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Santo Condorelli Enjoys Reconnecting With Lopez at Paraguayan Camp

Courtesy: Diego Peralbo/abc.com.py (WE RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM THE EDITORS AT ABC TO USE THESE IMAGES)

Santo Condorelli is doing his final Olympic prep in Paraguay along with the Singapore team. Courtesy: Diego Peralbo/abc.com.py

PARAGUAY – In the heart of South America, Canadian swimmer Santo Condorelli adjusts to the local weather as he trains –again- under Spanish coach Sergio Lopez’s directions in the National Aquatic Centre of Paraguay.

His goal for Rio? He says it’s a top 3 finish in the 100 free, his best event and one in which he ranks 9th int he world in the 2015-2016 season.

2015-2016 LCM Men 100 Free

2Kyle
CHALMERS
AUS47.58*WJR08/10
3Nathan
ADRIAN
USA47.7206/30
4Pieter
TIMMERS
BEL47.8008/10
5Santo
CONDORELLI
CAN47.8808/10
6Caeleb
DRESSEL
USA47.9108/09
7Luca
DOTTO
ITA47.96*relay04/21
8Zetao
Ning
CHN47.9604/07
9Jeremy
STRAVIUS
FRA47.9704/01
10Florent
MANAUDOU
FRA47.9812/18
View Top 26»

The World Championships finalist has described Lopez, under whom Condorelli trained as a high schooler in Jacksonville, Florida, as a “father figure in swimming.”

Condorelli and López are currently training in Asuncion city with Singapore’s Zhen and Ting Wen Quagh, as well as Rex Tullius from the Virgin Islands, who are also going to the Olympics. The local winter weather in Paraguay is similar to Brazil’s weather in August, which allows for acclimation to the Olympic conditions.

Asked about his goals for Rio and going under 48 seconds in the 100 free he said: “That’s definitely a goal. I mean, at my trials I was 48.0 and I was very disappointed with that, especially how I’ve been training. Stepped it up a lot and the times they kinda didn’t really correlate. The way I’ve been practicing here with Sergio has been predicting way faster than that, so, goals obviously goes with top 3 in my 100 freestyle and podium.”

According to him, the things that need to be improved are the related to the emotions. “When especially comes to the meet, not getting too frustrated or like ‘Oh I’m at the Olympics’ and like getting distracted or getting nervous, and anxiety-ridden. Just go out there and have fun. I’ve been working a lot with my stroke and how to push my race so when the time comes is just there, kind of muscle memory.”

After the Canadian trails the 21-year-old started training with López again. The two connected during Condorelli’s high schools years.

“Honestly he’s changed his coaching style a bit from the high school days. Which I like, but he’s still the kind and almost like a father figure to us in swimming. I’ve missed it for a while, and coming back it’s been very helpful. Like self-talk, he’s been very involved with it, so making us confident in ourselves and all that stuff. He’s been great. I love him”/

Condorelli named Cameron McEvoy as his ideal, when asked to imagine a perfect 100 m free final.

“He’s the fastest guy out there and it’s good cause he’s young, he’s small, you know, he’s not like the big guys like Manaudou, Nathan Adrian, you know, muscle buff dudes (laughs), he’s more kinda like me, more technical-oriented.”

Courtesy: Diego Peralbo/abc.com.py (WE RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM THE EDITORS AT ABC TO USE THESE IMAGES)

Courtesy: Diego Peralbo/abc.com.py

Asked for another he mentioned his buddy and fellow USC Trojan Vlad Morozov, with whom Condorelli spent a summer training in Russia in the summer of 2014. “I’ve always loved racing him, especially at college at USC. He’s kinda like a mentor to me when I was younger and now that I’m getting fast I can actually compete with him, before he would just smocked me.”

About his time in Paraguay he said: “I’m loving Paraguay to tell you the truth. I don’t know the language too well, but thank God I have some buddies here that know the language and the locals have been very nice, especially at night” he joked a little. And he continued: “Every time I travel I love trying new foods. I’m used to empanadas, but they have this one like made with tapioca (he really means mandioca or cassava) or something. So good! And the sweets, the special ice cream, we went to a strawberry festival. We went there yesterday (Sunday) and they have this steps leading up to the Virgin or something”, tells about his discoveries in a country side known as Areguá city.”

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Lp Man
8 years ago

Hopefully he gets a medal and gives everyone the finger while he is on the podium. Seems like a very appropriate gesture

Tim
Reply to  Lp Man
8 years ago

The whole finger bit is childish, not to mention classless.

PackedWarmUps
Reply to  Lp Man
8 years ago

Any other professional sport in the world would fine him and impose a match or event suspension. Golf, Tennis, Football etc. His actions are childish, unnecessary and he should face repercussions from FINA, Swimming Canada etc.

Josh
8 years ago

Did anybody else read his quotes?! Keep him Canada

NotSoFastSwimmer
Reply to  Josh
8 years ago

Why? what’s wrong with his quotes?

Bob V
8 years ago

He switched teams this close to the Olympics? Didn’t he go 47 w his previous coach?

Im confused. Why would a Canadian be at a Singapore olympic training camp? Surprised that is allowed.

Stay Human
8 years ago

Look how 3rd through 10th place in the world right now are only .05 apart. This final is going to be epic and the fight for the podium spots will be ferocious!

Col. Trautman
Reply to  Stay Human
8 years ago

Stay Human, stay away from math problems.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Stay Human
8 years ago

0.1 seconds

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

0.13 to be precise

SwimminIsGood
8 years ago

Yes, I’m curious…might S.C. transfer from ‘SC? And, possibly end up wherever Sergio lands? If he heads to Auburn, that would be a boost for that program, particularly in light of the departures they’ve had. No one seems to confirm or deny if Santo is returning to USC. We’ll see what happens in short order…

SwimminIsGood
Reply to  Braden Keith
8 years ago

Ah, got it…thx for the update, Braden. USC can certainly benefit from him returning to the team. We’ll see how it all shakes down later in the year, of course. Cheers –

Arthur
8 years ago

Zheng Wen and sister Ting Wen’s surnames is spelled Quah

BigDude
8 years ago

Where is Joseph Schooling training?

E GAMBLE
Reply to  BigDude
8 years ago

In Texas I’m sure.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  E GAMBLE
8 years ago

Austin? San Antonio with US team?

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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