Video: 16-Year-Old Drops His Phone in Swimming Pool While Picking Up His Gold Medal at European Championships

The 2023 Junior Artistic Swimming Championships took place from the 2nd to the 6th of August. This tournament serves as a platform for top European talents aged from 15 to 20, to break out and showcase their skills to the world. It included a number of events, ranging from solo routines and duet routines to team routines. After not having won the event since 2007, Greece finally won the Duet Free competition with a score of 179.6146. Italy secured the silver medal while Ukraine was placed third in the event. The tournament also witnessed some impressive performances from German Klara Bleyer and Italian Susanna Pedotti. As for the mixed duet-free final, Spain successfully defend their crown.

Another talented prodigy made waves in the tournament. 16-year-old Italian Filippo Pelati continued his impressive 2023 run with a gold medal at the recent games. The Italian who was only included in the Italian team last year, has already represented his country thrice in international competitions with his most memorable and proudest moment coming in Quebec City when he won silver with his teammate at the 2022 World Junior Championships. However, this time around, little did Filippo Pelati know that his gold medal journey to the podium will be filled with an unexpected twist.

Filippo Pelati’s swimming meet incident

After winning a gold medal for his brilliant effort last week at the European Junior Artistic Swimming Championships in Portugal, Filippo Pelati was on his way to the podium. The crowd was cheering on the champion as he was walking to claim his medal. But just then, the swimmer’s mobile phone fell from his unzipped tracksuit pocket and fell straight into the swimming pool. The European Aquatics organization, LEN, also shared this funny mishap on their Instagram, with the caption,?“Zip up your pocket next time, Filippo!”

As Pelati’s phone fell into the water, the video shows his peers with shocking reactions. However, the prodigy remained unfazed as he simply shrugged, offered a thumbs-up, and proceeded with the medal ceremony. Soon after he was awarded the gold medal, a fellow competitor of Pelati retrieved his phone from the pool.

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As everybody watched with eager eyes, the Italian checked the soaking phone briefly and then smiled and revealed that the device was still functional. However, it is not only Pelati’s phone that is making a splash as Pelati has been dominating 2023 with his swimming performances.

Filippo Pelati’s pool dominance

At only 16 years, the Italian is proving to be a dominant force in the youth, junior, and senior competitions. In the 2022 World Junior Championships, he clinched a coveted bronze medal in the technical mixed duet category. At the same event, Pelati also clinched four European Junior medals, conquering both the solo and mixed duet events. Earlier this year, at the World Cup Super Final, the Italian claimed the gold medal in the solo category. His recent run of form is setting him up perfectly for the upcoming World Championships scheduled for later this month.

With his latest endeavor at the European Championships in Portugal, Pelati is showcasing why he is constantly hyped for bigger things. Although in the future while he will receive a host of accolades, Pelati is bound to close his pocket zips. The Italian’s phone anecdote reminds us that even in the midst of glory and celebration, life can sometimes present us with amusing challenges.

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