16-Year Old Gia Pergolini Clears WPS World Record; Swim Won’t Be Ratified

16-year old Gia Pergolini swam faster than the World Para-Swimming World Record in the 100 meter backstroke for Class S13 at last weekend’s US Open, though the swim won’t ultimately be ratified as such.

Racing at the Huntsville, Alabama site, Pergolini clocked a 1:05.51 in the 100 back in long course, which improved her previous best time of 1:06.46. That also was faster than the existing S13 record of 1:05.76 set by Carlotta Gilli of Italy in 2017.

The record won’t count because the US Open was not an approved World Para Swimming Competition. To apply for approval, an application must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the competition,

While Doping Controls were in place for the US Open, as required by World Para-Swimming rules, and all other requirements for approval appear to be met by the US Open meets, because approval was not requested the requisite 90 days prior to the meet, the time won’t be ratified.

At only 16 years old, though, the Roswell, Georgia resident should have more opportunities to break this record in her future.

She currently trains with the Dynamo Swim Club. Last season, as a sophomore at Saint Francis High, she finished 3rd in the 100 yard back at the Georgia 1-5A (small schools) State Championship meet in 56.25.

Pergolini was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease in 2014. The condition causes a progressive loss of central vision. In 2015, her mother started the Through Gia’s Eyes Foundation, which is a non-profit that raises money to help families with children who have a visual impairment afford state of the art medical devices.

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connor
3 years ago

she goes to my old high school. go knights baby so dang proud

SwimMom
3 years ago

It would be nice if they extended the Claire Cruzan treatment to this para-athlete. Although if I am reading this correctly, it is a World-Para swimming decision, not a US decision?

https://swimswam.com/watch-claire-curzans-now-ratified-nags-from-the-tac-titans-intrasquad/

Swimmer
3 years ago

Very unfortunate

Paraswim fan
3 years ago

This was an awesome swim by an very hard working and talented swimmer. Disappointed that US Para Swimming couldn’t figure out how to get the competition approved… Either way, can’t wait to watch Gia destroy Carlotta in Tokyo.

Hswimmer
3 years ago

Dumb af bro

DynAlum
3 years ago

Lame. Go Dynamo! She’ll do it again!

Teammate
3 years ago

Inspiring young woman. Amazing person in and out of the pool.

Scoobysnak
3 years ago

That’s some bureaucratic BS right there

Robert Crawford
Reply to  Scoobysnak
3 years ago

Well no. The meet wasn’t WPS sanctioned and that’s a plain and simple requirement for setting records. Getting that sanction would also require staffing (a technical delegate for one). You wouldn’t call bureaucratic BS because someone claimed an WR swum in workout without a ref would you?

KEV
Reply to  Robert Crawford
3 years ago

The article indicates that the meet did fulfill all the requirements necessary for approval, and that the only reason it can’t be ratified is because they didn’t request approval in time. Not exactly on the same plane as what you’re referring to there.

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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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