For Italian lifesaver Diego Ferrari, the Lifesaving World Championships 2026 will mark an important milestone, as he prepares to compete at his first Open World Championships after progressing through youth competitions and making his debut at senior European level.
Ferrari has already enjoyed success on the international stage, including becoming Youth World Champion in the 200m Super Lifesaver and winning five races at the Youth European Championships. Now competing in the Open category, he has been focused on developing his skills and building his experience, particularly in ocean events.
Preparing to compete in the pool’s Super Lifesaver and across all four ocean events, Board, Ski, Ironman and Surf Race, Ferrari is looking forward to testing himself against the world’s best while continuing to develop as an athlete.
We caught up with Diego to find out more about his lifesaving journey, preparation and what he is looking forward to most at LWC2026.
What does being selected for the Lifesaving World Championships 2026 mean to you personally?
Being selected for the 2026 Lifesaving World Championships is a really important moment for me. It will be my first time competing at an Open World Championships, so I’m especially proud and excited about this opportunity.
It means I will have the chance to compete at the highest level of our sport and represent Italy. After everything I have experienced in the last few years, from youth competitions to my first senior Europeans, taking part in the World Championships feels like another important step in my career. At the same time, I see it as a great opportunity to keep learning and improving.
Can you share a bit about your background in lifesaving and how you first got involved in the sport?
I started lifesaving after my swimming team and coaches suggested that we try competing in a few races at the beach and in the pool. I immediately enjoyed it because it combines different skills and disciplines, and over the years it became a very important part of my life.
Since then, I have trained more and more seriously and had the opportunity to compete at national and international level. Becoming Youth World Champion in the 200m Super Lifesaver after winning five races at the Youth Europeans was an important moment for me.
My first year competing in the Open category was a transition period, focused on growing as an athlete and becoming more and more prepared for the ocean events. These achievements were very important to me, but every competition has helped me grow both as an athlete and as a person.
Who has had the biggest influence on your lifesaving career, and in what way?
I would say that my coaches and the people I train with have had the biggest influence on my career. They have helped me improve not only technically and physically, but also mentally.
I think that having people around you who believe in you, especially during difficult moments, makes a big difference. My family has also always supported me and allowed me to follow this path, so there are many people who have contributed to where I am today.
Can you give us an insight into your preparation or training leading into Worlds? What does a typical week look like for you?
My training is quite demanding because I usually train two or three times a day. My preparation is mainly based on pool swimming, with up to eight swimming sessions per week, combined with ocean training, gym work and running.
At this level, it’s not only about training hard, but also about recovering well and trying to arrive at every session with the right energy. In the period leading into the Worlds, we have been focusing a lot on race-specific work and trying to be ready for the intensity of international competition.
Which events will you be competing in, and what are you most looking forward to?
I will be competing in the Super Lifesaver in the pool, as well as in all the ocean events: Board, Ski, Ironman and Surf Race.
The Super Lifesaver will probably be the event where I have the best chance of fighting for the highest positions, while the Oceanman may be the race I am best prepared for, and I hope I will be able to show that.
I’m also excited to race alongside some of the best athletes in the world and to show what I can do on the biggest stage. For me, it will be a great opportunity to test myself, gain experience and perform at the highest level.
What are your expectations for the competition?
My main expectation is to give my best in every race and be able to leave the competition knowing that I gave everything I had.
Of course, I have personal goals and I would like to achieve good results, but I also want to enjoy the experience and learn from racing against the best athletes in the world.
What’s one thing you’d like people to know about you, either as an athlete or outside the sport?
I think one thing people should know about me is that I’m a very calm and relaxed person, both inside and outside of sport. However, when I compete, my competitive side comes out.
The people around me can see that I handle competition well, but I approach every race with a lot of focus and concentration. I try to stay calm, concentrate on what I have to do and give my best in every moment.