Olympics, Tokyo, swimming, Pellegrini in the final in the 200 freestyle

by our correspondent Stefano Arcobelli

July 27
– TOKYO

Federica is there! It’s in history: she became the first woman in history to have hit the fifth consecutive final in the same specialty, the 200 freestyle. The story is not over: this is like a medal for her who will turn 33 on 5 August. The second semifinal saw her close in third place for the seventh time in 1’56 “44 after having tacked to 27” 54, 57 “11 and 1’27” 04. Fede had reached the semifinals with the thrill of the 15th time in 1’57 “, he made the race from lane number 8 like a real fighter having everything to lose and instead he made it again this time. He touched and waited for the stopwatch and the summary of the qualifiers then put her hands on her face, cried and struggled to get out of the water still in the throes of emotion. The fastest is the Australian new Olympic 400 sl, Ariarne Titmus in 1’54 “82, followed by Siobhan Haughey a 1’55 “16 and the American Katie Ledecky, author of 1’55” 34. Averted danger but now he will enjoy his fifth Olympic final after a silver, a gold, a fifth and a fourth place. An impressive sequence. Only the legendary Michael Phelps had managed to qualify for 2000 to 2016 in 5 consecutive finals in the 200 butterfly. Federica is really immense!

SEASON

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Pellegrini had a troubled season due to Covid, which hit her before leaving for the International Swimming League in October. The recovery was not easy as the Olympic pass for Tokyo arrived in Riccione at the end of March. Then the commitment to the European Championships where for the trifle of a few cents she lost the gold from the Czech Seemanova but allowed her to test herself again to swim at Settecolli 1’56 “23. Until the Olympic impact in the Japanese pool.

THE CARREER

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Federica Pellegrini, born on 5 August 1988 in Mirano (Ve), trains and lives in Verona after living in Spinea, and competes for the Aniene. She is coached by Matteo Giunta. At the age of 16 she became the youngest Italian on the individual Olympic podium in 2004 and in 2008 the first Italian to win the Olympic gold and with a world record (1’54 “82). same race (the 200 sl) for 8 consecutive editions and the first to have broken the wall of 4 ‘in the 400 sl (3’59 “15, now European record). It is at the fifth Olympics: in 2012 it is fifth both in the 200 that in the 400 sl. She won at least one gold in all the events. She boasts 11 world records: since 2009 she holds that of the 200 sl in 1’52 “98. The most popular Italian sportswoman who has been in the foreground since 2004 with some falls and punctual ascents, with the loss of the historic coach at the peak of his career in 2009, Alberto Castagnetti, is yet another twist.