And now his sights are set on the Olympics: Ponti after a career rollercoaster ride in the gold rush

Even before his third coup, Ponti was very happy, although not everything went perfectly: “Two gold medals in two races is incredible! I didn’t do everything perfectly. I was nervous in the first 50 to 100 meters, and it showed. But yes, in the end I won.”

ups and downs

For Ponti, the European Short Course Championships mark a new highlight in the rollercoaster ride he has been on for three years. From zero to a hundred it started in 2021 when he won bronze in the 100 meters dolphin at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Suddenly the boy from the Ticino village of Gambarogno was a global star in the swimming world. But the high point was soon followed by the first deep fall.

Less than a month after his triumph, Ponti packed his bags and traveled to the US to continue his studies and his sporting career. But things turned out differently. Instead of living the American dream at North Carolina State University, Ponti soon felt lonely. The diet in the States caused him problems and the training did not go as agreed. After four weeks, Ponti pulled the cord: “In recent weeks I have become noticeably tired, especially mentally, which caused me problems in dealing with everyday life,” is how the Ticino resident described his situation.

“It was the right decision”

Returning home was the right move for Ponti. “It’s a shame that it didn’t work out in the US. But it was the best decision at the time. There are ups and downs in a career,” Ponti says looking back. In December 2021, he immediately swam to silver at the World Dolphin Short Course Championships 200 meters. The following year he won a bronze medal at the European Championships in Rome.

Ponti wanted to continue this series at the World Cup this summer. But even though he was in top form, he returned from Japan without any precious metal. He failed completely in two of his three races and didn’t even reach the final. He could not find the reason for this setback.

But Ponti apparently dealt with the disappointment well. The two medals at the European Championships have already given him a boost, the third is the icing on the cake. And Noè Ponti is also optimistic about the upcoming Olympic Games: “The season is not over yet. That also gives me a certain pressure this Olympic season. We are now working hard until the Olympic Games, I am looking forward to that!”