Son and grandson of Italians, the Italian-Brazilian Thiago de Mello Parravicini, one of the highlights of the red-black swimming team, is packing his bags to compete in the Italian Team Championships in Rome.

The athlete will travel to Milan on the 21st and will be the only Brazilian to participate in the competition, which will be held on the 26th and 27th of May, in Rome, Italy.

This won't be Thiago's first time in Italian waters. The athlete, who will be representing Dimensione Dello Sport, DDS, the current Italian champion in the sport, won the gold medal in the 2002x4m freestyle relay and the silver medal in the 100m breaststroke in 100 (his first participation).

In 2003, a double dose. Thiago participated in the Italian Summer and Winter Championships and secured two runner-up finishes, in the 100m and 200m breaststroke (Winter), a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke, a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke, and bronze in the 50m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle relay.

The following year, the red-and-black swimmer won 2nd place in the 100m breaststroke, 3rd in the 200m breaststroke and 4th in the 50m breaststroke.

For personal reasons, Thiago missed the last two editions of the Italian Championships. Now, the athlete hopes to surpass his previous results. Thiago doesn't yet know which events he'll be competing in. However, since he specializes in the breaststroke, all signs point to these being the events the young swimmer will compete in.

"I'm looking forward to going. It's been a long time since I've been to Italy, where I have friends. I'd like to stay longer, but I have to get back and prepare for the Brazilian Junior Championship, which will be on June 1st."

Thiago Parravicini is scheduled to return to Brazil on May 28th. Without a break, the swimmer will already have a heavy training schedule, as he will be competing in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events and the 4x50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle, and 4x100m medley relays.

The Junior Brazilian Championship – Dr. Tancredo de Almeida Neves Trophy will be held at the Júlio de Lamare Aquatic Park, in the Maracanã Sports Complex, from June 1st to 3rd.