It was not the first and, fortunately, it will not be the last, but the feat is always the same. For mountain lovers, there are the steepest peaks and for sea lovers, the Strait of Messina. Jacopo Parizzi, a 38-year-old athlete with a neurological condition called Charcot Marie Tooth, therefore wanted to demonstrate that even with a disability, you can dream, be ambitious and pursue extraordinary goals.
One hour, two minutes and two seconds travel the route from Capo Peloro (Sicily) to Cannitello (Calabria) to bear witness to the hope and determination of all those who face similar challenges. “Life is a series of swims through the most difficult currents – he said upon his arrival – and no matter how difficult the path, no matter how what matters is the will to continue swimming“After Parizzi's performance (and that of 30 other athletes), fifteen boats were equipped with doctors and lifeguards.
Lucia Zulberti, Jacopo's coach and president of Corona Ferrea Nuoto, commented on the journey taken together to prepare for the crossing. “The months of preparation for the crossing were demanding and intense. Jacopo, with the determination that has always characterized him, did it great sacrifices and efforts to articulate the different aspects of his daily life and to devote himself in a concentrated manner to preparation.”
“People like Jacopo – concluded Alessandro Ossola, president of Bionic People – teach us that when faced with a physical problem it is possible to reinvent yourself and make your life even richer and fuller. We are proud of him and all those who, like him, never give up”
