ITALY’S Lamberti brothers, Matteo and Michele, wrapped up their stint at the Chengdu Universiade on Sunday with a total of two golds, two silvers and one bronze.

Matteo, 24, clinched a silver in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay Sunday, after he secured his initial gold in Chengdu during the men’s 400m freestyle Aug. 1. His sibling Michele, 22, earned a silver in the men’s 100m backstroke the following day.

The Lamberti brothers maintained momentum. After Michele’s bronze in the men’s 50m backstroke, Matteo nabbed another gold in the men’s 800m freestyle.

“I’m very happy. I want to show how much I love swimming,” Matteo commented. “My forte is freestyle, and my brother Michele excels in backstroke and butterfly. We’ve competed together many times. We’re really close and often head home on weekends.”

Their passion and aptitude for swimming appear to run in the family.

Their father and coach, Giorgio Lamberti, was the inaugural Italian to clinch a World Championships title in 1991 and once held world records in the 400m freestyle and the 200m freestyle.

Their mother Tanya Vannini and sister Noemi have also made waves in international swimming. “Every member of my family, including my parents and sister, is a swimmer,” Michele noted.

Despite their shared zeal for swimming, they have distinct academic pursuits. “I study economics and Michele studies languages including Chinese in University of Brescia,” Matteo said.

(Xinhua)