Get ready for a major shake-up in the world of long-distance swimming! Italian swimming sensation Simona Quadarella is packing her bags for a two-month training camp in Australia, under the guidance of none other than Dean Boxall, one of the most renowned coaches in the sport. But here's where it gets interesting: this move isn't just about changing scenery—it's a strategic play to reignite her motivation, refine her rhythm, and explore new technical challenges. And this is the part most people miss: Quadarella’s decision comes at a pivotal moment in her career, as she navigates a fiercely competitive field in women’s distance freestyle.
Quadarella, a long-time powerhouse in the pool, will maintain her home base in Rome with coach Gianluca Belfiore, but this winter escape to Australia is all about pushing boundaries. The announcement dropped during the Rai Sport broadcast of the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Lublin, Poland, where she secured a second-place finish in the 400m freestyle, just behind Germany’s Isabel Gose. Yet, it was the news of her training with Boxall’s elite group that stole the spotlight.
Interestingly, Quadarella initially considered a training camp at the University of Florida with Anthony Nesty, where Katie Ledecky trains. When that plan fell through, Boxall’s St. Peters Western in Brisbane became the next logical step. This move also fills a gap in Boxall’s group following the retirement of Quadarella’s rival, Ariarne Titmus. But here’s the controversial part: is Quadarella’s shift to Australia a sign of her seeking an edge over Ledecky, or is it simply a natural evolution in her training strategy?
Boxall’s group is no ordinary training squad. It’s a breeding ground for some of the greatest modern female freestyle swimmers, including Olympic gold medalist Lani Pallister, freestyle superstar Mollie O’Callaghan, and the iconic Ariarne Titmus. Boxall has also coached Olympic medalists like Meg Harris, Mitch Larkin, and Elijah Winnington at various points in their careers. His swimmers hauled in an impressive 12 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics—a testament to his coaching prowess.
At 26, Quadarella has already cemented her status as one of the world’s best distance swimmers. She claimed the 2019 World Championship title in the 1500m freestyle when Ledecky withdrew due to illness, and she bagged Olympic bronze in the 800m freestyle in 2020. Despite her successes, Quadarella is eyeing 2025 as a year to level up. Her recent performance, where she pushed Ledecky harder than ever before and set a new European record of 15:31.79 in the 1500m freestyle, proves she’s ready for more.
This training move might sound familiar—St. Peters Western also welcomed Italian Olympians Thomas Ceccon and Alberto Razzetti earlier in 2025. But Quadarella’s journey is uniquely hers, and her resume speaks for itself:
- Olympic bronze medalist in the 800m freestyle (Tokyo 2020)
- European record holder in the 800m freestyle (8:12.81, 2025) and 1500m freestyle (15:31.79, 2025)
- World champion in the 1500m freestyle (Gwangju 2019)
- World silver and bronze medalist in the 1500m and 800m freestyle, respectively (Budapest 2022)
- Short course world champion in the 1500m freestyle (Doha 2024)
- Multiple European champion in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events
So, what do you think? Is Quadarella’s move to Australia the game-changer she needs to dominate the distance freestyle scene, or is she simply following a trend set by other elite swimmers? Let us know in the comments—this is one discussion you won’t want to miss!
