| Paolo Barelli | |
| Nationality: | Italian |
| Birth Date: | 7 June 1954 |
Paolo Barelli (born 7 June 1954 in Rome, Italy) is an Italian Senator and suspended president of the Italian Swimming Federation, and a former swimmer. On 24 July 2009 he was named Honorary Secretary of FINA for the 2009-2013 term.[1] In October 2012, Barelli was elected president of LEN.
Paolo Barelli was born in Rome is a former athlete of the Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Oro.[2]
Barelli broke 23 times the Italian record in several distances, including the 100m butterfly and relays.[3]
He swam for Italy at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.[4] [5]
In 1975, he won the 100m butterfly at the 1975 Mediterranean Games (58.10).[6]
In the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, he reached the Olympic final with the 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay (7th) and the 4 × 100 m Medley Relay (8th).[4]
He was elected president of the Italian Swimming Federation in 2000; he is the first high-level swimmer to cover this position.[7]
Barelli entered politics with the Silvio Berlusconi's party Forza Italia, was elected to the Italian Senate in 2001[8] and reelected in 2006.[9]