Federica Pellegrini
Encyclopedia
Federica Pellegrini is an Italian
swimmer. A native of Mirano
, in the province of Venice
, she is currently the women's 200 m freestyle
(long course and short course) and 400 m (long course) freestyle world record holder. At the 2009 World Championships
in Rome
, Pellegrini became the first woman ever to breach the 4 minute barrier in 400 m freestyle with the time 3:59.15. Pellegrini is the first female Olympic champion in the history of Italian swimming
; she is also the only Italian swimmer to have set world records in more than one event.
in Athens
, where she won the silver medal in the 200 m freestyle at the age of 16, becoming the youngest athlete to have ever win an Olympic medal in an individual event in the history of Italian sports.
Pellegrini's first long course gold medal came at the 2008 European Championships in Eindhoven, where she won the 400 m freestyle setting a world record (4:01.53).
At the 2008 Olympic Games
in Beijing
, she arrived as the world-record holder and favorite for the gold medal in the 400 m freestyle, but only finished 5th in the final. On the same day, she recovered from the disappointment setting a world record in the heats of the 200 m freestyle; in the final, she broke her own world record (1:54.82) and won her first Olympic gold medal.
Pellegrini proved her strength also in short course events at the 2008 European SC Championships
in Rijeka
when she won the gold medal in the 200 m freestyle at world-record pace (1:51.85).
At the 2009 Mediterranean Games
in Pescara, Pellegrini broke the world record in the 400 m freestyle with a time of 4:00.41 to better Joanne Jackson's
record of 4:00.66.
At the 2009 World Championships
in Rome, Pellegrini broke the world record again in the 400 m freestyle with a time of 3:59.15, winning the gold medal and in doing so becoming the first female swimmer to break the 4 minute barrier in the event. In 2010 Pellegrini announced that she is working with Laure Manadou's former coach, Philippe Lucas. After a very successful 2011 World Aquatics Championships
in Shanghai
, Federica parted ways with her French
coach and has begun working with Federico Bonifacenti.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
swimmer. A native of Mirano
Mirano
-People:*Federica Pellegrini , Olympic swimmer, multiple world-record holder and Olympic gold medalist....
, in the province of Venice
Province of Venice
The Province of Venice is a province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Venice.It has an area of 2,467 km², and a total population of 829,418 . There are 44 comuni in the province . As of 2005, the main comuni by population are:-External links:* * : photos of...
, she is currently the women's 200 m freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
(long course and short course) and 400 m (long course) freestyle world record holder. At the 2009 World Championships
Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships
The swimming competition of the 2009 World Aquatics Championships was held at the Foro Italico sports complex in Rome, Italy, from Sunday 26 July – Sunday 2 August 2009.-Events:...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Pellegrini became the first woman ever to breach the 4 minute barrier in 400 m freestyle with the time 3:59.15. Pellegrini is the first female Olympic champion in the history of Italian swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
; she is also the only Italian swimmer to have set world records in more than one event.
Medals and world records
Pellegrini's first international podium was at the 2004 Olympic GamesSwimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place in the Olympic Aquatic Centre with the athletes competing in 32 events. There was a total of 937 participants from 152 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men's events:...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, where she won the silver medal in the 200 m freestyle at the age of 16, becoming the youngest athlete to have ever win an Olympic medal in an individual event in the history of Italian sports.
Pellegrini's first long course gold medal came at the 2008 European Championships in Eindhoven, where she won the 400 m freestyle setting a world record (4:01.53).
At the 2008 Olympic Games
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held over a thirteen day period from August 9 to August 21, with the conventional events ending on August 17 and the new marathon 10 km events being held on August 20 and 21...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, she arrived as the world-record holder and favorite for the gold medal in the 400 m freestyle, but only finished 5th in the final. On the same day, she recovered from the disappointment setting a world record in the heats of the 200 m freestyle; in the final, she broke her own world record (1:54.82) and won her first Olympic gold medal.
Pellegrini proved her strength also in short course events at the 2008 European SC Championships
European Short Course Swimming Championships 2008
The European Short Course Swimming Championships 2008 took place in Rijeka, Croatia from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 December 2008.-Medal table:-Medal summary:Legend:* WR = World record* ER = European record* CR = Championships record...
in Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
when she won the gold medal in the 200 m freestyle at world-record pace (1:51.85).
At the 2009 Mediterranean Games
Swimming at the 2009 Mediterranean Games
The swimming events of the 2009 Mediterranean Games were held at the Naiadi Swimming Complex in Pescara, Italy from Saturday 27 June to Wednesday 1 July 2009...
in Pescara, Pellegrini broke the world record in the 400 m freestyle with a time of 4:00.41 to better Joanne Jackson's
Joanne Jackson (swimmer)
Joanne Amy Jackson is a British freestyle swimmer. She is the sister of retired Olympic swimmer Nicola Jackson. She went to Richmond School, North Yorkshire....
record of 4:00.66.
At the 2009 World Championships
Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships
The swimming competition of the 2009 World Aquatics Championships was held at the Foro Italico sports complex in Rome, Italy, from Sunday 26 July – Sunday 2 August 2009.-Events:...
in Rome, Pellegrini broke the world record again in the 400 m freestyle with a time of 3:59.15, winning the gold medal and in doing so becoming the first female swimmer to break the 4 minute barrier in the event. In 2010 Pellegrini announced that she is working with Laure Manadou's former coach, Philippe Lucas. After a very successful 2011 World Aquatics Championships
2011 World Aquatics Championships
The 14th FINA World Championships were held at July 16–31, 2011 in Shanghai, China at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. The 2011 World Championships featured five aquatics disciplines: swimming, water polo, diving, open water, and synchronised swimming...
in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Federica parted ways with her French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
coach and has begun working with Federico Bonifacenti.
Personal bests
She currently holds 3 world records (WR), 3 European records (ER) and 10 Italian records (IR). Her personal bests (as of the 30 July 2009) are:| Event | Long course (year) | Short course (year) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | 25.47 (2004) | 25.02 (2004) |
| 100 m freestyle | 53.55 (2009) IR | 53.89 (2003) |
| 200 m freestyle | 1:52.98 (2009) WR | 1:51.85 (2008) WR |
| 400 m freestyle | 3:59.15 (2009) WR | 3:59.96 (2006) |
| 800 m freestyle | 8:24.99 (2010) | 8:21.68 (2007) |
| 100 m backstroke | 1:00.07 (2009) | |
| 4×50 m freestyle relay | 1:38.88 (2008) IR | |
| 4×100 m freestyle relay | 3:40.42 (2008) IR | 3:39.18 (2006) IR |
| 4×200 m freestyle relay | 7:49.76 (2008) ER | 7:50.39 (2006) IR |
| 4×50 m medley relay | 1:47:05 (2008) IR | |
| 4×100 m medley relay | 4:04.90 (2008) IR |