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Margherita Panziera Lowers Own Italian Record in 200 BK, Becomes #6 All-Time

ABSOLUTE ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (ITA)

Racing to a dominant win in the 200 back final in Riccione, Margherita Panziera took down her own Italian record with a 2:05.56.

Panziera’s old mark was a 2:05.72, done at the 2019 Italian Absolute Championships about two years ago. She was out a bit slower tonight, but had a lot more in the tank on the back-half, especially the critical third 50, where she stayed under 32 seconds before going even faster on the final 50.

SPLIT COMPARISON

2021 2019
30.11 29.99
31.77 31.59
31.94 32.32
31.74 31.82

Panziera’s time ranks her second in the world this year as she becomes just the second woman under 2:07 and sits behind only Australian teenage phenom Kaylee McKeown.

2020-2021 LCM Women 200 Back

KayleeAUS
McKeown
06/17
2:04.28
2Kylie
Masse
CAN2:05.4207/31
3Margherita
Panziera
ITA2:05.5603/31
4Rhyan
White
USA2:05.7306/19
5Emily
Seebohm
AUS2:06.1707/31
View Top 26»

As the international women’s backstroke field continues to heat up with new young talent, Panziera’s swim further solidifies her as a Tokyo medal contender in this event. Her time tonight, in addition to being a best and a new Italian record, would’ve been fast enough to take the silver at the 2019 World Championships.

Panziera now ranks sixth all-time in this event with her new best. She was seventh previously, but she jumps Australia’s Emily Seebohm.

WOMEN’S 200 BACK, ALL-TIME TOP PERFORMERS

  1. Regan Smith (USA) – 2:03.35 *WR*
  2. Missy Franklin (USA) – 2:04.06
  3. Kaylee McKeown (Australia) – 2:04.49
  4. Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe) – 2:04.81
  5. Anastasia Fesikova (Russia) – 2:04.94
  6. Margherita Panziera (Italy) – 2:05.56
  7. Emily Seebohm (Australia) – 2:05.68

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swimfan210_
3 years ago

Great swim! Hope she can repeat that/go even faster at the Olympics!

Hswimmer
3 years ago

A lot will be fighting for Silver and Bronze

Rafael
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

You seem pretty confident that Mckeown won´t be able to battle Smith..

Hswimmer
Reply to  Rafael
3 years ago

Never said she wouldn’t. I just think Regan has been training hard, she looked really good in the yards meet. We will see

Dee
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

A professional athlete training hard?? Surely not???

Hswimmer
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Yeah that’s my point lol

AnEn
Reply to  Rafael
3 years ago

It should be McKeown vs. Smith for gold and then Panziera/Baker/Ruck/Masse/Atherton for bronze.

Rafael
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

I am waiting to see if Rio Shirai shows if she can go a 2:06 also..

AnEn
Reply to  Rafael
3 years ago

I don’t give her a chance to medal. Her best is 2:07.87 and even if she drops 2 seconds she would have to hope that Panziera won’t be at her best and that Ruck/Masse/Baker/Atherton don’t improve. I would rather look at Jiayin Wang, the 13 year old chinese girl who went 2:09.22 last year. She has a shot at making the final and maybe even a small chance to medal. The pandemic made it very difficult to predict where everyone is at and especially swimmers from countries with no properly working anti-doping system might surprise us this year.

The following chinese swimmers (times according to FINA) also look interesting:
Yonghui Ma (swam 2:09.98 in women’s 200 fly in 2019… Read more »

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

Agree 100%.

Irish Ringer
3 years ago

Going to be a great race in Tokyo!

whever
3 years ago

Wow very fast.
And her name makes me feel hungry.

Rafael
Reply to  whever
3 years ago

If she married Blake her name would become Margherita Pizza Pepperoni?

ab88
3 years ago

Impressive time. She would be #4 in history without those 2009 times

N P
Reply to  ab88
3 years ago

Coventry also went 2:05.2 in Beijing, so she’d be 5th (unless you don’t include the ’08 times either).

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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