With just days to go until the 30th Swimmeeting South Tyrol on 7 and 8 November 2026, excitement continues to build around the international line-up. Organisers SSV Bozen are highlighting four more outstanding athletes: Irish short-course European champion John Shortt, Brazilian backstroke specialist Guilherme Basseto, American swimmer Brian Benzing, and Irish European champion Danielle Hill, whose participation was already confirmed at the first press conference. These athletes add particular strength to the backstroke events, where Shortt and Basseto could face Bermuda's previously announced Olympic swimmer Jack Harvey in a thrilling international contest. The women's races also promise excitement, with experienced European champion Danielle Hill potentially facing rising Irish talent Charlotte Cullen in an intriguing all-Irish showdown. John Shortt – Ireland's rising star is already a European champion At just 19 years of age, John Shortt, from Galway, has already established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in European swimming. The backstroke specialist enjoyed an extraordinary 2025 season, progressing from junior success to a senior European title within just a few months. At the 2025 World Junior Championships in Romania, Shortt claimed two gold medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke, as well as bronze in the 50m backstroke. But his greatest achievement came in December at the European Short Course Championships in Lublin, where he won the 200m backstroke title in a remarkable 1:47.89, setting a new world junior record. His exceptional performances earned him the title of Young Sportsperson of the Year from Irish public broadcaster RTÉ at the end of 2025. Shortt continued his impressive progress in 2026. At the European Championships in Paris, he reached the 200m backstroke final, finishing seventh, and lowered the Irish national long-course record in the 100m backstroke to 53.17 seconds.
Although his greatest achievements have come in the 200m backstroke, Shortt is also a formidable competitor in the shorter distances. His short-course personal bests of 23.78 seconds in the 50m and 50.10 seconds in the 100m backstroke make him an exciting addition to the Bolzano field. Guilherme Basseto – Brazilian sprint power and South American gold An equally exciting challenger for Shortt will be Brazil's Guilherme Basseto. The 29- year-old backstroke specialist from Ribeirão Preto has already represented his country at the Tokyo Olympic Games and boasts an impressive international career. Basseto won relay medals at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago and previously collected several gold medals at the 2022 South American Games. He continued his success in 2026, winning two gold medals in the 50m and 100m backstroke at the South American Games in September. Just days earlier, Basseto had delivered outstanding performances at the Brazilian Short Course Championships, the Troféu José Finkel. He clocked an impressive 23.16 seconds in the 50m backstroke and 50.80 seconds in the 100m backstroke final, achieving the qualifying standards for the World Short Course Championships in both events. His short-course personal best over 100m backstroke is even faster at 49.81 seconds. With Basseto, John Shortt and Bermuda's Jack Harvey on the starting list, the men's backstroke races could provide some of the most exciting moments of this anniversary edition. Brian Benzing – the 2025 Bolzano winner returns A familiar face will return to the Albert Pircher swimming pool as Brian Benzing, the 25-year-old American swimmer from Maryland, prepares for another appearance at the Swimmeeting South Tyrol. Benzing won the 100m individual medley at the 2025 edition in 53.34 seconds, making him one of last year's successful international guests. His swimming career flourished at Towson University, where he made history by becoming the first athlete to be named his collegiate conference's Male Swimmer of the Year four consecutive times. In 2024, Benzing finished runner-up in the 100-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Championships, establishing himself among the leading breaststroke swimmers in American collegiate competition. In September 2025, he received his first selection to the USA Swimming National Team.
Benzing has also demonstrated his ability on the international short-course circuit. At the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Baku in October 2026, he improved his personal best in the 100m individual medley to 52.22 seconds, while also recording 26.31 seconds in the 50m breaststroke. His return could create further excitement in the men's breaststroke events. With reigning world champion Simone Cerasuolo and European champion Federico Poggio already announced, the competition could feature three outstanding international swimmers. The 100m individual medley offers another intriguing possibility. Switzerland's Noe Ponti, the 2024 world champion in the event, will also compete at the meeting. Whether he and last year's Bolzano winner Benzing will meet head-to-head will depend on the final event entries. Danielle Hill – European experience meets Ireland's next generation With Danielle Hill, the Swimmeeting South Tyrol will welcome one of the most experienced female athletes in the international field. The 27-year-old Irish swimmer has competed at two Olympic Games and enjoyed her greatest international success at the 2024 European Championships in Belgrade, where she claimed gold in the 50m backstroke and silver in the 100m backstroke. Hill continued to demonstrate her international pedigree in 2026. She finished fourth in the 50m backstroke at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and reached another European final over the same distance in Paris, finishing eighth. Her participation is particularly interesting because another Irish backstroke specialist, Charlotte Cullen, has already been announced for the anniversary meeting. Hill brings the experience of a European champion and a short-course personal best of 26.33 seconds in the 50m backstroke. Cullen, aged 22, represents the next generation of Irish swimming and set an Irish national short-course record of 56.96 seconds in the 100m backstroke in November 2025. Bolzano could therefore witness an exciting contest between two generations of Irish backstroke talent, with both athletes capable of producing high-quality international performances. An increasingly impressive international line-up The previous press release had already confirmed Finland's Laura Lahtinen, Ireland's Charlotte Cullen, Brazilian sprint star Guilherme Caribé and Italian breaststroke specialist Federico Poggio, joining earlier announcements of Olympic medallist Noe Ponti, world champion Simone Cerasuolo, American Skyler Alexandra Smith, Italy's Annachiara Mascolo and Bermuda's Jack Harvey. With such a strong international field, exciting sprint races are expected, particularly in the backstroke and breaststroke events. And there is, of course, continued anticipation surrounding the potential 50m butterfly showdown between Noe Ponti and Guilherme Caribé. Thirty years of swimming excellence – with sustainability at its heart The Swimmeeting South Tyrol remains committed to environmental sustainability as it celebrates its 30th edition. Once again, the international swimming competition will be organised as a Green Event, continuing an important tradition established over previous years. Through a range of environmentally conscious initiatives, SSV Bozen aims to reduce the environmental impact of the competition, encourage responsible resource use and promote greater awareness of sustainability among athletes, teams and spectators. The Green Event commitment has become an integral part of the Swimmeeting's identity, demonstrating how international sporting excellence, opportunities for young swimmers and environmental responsibility can successfully go hand in hand. World-class swimming on 7 and 8 November On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026, more than 500 swimmers will gather at the Albert Pircher swimming pool in Bolzano for two exciting days of international shortcourse racing. The programme includes all 50m and 100m events, as well as the 100m individual medley. The three fastest heats will take place on Saturday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm and on Sunday from 1:00 pm to 2:45 pm. Cash prizes of up to €1,000 will be awarded for new meeting records. Spectators will once again have the opportunity to watch world champions, European champions, Olympic athletes and emerging young talents at close range. The 30th edition promises to be a fitting celebration of three decades of international swimming, combining thrilling competition, sporting passion and environmental responsibility.