The Austrian Alexandri triplets at Roma 2022. Vasiliki: "Touring the world with my sisters is beautiful"

Anna-Maria, Eirini-Marina and Vasiliki Alexandri are Austrian triplets. All three together have decided to become artistic swimmers.

"We started swimming in Greece," explains Vasiliki, the solo athlete among the three. "We used to watch these beautiful girls with beautiful clothes and beautiful makeups. We wanted to be like them, so we started artistic swimming."

It was the right decision. At Roma 2022 Vasiliki secured bronze in the women's solo, adding this to her medal collection of six silvers and two bronze medals at the artistic swimming FINA World Series. “Winning this medal is an unbelievable feeling – she said emotional –. I was close to the podium so many times and finally I made it. I was not feeling well and still I'm not completely recovered yet. I didn't expect it."

Waiting for her to celebrate after her routine, there were the other two twins Anna-Maria and Eirini-Marina, world bronze medallists in the technical and free duet, who will try to imitate their sister here in Rome and bring another joy in the family.

"The line-up in our routines can vary," Eirini says, "for the qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, I was paired up with Vasiliki."

"It is great to compete together" Vasiliki continues. "We support each other, and touring the world with my sisters is beautiful.”

"We had never been to Rome before" adds Eirini, "so far we have only seen the Trevi Fountain. After the competition we will stay an extra day to visit the city: our mother told us about the many museums here."

And who knows, walking through the streets of the capital, they might bump into Maneskin. "We like to listen to their songs. Our other favourite Italian singer is Andrea Bocelli.”

In just over a month, on September 15, they will celebrate their 25th birthday. "We will stay at home and relax. And we'll eat." "A big cake and some ice cream," Anna-Maria points out, smiling, "we will also stay with our two cats.”

A present may come early in these days at the European Championships. "We want to swim at our best," Eirini says. "We are aiming for the podium, especially since this is the last time we will perform this choreography. Then we will change the routine."