The last 200 Olympic freestyle of Federica Pellegrini's career has ended. A superb athlete who made history. She was the only woman in history a reach the final five consecutive times in the same race. Tokyo 2020 he sees her come out of the pool with the seventh time and tears of emotion. The world applauds her and Katie Ledecky hugs her. The world record he set in Beijing with 1'52 '' 98 and soon there will be his definitive farewell to swimming.
He decided not to settle it all at the Olympics, knowing full well that anxiety, joy and emotion would turn everything into something different, in part, from a big party. He chose Naples to say goodbye to professional swimming. He will take part in the ISL in September, and then look to the future of his career.
Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
Today we look at Federica Pellegrini as an absolute star of swimming, world record holder in the 200 meters in the long course and European in the 400 meters in the long course. His first Olympics dates back to 2004. He tried his hand at this delicate test in Athens, just 16 years, conquering the silver medal in the 200 meters, becoming, at the time, the youngest Italian athlete to get on an individual Olympic podium.
At the time he also obtained the Italian record with 1'58 '' 02, in the semifinal. A result not replicated in the final, which prevented her from taking gold. An incredibly important podium for her and the Italian movement, considering how 32 years had passed since the last medal of one of our swimmer: Novella Calligaris. The evidence given in Tokyo led her to obtain the title of Knight Officer. A very important first cycle, which led him to make an important change. In 2006 he decided to entrust himself to the guidance of Alberto Castagnetti, a figure who has become crucial in his growth.
The change of coach allowed her to improve her times in the pool and two years later she is in Beijing for his second Olympics. He is 20 years old and in the preliminary stages of the 400m freestyle he qualifies with a Olympic record: 4'02''19. It is the manifestation of his gold in the 200 freestyle, with 1'55 '' 45 which is worth the world record, beating that of Laure Manaudou. It is she who gave Italy the first Olympic gold in swimming.
European and Mediterranean Games
Federica Pellegrini's career is obviously not defined by just participation in the Olympics. He collected two golds at the Mediterranean Games in 2009 in Pescara, as well as as many in Rome and one gold at the European Championships in short course. A year full of triumphs but tragic for the death of Castagnetti, for her as a father figure. Suffering and subjected to great media stress, Federica is at the peak of her career. She also gets a nomination from Swimming World Magazine, which crowns her as "swimmer of the year".
In 2010 and 2011 he brought home 4 gold and 4 bronze medals between the European Championships in Budapest, Eindhoven, the World Championships in Dubai and the World Championships in Shanghai. She never ceases to amaze the world of sport, and is confirmed as "swimmer of the year". In 2012 he then won two golds and a bronze at the European Championships in Debrecen.
London 2012 and Rio 2016
Managing fame is not easy and the media alternate absolute exaltation and ruthless criticism. Change several coaches, returning Philippe Lucas, former guide of Manaudou, after the bitter disappointment of London 2012 Olympics. The web turns against it and there are those who hypothesize a clear decline in its immediate future. She can't go beyond 5th place but those who know her well and have followed her from the beginning know that Pellegrini is able to get up after every blow.
Keep collecting gold medals, silver and bronze between 2013 and 2015, silencing the critics and preparing for the best 2016 Rio Olympics. She is charged and mature and sets a new Italian record in the 100m freestyle just before the start. These are her Olympics and she is the Italian standard-bearer at the opening ceremony. Excellent times in the preliminary stages but the disappointment for fourth place in the 200m freestyle was scorching.
Farewell to swimming
As mentioned, Federica Pellegrini knows how to get up and it does it once again. Take home a gold, a bronze and a silver in Windsor, on the occasion of the World Championships in short course. Gold in Budapest in 2017 and gold also in Gwangju in 2019. His showcase is rich but he wants to make history, more than he has already done. He focuses on his fifth Olympics and reaches it.
He leaves behind splendid years but now he wants to look to his future: “It was a nice journey, many years of strokes: I enjoyed it from start to finish”. A life of success and controversy. Here's what happens when you reach the top. His private life has been analyzed and judged several times but today he can be said to be happy even in this respect. In fact, he made official his engagement with his coach Matteo Giunta: “If he hadn't been there, I probably would have quit a few years ago. He was a great coach and a special life partner. I hope it will be in the future too ".
Photo source: Federica Pellegrini: instagram.com/kikkafede88
💪👏