CHIERIGHINI Marcelo

General
US EXPERIENCE
In 2011 he joined the University of Auburn swimming team in the United States of America, where he trained with coaches Brett Hawke and Sergio Lopez. "In the United States they are not so systematic as in Brazil. Here [Brazil] planning is more specific, while there is more general. I consider myself a fortunate person for having experienced both [systems], to know the best qualities of each one. [I also learned] how to approach what a swimmer needs to do inside the pool as well as outside. In the last year I grew up, not only in training but also how to deal with pressure in terms of my technique." In 2018 he returned to Brazil in order to treat a shoulder problem and to train alongside the entire Brazilian 4x100m freestyle relay team at Sao Paulo-based club EC Pinheiros. (swimchannel.net, 16 Jun 2019; metrojornal.com.br, 11 Aug 2019)

SOCIAL PROJECT
He, together with the municipality of Itu, Brazil, and a local social organisation, launched a social project called 'Nadando com Marcelo Chierighini' [Swimming with Marcelo Chierighini]. The project is aimed at the around 350 boys and girls, aged seven to 17, that take swimming lessons in Itu. "Inspiring kids and teenagers, by being a role model, is another victory that swimming is giving to me. Let's all create champions in sport and life." (itu.com.br, 16 Apr 2018)

BETTER WITH AGE
He says that as he has got older he has learned to find more enjoyment in training. "It's weird because I'm getting older but I'm enjoying myself more and more. I'm enjoying practising. I don't want to train harder but I want to train smarter, I want to eat healthier, I want to figure out stuff for my body and adjust all the little details. And I'm really enjoying doing that. I enjoy the process of getting better. When I was younger, I was like, 'OK I don't want to do the little exercises before getting in the water to prevent injuries. I just want to go and swim and that's it.' And I didn't really enjoy the whole process of getting better, and right now, I'm in a really good spot." (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 29 Jun 2020)