Extraordinary determination in the pool and the same drive in her studies. Speaking with Giorgia Klatowski, a leading player for Pallanuoto Trieste, the Serie A1 water polo team sponsored by Samer&Co. Shipping, and a third-year Law student, one immediately senses her energy and commitment – both of which clearly translate into action. Born in Trieste in 2003, Giorgia was a key player this summer at the World University Games in Duisburg, Germany, wearing the Italian national team cap. Alongside two other University of Trieste students, Emma De March (Environmental and Natural Sciences and Technologies) and Guya Zizza (Psychological Sciences and Techniques), she won the bronze medal after defeating New Zealand in the third-place final.

The Italian women’s water polo team reached the Universiade podium for the third consecutive year. What’s your take on this result?

‘We definitely achieved a great result, showing our quality, which improved through constant training and game by game. There’s some regret over losing the semi-final on penalties to the USA, a team we had beaten in the group stage. Honestly, we could have gone for the gold medal, but something was missing.’

Your first Universiade: what kind of experience was it, both athletically and personally?

‘It was my first Universiade, although not my first time with the national team. Overall, it was an incredibly rewarding experience. From a sporting perspective, we faced talented and well-prepared teams from all over the world; from a human one, it was deeply inspiring to connect with different cultures and traditions. And the opening ceremony was unforgettable – walking into a packed stadium full of excitement and energy was truly thrilling.’

You’ve been playing water polo for most of your life. What are the three things that made you fall in love with the sport?

‘First of all, the water... ever since I was a child, I’ve always felt at home in it, and I could never imagine doing a sport on land. Then the ball: I love any sport that involves a ball. And finally, teamwork, which is what excites me most about water polo: it’s fascinating to know that every action you take has a consequence for the team, and vice versa.’

And beyond the pool, you’re also doing well at university, right?

‘I’m in my third year of Law and I really enjoy it. At first, because of my daily training schedule, I used to feel too much pressure comparing myself to others and fearing I wouldn’t get the results I wanted. But then I made a big shift that’s helped me both in my studies and in the pool: now my focus is on the pleasure of attending lectures, studying and exploring topics in depth, without comparing myself to anyone else.’

What are your next goals in your studies?

‘My main goal is to graduate, and then we’ll see which path I’ll take. I’m increasingly interested in branches of Law connected with international relations, but it’s still too early to say which field I’ll specialise in – or whether my choices will take me abroad, for example.’

One last exam session successfully completed and a new sports season about to begin. Tell us, what are your dreams for the future?

‘Definitely to graduate in Law and then explore the world of work. In sport, I have no doubts: winning the Italian championship title or a European cup with Pallanuoto Trieste, my lifelong team. The club is young, founded in 2003, but it’s grown steadily, and we’ve now reached a level where we can compete for something big. We already came close in 2024-2025, losing the LEN Cup Final.’