Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Italian swimmer Alberto Razzetti became a talking point at the Swimming World Cup meet in Tashkent after appearing before his race in a shirt bearing the name and number 14 of Uzbekistan national team captain Eldor Shomurodov.
The gesture drew a noticeable reaction from local spectators. Razzetti competed in the 200-metre individual medley, finishing fourth.
Shomurodov is well known among Italian football fans for his performances in Serie A. He spent almost five years playing for Genoa, Roma, Spezia and Cagliari. The 31-year-old forward is Uzbekistan’s all-time leading scorer and currently represents Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir. In the summer of 2026, he also scored Uzbekistan’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup.
Razzetti completed the 200-metre individual medley in 1 minute 52.53 seconds. American swimmer Shane Casas won in 1:51.81. His compatriot Carson Foster finished second, 0.40 seconds behind the winner, while Canada’s Finlay Knox took third place, 0.52 seconds off the winning time.
Although he did not win a medal, the Italian swimmer’s appearance in a Shomurodov shirt became one of the notable moments of the competition in Tashkent.
