A choice of heart brings me home and the desire to take more satisfaction from the sport." (siracusapost.it, 15 Jul 2017; siracusanews.it, 20 Jun 2017) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
He was encouraged to take up the sport by his siblings. |
General Interest |
Most influential person in career |
Late Nuoto Catania president Francesco Scuderi. (mfsport.net, 21 Mar 2020) |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began playing water polo at age 11 in Syracuse, Italy. |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Gnappo [after an Italian TV comic character]. "During a training camp [Italian water polo player] Francesco Postiglione, as there were so many [players named] Christian in the team and I was a little chubby, said, 'I'll call you Gnappo, due to all the nonsense that you say and your reddish skin'. And since then I've been called that, which is a little bit like who I am. I like to have fun, make jokes and be surrounded by friends and family." (mfsport.net, 21 Mar 2020) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Being selected for the national team in 2013. (canottieriortigia.it, 09 Nov 2020) |
Hero / Idol |
Italian water polo player Stefano Tempesti. (canottieriortigia.it, 09 Nov 2020) |
