The swimmer discovered the green with the “paragolfer,” a special device that allows him to hit the ball and compete alongside able-bodied players: “I’ve rediscovered my 1.95; it’s a new challenge. It doesn’t take anything away from swimming, but I dream of turning pro”
A golfer by chance but still a swimmer. Manuel Bortuzzo is making a fresh start on the green: in January, he’ll make his tournament debut and resume swimming to aim for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, where golf isn’t yet on the program. Meanwhile, in Nettuno, he’s also enrolled in police academy training.
Manuel, is it really a fatal attraction…?
“For now, I’m training; I’ll make my debut in 2026. It’s a sport I’ve always liked—I used to watch it on TV. I ended up at Marco Simone by chance. I moved into a place near the golf club. One day, I went to wash my car at the gas station across from Marco Simone. A man in his forties pulled up in a white van, jumped out in a hurry—I was actually a little scared because he was coming toward me so fast. ‘Hi, nice to meet you, I’m Fabrizio Graziani. Do you like golf?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I do, but I’ve never played it.’ He said, “Do you have 10 minutes?” I replied, “Yes.” I trusted him enough to get into the van with a stranger—even though he was wearing a lanyard around his neck that said “Marco Simone”—and 10 minutes later we were on the course in a Ryder Cup cart—the red one—playing through all the holes. He explained everything to me.”
And then?
“The next day, Fabrizio introduced me to the director, Marco Aquilino, the owner, Lavinia Biagiotti—basically, the whole team.”
The federation has equipped him with a special cart, a Paragolfer: what is Manuel aiming to achieve?
“There’s an even bigger project behind this, one that goes beyond me. Together with a coach from Manchester, Mark Taylor—who specializes in training young people with the Paragolfer—we’re bringing things to Italy that don’t exist here yet. This is just the beginning.”
Do you already have a caddie and a coach?
“My instructor is Marco Basili, and he’ll also be my caddie.”
Golf allows you to stay on your feet: any emotions?
“I’ve never let go of the idea that I could go back to being who I was. Given the way things are going for me, and how science, medicine, and everything else is evolving, I’m certain that sooner or later something will happen. Golf allows me to stay on my feet for many hours; practices and tournaments last quite a while. Whenever I want, I look out at the course, I look at my coach, I look at the people around me, I talk, I interact with people standing at my height: it’s wonderful. I take in the course again, I take in all these hectares; I see them from my height of 1.95 m, and it’s priceless.”
Will your swimming suffer as a result?
“No, golf doesn’t take anything away: it’s just a challenge, it’s something extra. The best part is that I want to do well at golf, too. You don’t have that anxiety of having to get in the water to train. It’s a sport where you interact much more with other people; in the pool, as soon as you dive in, you’re alone and can only ask your coach for advice. In golf, you have your caddie right there with you. I needed a break from swimming, but I’ll get back to it to focus on Los Angeles.“
Are you discovering a different side of yourself on the green?
”It makes me feel good. When the gate closes, I immerse myself in another world. I even forget about my cell phone; I live in an oasis all my own, with people who make me feel good. A new kind of athlete is emerging; inside me there’s another person—and that’s Manuel the golfer. I hope this challenge also yields the results I’ve set for myself. That would be wonderful. From swimming, I bring dedication, drive, a competitive spirit, and high training volumes. My coach gets upset when he sees that I already want to be a star. An athlete carries the desire to be excellent, to be perfect. Doing things right, having that hunger, never settling for less—that’s what I bring from the pool.”
Phelps also took up golf…
“Phelps is really good, actually—he’s truly talented.”
Have you met any Ryder Cup players yet?
“I’m lucky to be able to practice on a course like this. There are quite a few pros there. I often play a couple of holes with the guys, because the great thing about the Paragolfer is that I can easily play against able-bodied players and golf pros. And that’s amazing. Every now and then I play a couple of holes with the big names and take all kinds of advice—just watching them is a source of inspiration: it makes me want to be as good as they are, in my own way.” .
Do you see yourself turning pro?
“The great thing about this sport is that age isn’t an issue, whereas a swimmer is already considered old at 30. The goal behind doing everything right is to eventually become a pro—to be a full-fledged pro who can hold his own. It’s something I feel called to do and want to do: I want to prove that I’m capable.”
Who’s your golf idol?
“I grew up watching Tiger Woods, and he’s the legend of golf. But, you know, there are lots of golfers I like, like Bryson DeChambeau.”
And what about the career as a police officer that awaits you?
“I’m wrapping up a chapter, a cycle crowned by the Paralympic medal. I’ll have more responsibilities.”
Will TV suffer with all these commitments?
“I also have TV projects, and training doesn’t interfere with my other commitments. TV also helps me convey certain messages. But golf will now be a part of my life.”
