Davide Belletti

Davide Belletti Davide Belletti (born in Parma, Italy) is an Italian swimmer specializing in long-distance and cold water swimming.

In 2023, he was awarded the "Best Athlete of the Month" by the National Union of Sports Veterans and Panathlon.

Career Early career and transition to long distance

Belletti began swimming in 2014 during rehabilitation following a shoulder injury. He joined Villa Bonelli Nuoto ASD and competed in regional freestyle events before moving to open water competitions.

Open water and marathon swimming

In 2015, he participated in the Byron Cup in the Gulf of La Spezia. From 2015 to 2017, he competed in the "Oceanman Lake Orta" (14 km), placing 14th in 2017. In September 2017, he completed a solo crossing of the Strait of Bonifacio (15 km) under FINA rules.

Charity and endurance events

In 2018, he organized a 22 km swim from Portovenere to Monterosso to support a humanitarian project in Ethiopia. In 2020, he won the “Longest Distance” category at the 6-Hour Swim in Castelnuovo ne’ Monti and swam the full perimeter of Lake Orta (29 km). In 2021, he swam 30 km during a 12-hour charity event and joined the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA).

Ice swimming

In 2021, he placed 1st in both the 800 m and combined ranking at a cold water event in Lake Avigliana. In 2022, he finished 6th (250 m) and 7th (500 m) at the IISA World Championships in Głogów, Poland. In 2023, he was 8th in the 1000 m at the World Championships in Samoëns, France. In 2025 he earned 3rd place in the 1000 m (M50–55) category at the World Championships in Molveno, Italy with a time achieved in 1.94 °C water that was also recognized as an IISA world record.

Coaching and technical roles

Since 2022, Belletti has worked as a certified swimming instructor and, from 2024, as a licensed coach for the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN). He also collaborates with the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) as observer and event director, and held the role of race director at the 6th World Ice Swimming Championship (2025) and the 2nd European Open Ice Swimming Championship in Molveno (2026) .

Palmares