Ned Denison, chairperson of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, announced Simone Ercoli of Italy (@simoneerc) as an Honor Swimmer in its Class of 2025.

His last 3 podium finishes were two bronze-medal performances at the age of 39 at two 2019 FINA UltraMarathon Swim Series in Argentina’s 15 km professional marathon swims and in a 57 km FINA UltraMarathon Swim Series race in Argentina at the age of 38.

He especially performed well in the South American professional marathon swimming circuit. Over his 18-year professional marathon swimming career, he won a 10 km pro race in Brazil, two 15 km pro races in Argentina, and two 57 km Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe – Coronda races. He also finished third overall in the 2013 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix  professional circuit and represented Italy at the 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013 FINA World Championships and the 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships.

Steven Munatones said, “At the age of 21, he started competing at the elite international level and finally retired at the age of 39 when he finished his last professional marathon swim on the podium in Argentina. He was always a threat to be on the podium, He ultimately earning 23 podium finishes over his lengthy career: 6 gold + 8 silver + 9 bronze.

Not only was his career long at the top of the international competition, but it was also prolific. He competed all over Europe in Italy, Spain, Finland, Russia, Hungary, Austria, Macedonia, and Germany as well as Hawaii, Egypt, the UAE, Canada, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina.”

The list below does not include all the highly competitive domestic Italian championships where he had to qualify to become a member of the Italian national team:

• He finished 8th in the 5 km 2000 European Championships in Finland at the age of 21.
• He finished 13th in the 10 km at the 2000 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii.
• He finished 2nd in the 10 km at the 2002 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships in Egypt.
• He finished 12th in the 10 km at the 2003 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain.
• He finished 16th in the 10 km in the 2004 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships in the UAE
• He finished 3rd in the 5 km at the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal, Canada.
• He finished 3rd in the 5 km at the 2006 European Championships in Hungary.
• He finished 3rd in the 5 km in the 2006 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships in Italy.
• He finished 9th in the 5 km in the 2007 FINA World Championships in Australia.
• He finished 4th in the 5 km in the 2007 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Austria.
• He finished 3rd in the 10 km in the 2007 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup in China.
• He finished 3rd in the 10 km in the 2007 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Hong Kong.
• He finished 6th in the 10 km in the 2007 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Mexico.
• He finished 12th in the 10 km in the 2008 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup in the UAE.
• He finished 33rd in the 10 km in the 2008 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Spain.
• He won the 10 km in the 2009 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Brazil.
• He finished 32nd in the 10 km in the 2009 FINA World Championships in Italy.
• He finished 4th in the 15 km in the 2009 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in the UAE.
• He won the 15 km in the 2010 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Argentina.
• He finished 9th in the 10 km in the 2010 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Brazil.
• He finished 2nd in the 5 km in the 2010 European Championships in Hungary.
• He finished 2nd in the 5 km mixed team relay in the 2010 European Championships in Hungary.
• He finished 20th in the 10 km in the 2012 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Brazil.
• He won the 15 km in the 2013 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Argentina.
• He won the 57 km in the 2013 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Argentina in 8 hours 22 minutes.
• He finished 14th the 10 km in the 2013 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Mexico.
• He finished 3rd the 15 km in the 2013 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Mexico.
• He finished 5th the 5 km mixed team relay in the 2013 FINA World Championships in Spain.
• He DNF in the 34 km 2013 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in lac St-Jean, Quebec, Canada.
• He finished 9th in the 30 km 2013 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Macedonia in 5 hours 19 minutes.
• He finished 4th in the 36 km 2013 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Italy in 6 hours 19 minutes.
• He won the 57 km 2014 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Argentina in 8 hours 19 minutes.
• He finished 2nd in the 15 km 2014 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Mexico.
• He finished 4th in the 5 km 2014 European Championships in Germany.
• He finished 5th in the 5 km mixed team relay 2014 European Championships in Germany.
• He DNF in the 36 km 2014 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Italy.
• He finished 2nd in the 25 km 2015 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Argentina.
• He finished 3rd in the 15 km 2015 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Mexico.
• He finished 4th in the 5 km mixed team relay at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Russia.
• He finished 7th in the 33 km 2015 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Macedonia in 6 hours 22 minutes.
• He DNF in the 33 km 2015 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Italy.
• He finished 4th in the 57 km 2015 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Argentina in 8 hours 41 minutes.
• He finished 2nd in the 57 km 2018 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Argentina in 7 hours 34 minutes at the age of 38.
• He finished 2nd in the 15 km 2019 FINA UltraMarathon Swim Series in Argentina.
• He finished 3rd in the 15 km 2019 FINA UltraMarathon Swim Series in Argentina at the age of 39 in 2 hours 32 minutes.

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