Italian Winter Open Championships
- December 16th-17th, 2016
- Riccione, Italy
- Timed finals
- Live results
Italian star Federica Pellegrini swam a 53.93 in the 100 long course freestyle over the weekend to highlight the Italian Open Winter Championships in Riccione, Italy. That swim is the 4th-best in her historic career that has focused mostly on the middle-distance freestyles, but has shifted more toward a sprintier 100/200 later in her career.
Pellegrini’s Top 5 career swims in the 100 long course free:
- 53.18 – June 25, 2016, Sette Colli Trophy
- 53.55 – March 7, 2009, Italian Championships
- 53.78 – April 20, 2016 Italian Championships
- 53.93 – December 17, 2016, Italian Winter Championships
- 53.99 – June 25, 2016, Sette Colli Trophy
Pellegrini also won the 200 free in 1:56.04. That time is within a second of what she swam in Rio – affirming her renewed enthusiasm for the sport after Rio, where she changed her mind about retiring.
On the men’s side, Italy’s Luca Dotto won both the 50 free in 22.10 and the 100 free in 48.77. The most exciting result out of the men’s sprint side though was a 49.08 lifetime best from runner-up from 18-year old Alessandro Miressi, beating out Marco Orsi, among others. The Italian sprint group is aging out of their prime before having put together the right relay swim at the right meet for a big podium finish (their best was a bronze at the 2014 European Championships), and Miressi is the tip of the next wave coming in to build upon the legacy.
Other Highlight Swims:
- Niccolo’ Martineghi won the men’s 50 breast in 27.32 amd the 100 breast in 59.89 and set an Italian Junior Record in both at only 17 years old.
- Arianna Castiglioni won the women’s 100 breaststroke in 1:07.79, touching-out Martina Carraro (1:08.09) – with the difference being the back-half. Carraro was the country’s best swimmer last season, and won the 50 breaststroke in 31.01.
- Ilaria Bianchi won the women’s 100 fly in 58.61 – leading 5 Italian swimmers under a minute. Italy only had 6 swimmers under a minute (including one at 59.99) all of last season combine.
- Silvia Di Pietro just missed the Italian National Record in the women’s 50 free – swimming 25.03 off a 24.84. She then also won the 50 fly in 26.20 – again within half-a-second of the national record.
- Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri won the men’s 800 free in 7:51.67 (beating his training partner Gabriele Detti on 7:56.07); and again in the 1500 in 15:08.57 (to Detti’s 15:19.78). Detti got his title early in the meet in the 400 free, where his superior speed edged Paltrinieri by more than two seconds – 3:48.58 to 3:50.75.
- 15-year old Thomas Ceccon swam 50.42 to tie for 11th in the men’s 100 free. That broke the National Age Group Record of 50.62 for 15 & unders in Italy.
I think what is happening in junior ranks is tha coaches can get swimmers to their physical peak very quickly in a concentrated program. There is no reason their dolphins & streamlines should be any slower than an adult.
What is the interest is if more rapid improvements are coming with body/ power ratios changing with growth & the mind wandering elsewhere. We shall see .
15-year-old Ceccon 50.42 100 free Lane 8 Race video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiuRvOM-sKA
Beautiful technique. A boy to watch.
Some impressive times by young Italians. Martineghi 59.89 in the 100 breast at 17. Ceccon 50.42 in the 100 free at 15!
Miressi sub 49 at 18. Italian swimming can see the future with optimism. Total opposite of what happens here in France.
Martinenghi
Ceccon is also pretty good on backstroke with a 55.72 PB in the 100 back
Yes, very versatile swimmer, with a natural speed ( he’s a very good flier and also in his weakest stroke, the breastroke, he’s been capable of a 28.48 SC 50 breast, two weeks ago).
Definitely a great prospect.
Good summary.
Miressi also swam a 48.91 PB in the 4×100 free relay lead-off, and then a 48.15 anchor-leg in the 4×100 medley relay.
He and Martinenghi could be pivotal members in the Italian medley relay come Tokyo2020.
Every Italian swimmer is looking at Nats in early April2017, which will serve as trials for Worlds2017.
P.S. Andrea Vergani, talented swimmer, swam a 22.47 in the 50 free