2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- Competition Schedule
- FinaTV Live Stream
- Entry Lists
- Results
Two years ago in Budapest, Federica Pellegrini made history by becoming the first swimmer to win a medal in the same event at seven consecutive World Championships.
The Italian world record holder surprised the likes of Katie Ledecky and Emma McKeon to come from behind and win the gold in the women’s 200 freestyle in a time of 1:54.73, giving her a third gold during her streak of seven podium finishes.
After the swim, the now 30-year-old claimed to be retiring from the event.
She held true to her word last summer, only racing the 100 free at the European Championships, but began racing the long course 200 again in 2019. The two-time Olympic medalist won the Italian Championships in April in a time of 1:56.60, and then threw down a 1:55.42 at the Sette Colli Trophy in June to announce herself as a medal contender once again.
On day four of the 2019 World Championships, Pellegrini extended her record to eight with another first-place finish in a time of 1:54.22, her fourth gold medal in the event.
Post-race she hinted at her eventual retirement, stating “I’m very happy (with the win) because this is my last World Championships.” That likely indicates that she plans on hanging up her suit for good after Tokyo 2020.
PELLEGRINI 200 FREESTYLE MEDALS
- 2005, silver – 1:58.73
- 2007, bronze – 1:56.97
- 2009, gold – 1:52.98 (WR)
- 2011, gold – 1:55.58
- 2013, silver – 1:55.18
- 2015, silver – 1:55.32
- 2017, gold – 1:54.73
- 2019, gold – 1:54.22
Her time marks the fastest textile swim of her career, only trailing her world record (1:52.98) and semi-final time (1:53.67) from the 2009 Championships in Rome. It is the sixth-fastest swim overall in history.
Allison Schmitt is the textile world record holder with her 1:53.61 from the 2012 Olympics.
ALL-TIME PERFORMANCES, WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE
- Federica Pellegrini (ITA), 1:52.98 – 2009
- Allison Schmitt (USA), 1:53.61 – 2012
- Federica Pellegrini (ITA), 1:53.67 – 2009
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 1:53.73 – 2016
- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 1:54.08 – 2016
- Federica Pellegrini (ITA), 1:54.22 – 2019
- Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 1:54.30 – 2019
- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 1:54.31 – 2015
- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 1:54.34 – 2016
- Allison Schmitt (USA), 1:54.40 – 2012
In typical Pellegrini fashion, she moved her way through the field throughout the race, turning seventh at the 50 before moving up to fourth at the 100, second at the 150 and then blasted a 28.90 split coming home to win.
Australian Ariarne Titmus, who led most of the way, won the silver medal in a time of 1:54.66, and Sarah Sjostrom picked up bronze in 1:54.78.
For some reason – maybe because it is a brutal combination of speed and endurance, maybe because it is a hotly contested event (Imers, distance swimmers and even sprinters will often include it in their program) – the 200 free has never been too kind to the aging swimmer. If memory serves, nobody has managed to stay consistently on top or near the top for more than 5, 6 years: not Thorpe, nor Phelps or Pieter VDH. Couple of Olympic cycles, at the most, and you are not a medal contender anymore; perhaps a relay swimmer. Nobody, excepts Federica. That is what makes this medal even more remarkable. She has been near the top or at the top since 2004.
Well said! Please add Sadovyi (not sure about the spelling) to the list
I must correct myself: Phelps has been at the top or near the top from 2004 through 2011. In 2012 he dropped the event individually. That is 7 years. Then of course he is the GOAT.
She turned at 31 august.
according to me, ledecky he doesn’t like freestyle anymore. that’s why it no longer holds world records. she wanted to amaze the world with the mixed but she couldn’t. he lost in Budapest against pilgrims and I don’t think he answered. he may not return as before but not because he has changed schools or coaches but because he no longer likes freestyle, he likes the mixed, even if he does not publicly declare it
Not a lot of Ledecky on that top 10 list. I expect to see more Titmus in coming years. Probably no more Schmitt or Sjostrom. Maybe a Ruck or Junxuan will appear. How about Haughey or Regan Smith? Will be interesting to see it post 2021.
I would like to see Pellegrini the last time not in Tokyo Olympics, but in 2021 Worldwide Championships. I believe she has the potential to get a nine podium!
pellegrini was completely rested.titmus and sjostrom were already tired.if titmus and sjostrom were rested maybe they could beat it.
pellegrini rested 3 days before competing. she’s always lucky.
sjostrom on 200 has 1.54.00, titmus on 200 1.54.30 a little worse than pellegrini and is only 18 years old!does not seem so expectional to me pellegrini!!
You say only 18 years old referring to titmus like pellegrini hasn’t been doing this since she was 15
federica made the 200 style completely rested. titmus and sjostrom were already very tired. titmus did a heavy 400 with his best time beating ledecky, sjostrom did 4×100 and a very heavy 100 butterfly. if they were both rested as pilgrims they could perhaps beat her. sjostrom has a best on the 200 of 1.54 (best of pilgrims) titmus has 1.5430 a tenth worst of pilgrims. we must remember that ariarne titmus is only 18 years old! he missed the race by wasting his energy in the first part instead of forcing in the 2nd part as pilgrims always do. she has more experience because she is older. for which it is not so unique pilgrims. it is strong but… Read more »
Bla bla bla, Pellegrini not pilgrim
Bla bla bla.. she won 11 medals at world champs because she is always lucky.. shut up dude
Federica is a beast!
I would like to take pellegrini titmus and sjostrom with the same days of rest. I think we should change the program of the sport in general and offer a chance for all the athletes. only then can we know who the strongest athlete really is.Sjostrom even felt bad after the race for accumulated lactic acid. read the article on Swedish sites. this is proof of what I say.
Titmus is 19, Sjostrom is 26, Pellegrini is 31. No one of her opponents will continue to swim at Pellegrini’s current age. And that’s a fact. That was Pellegrini’s nineth worldwide championship. And it says all. So, shut up!
at the 2015 World Championship he lost, at the 2016 Olympics he lost, and in 2018 he didn’t even compete because he wasn’t competitive. he hasn’t always won in his career and so he’s not a beast.
So what? The clock doesn’t car about your conjecture. The medals don’t care. Pellegrini walks away with another gold. If Titmus or Sjoestrom or Ledecky wanted it as bad as her they could have done something differently.
This was an amazing swim to watch, it was fast, but also it just shows how well she understands the strategy and her body’s ability within what is a really tough race to get right
Coaches and other swimmers should watch this race to see how a 200 free. She’s out strong but holding back a little for the last lap to go into a final sprint.
Watch the peanut gallery not even mention her as contender this time around next year…..till she wins in Tokyo and ppl will be like “YAAAS QUEEN” “OMG, where did she come from?!?!?!”