10 Questions: Switzerland’s Noe Ponti on world records, Phelps inspiration – and his World Championships goals

Switzerland’s Noe Ponti ended 2024 on a high as he set five short course world records and earned three golds at December’s World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest.

Ponti, who turned 24 last month, set two 50m butterfly short course world records shortly before competing in the Hungarian capital, where he was named as male swimmer of the event.

He improved his 50m butterfly short course records in the semi-finals and final, clocking 21.43 and 21.32.

He then added the 100m butterfly title, lowering the world record to 47.71 in the final, before earning a third gold in the 100m medley, where he set a Championship record of 50.33.

Ponti, who won 100m butterfly bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is now preparing in earnest for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where the swimming programme starts on Sunday (July 27)…

Houdini said to get out of bed was the hardest thing he could do. What is the hardest thing about your day?

“Houdini had a point, haha. I’m happy there isn’t one particular aspect that is the hardest every day. I’m privileged to be able to do what I love most. And parts of my day that I may not look forward to are usually one-offs and there’s always something after that part that I can look forward to.”

What has been the proudest moment of your career – so far?

“That’s a difficult one as there have been many proud moments in my career. But winning the 100m butterfly at last year’s World 25m Championships in Budapest and breaking Caleb Dressel’s world record by doing so ranks very high up there. The Olympic 100m butterfly bronze medal was of course a huge success but it came relatively unexpectedly so it wasn’t something I feel ‘proud’ would be the right word to describe.”

What has been the biggest challenge of you career – so far?

“Managing everything that happened after winning bronze in Tokyo. The celebrations in the midst of COVID, the bigger attention, then the move to the United States and the move back. There was a lot that happened at a very young age and dealing with all this was a challenge.”

Do you prefer long course or short course – and why?

“I actually prefer long course. It’s nothing really related to the swimming itself, it’s maybe just the slightly heightened attention that comes with it. It’s Olympic-sized swimming. Maybe that’s why…”

With which stroke are you most comfortable?

“The stroke I have always preferred is the butterfly. I also love swimming the 100 and 200 IM, but the butterfly is above all other strokes.”

Will you and Leon Marchand be racing against each other any time soon?

“I hope so. It was great fun to battle with him in Paris and at last year’s World Cup. But I don’t know his calendar or goals for this year. I would expect him to be in Singapore, though.”

Who has been your sporting inspiration – either in your own sport or any other?

“I was a big Michael Phelps fan when I was a boy. I watched him at the London Olympics in 2012 and that was hugely inspiring.”

What started you in swimming and what is most satisfying about it?

“My sister. She is a little older and had been swimming already, so I kind of followed in her footsteps. I just love being in the water. The sense of it on my skin, the underwater diving phase and the aesthetics of the sport. I fell in love with it at a very early age and it hasn’t stopped since.”

What is your secret passion?

“Puuh, wouldn’t be secret if I shared it, so I’ll keep that one for myself! But I’m a big sports fan in general and love going to ice hockey games of my favourite team Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland. And I like movies.”

What would you like to have achieved by the end of 2025?

“I would like to look back on the year and say that I didn’t take any shortcuts. That I gave it my best every day, at every competition. And that I was able to deal with high-pressure situations.

“I have my sporting goals, and the World Champs are of course at the top of the list. Being able to tackle these with the right mindset –  that’s what I want. And it’s no secret that I’d like to win my first long course medal and World Champs, so…”

Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics

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