2026 Italian Swimming Championships

• Tuesday, April 14th – Saturday, April 18th
• Prelims at 10am local (4am ET)/Finals at 6pm local (Noon ET) *Friday finals start at 5:15pm local (11:15am ET)
• Riccione, Italy
• LCM (50m)
• 2026 European Championship Selection Criteria
• Entry List
• SwimSwam Italia Preview
• Live Results
• Livestream
• Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1

We kick off the first night of finals tonight at the Italian Championships in Riccione. This is the first opportunity for athletes to qualify for the Italian team for the European Championships this summer, with the second opportunity coming at the Sette Colli in June.

We will start off with the men’s 50 back, with Michele Lamberti as the top seed. He burst onto the scene with a silver medal in the event at the 2021 European Short Course Championships and placed 7th in the 50 back at the 2024 World Championships, but missed the team for the World Championships last year. He was just 0.33 seconds off his national record of 24.40 this morning, so look out for a big swim from him.

Simona Quadarella will be the second national record holder up, as she takes centre stage in the women’s 800 free. She won silver in the 1500 at Worlds and placed 4th in this event in 8:12.81. She is the top seed by nearly 17 seconds, and should wrap up her European Championships qualification tonight.

The men’s 400 free is far more open, with all eight men within three seconds of each other this morning. The qualification time they will need is 3:47.50, and with no one breaking 3:50 this morning expect to see someone like top seed Alessandro Ragaini step up.

The women’s 100 breast should have no issues with qualifiers, with national record holder Benedetta Pilato and Lisa Angiolini sub-1:07 this morning. Pilato was 1:06.77 to take top spot, and there is Anita Bottazzo lurking after she won the event last year in 1:05.82. The qualification time is a stiff 1:06.20 however, so all three women will need to be on top form.

The men’s 50 fly could be the first event of the night without a European qualifier, with only one swimmer this morning within half a second of the 23.10 required. Lorenzo Gargani was fastest in 23.48, with Alberto Razzetti (23.73) and Federico Burdisso (23.74) flanking him tonight.

Anna Pirovano will aim to defend her 400 IM title after qualifying 3rd into the final, but the top seed coming into the event, Sara Franceschi, will not be in the field after placing 10th in the heats.

The final individual event of the evening is then the men’s 50 free, where Leonardo Deplano is in lane 4 after going 21.99 this morning.  He is flanked by Lorenzo Ballarati and Giovanni Guatti, but will have the veteran trio of Manuel Frigo, Lorenzo Zazzeri and Alessandro Miressi in the outside lanes to watch out for, with a time of 21.90 is required for those men to book their tickets to Paris in August. To close out the night we will then have the women’s 4×100 free relay, with the teams yet to be announced.

MEN’S 50 BACK – FINAL

• World Record – 23.55, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2021
• European Record – 23.55, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) 2021
• ITA Record – 24.40, Thomas Ceccon (2022) & Michele Lamberti (2024)
• European Championships Qualifying Time – 24.70

Top 8:

1. Michele Lamberti – 24.38 *Italian Record*
2. Francesco Lazzari – 24.98
3. Lorenzo Mora – 25.32
4. Daniele Del Signore/Pietro Rosa – 25.43
5. –
6. Matteo Brunella – 25.47
7. Davide Harabigiu – 25.51
8. Marco Marzoli – 25.69

We got a new Italian record in the very first final of the meet, as Michele Lamberti shaved 0.02 seconds off his PB to take sole possession of the record. He had previously held it in tandem with Thomas Ceccon, with both men having been 24.40.

Lamberti backed up his top seed from this morning, taking the win by 0.60 seconds as one of only two men under 25 seconds. He was well under the European Championships qualification time of 24.70 to add his name to the Italian team in Paris this summer.

Francesco Lazzari was 0.08 seconds faster than this morning to take silver in 24.98, 0.21 seconds off his PB of 24.77 from last summer. Lorenzo Mora took 3rd in 25.32, ahead of Daniele Del Signore and Pietro Rosa in 4th, as they tied in 25.43. Del Signore’s prelims time of 25.11 would have garnered him the bronze medal.

WOMEN’S 800 FREE – FASTEST HEAT

• World Record – 8:04.79, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2016
• European Record – 8:12.81, Simona Quadarella (ITA), 2026
• ITA Record – 8:12.81, Simona Quadarella, 2026
• World Championships Qualifying Time – 8:30.00

Top 8:

1. Simona Quadarella – 8:21.01
2. Emma Giannelli – 8:32.95
3. Noemi Cesarano – 8:35.73
4. Antonietta Cesarano – 8:36.02
5. Azzurra Sbaragli – 8:38.88
6. Emma Randellini – 8:39.73
7. Bianca Nannucci – 8:40.31
8. Lucrezia Domina – 8:40.40

Simona Quadarella led this race from the start, getting out in front early before cruising away from the field. She touched in 8:21.01, nearly four seconds faster than the 8:24.85 she posted at this meet last year, representing the only swimmer under the European Championships qualification time of 8:30.00.

The podium had a hint of deja vu around it, as the same three women occupied the same three positions as last year. Emma Giannelli shaved just over half a second from her 2025 time to clock 8:32.95, while Noemi Cesarano got the better of a battle with twin sister Antonietta to take bronze in 8:35.7e, two seconds slower than last year.

Antonietta Cesarano was just behind her sister in 8:36.03, slightly faster than the 8:36.47 she swam to place 4th last year. Azzurra Sbaragli also finished in the same position as in 2025, 2.48 seconds faster this year in 8:38.88, while Emma Randellini moved up from 13th to 6th.

MEN’S 400 FREE – FINAL

• World Record – 3:39.96, Lukas Märtens (GER), 2025
• European Record – 3:39.96, Lukas Märtens (GER), 2025
• ITA Record – 3:43.23, Gabriele Detti, 2019
• World Championships Qualifying Time – 3:47.50

Top 8:

1. Davide Marchello – 3:47.76
2. Marco De Tullio – 3:47.81
3. Alessandro Ragaini – 3:47.86
4. Filippo Bertoni – 3:48.90
5. Francesco Volpe – 3:51.49
6. Giovanni Caserta – 3:52.00
7. Matteo Lamberti – 3:53.02
8. Gabriele Detti – 3:53.18

The field was separated by a single second after 150 meters, as a close prelims session where all eight swimmers were separated by just three seconds led into an evenly-matched final. At the halfway point there were five swimmers within 0.26 seconds of each other, led by Marco De Tullio in 1:53.18. Close behind were Alessandro Ragaini, Davide Marchell, Filippo Bertoni and Francesco Volpe.

Over the next 100 meters the middle three lanes pulled away from the field, as Davide Marchello took over the lead in 2:50.77. Flipping dead even in 2:51.10 with 100 to go were Alessandro Ragaini and Marco de Tullio, with Filippo Bertoni just a tenth behind.

Ragaini and De Tullio closed the gap over the penultimate 50 meters, setting up the final length to be a straight shootout. There was nothing between all three swimmers down the stretch, and at the touch all three were separated by just 0.10 seconds, led by Davide Marchello. He moved up one place from a silver medal finish last year, shaving two seconds off the 3:49.91 he swam in 2025.

Marco De Tullio moved down one spot having won the event last year, while Ragaini did not swim at this meet in 2025. The final was much faster at the front this year, as four men broke 3:50 opposed to just two last year. Filippo Bertoni was the other man to do so, holding on for 4th in 3:48.90.

Despite the immense battle at the front, the top three were just off the 3:47.50 required to guarantee European Championships qualification. They will get another opportunity at the Sette Colli in two months time.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST – FINAL

• World Record – 1:04.13, Lilly King (USA), 2017
• European Record – 1:04.35, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
• ITA Record – 1:05.44, Benedetta Pilato 2024
• World Championships Qualifying Time – 1:06.20

Top 8:

1. Lisa Angiolini – 1:06.33
2. Benedetta Pilato – 1:06.39
3. Anita Bottazzo – 1:06.89
4. Francesca Zucca – 1:07.49
5. Arianna Castiglioni – 1:08.73
6. Irene Mati – 1:08.49
7. Giulia Verona – 1:08.73
8. Alice de Simone – 1:09.28

Benedetta Pilato was out quick tonight, touching in 30.62 at the halfway point. She was more than half a second ahead of the women beside her, with Anita Bottazzo touching in 31.24 and Lisa Angiolini touching in 31.28.

However, that early speed took its toll on Pilato, as she tightened up slightly coming home and gave a surging Lisa Angiolini an opportunity. The veteran did not disappoint, claiming the win in 1:06.33 to beat out Pilato by just 0.06 seconds, as Angiolini closed in 35.05.

Pilato held on for silver in 1:06.39, half a second ahead of Bottazzo in 1:06.89. The Florida swimmer swam 1:05.82 to win this event last year but was nearly a second off that time tonight, and will need to rely on the Sette Colli to qualify for the European Championships.

Francesca Zucca took 4th in 1:07.49, as only four swimmers cracked 1:08. Arianna Castiglioni, the 2014 European bronze medalist and a 2020 Olympian, was 5th in 1:08.46.

No one managed to hit the Europeans qualifying time of 1:06.20 tonight, meaning that both spots are still up for grabs at the Sette Colli.

MEN’S 50 FLY – FINAL

• World Record – 22.27, Andriy Govorov (UKR), 2018
• European Record – 22.27, Andriy Govorov (UKR), 2018
• ITA Record – 22.67, Thomas Ceccon, 2025
• World Championships Qualifying Time – 23.10

Top 8:

1. Lorenzo Gargani – 23.31
2. Giulio Meniconi – 23.62
3. Larbi Giacomini – 23.63
4. Simone Stefani – 23.72
5. Daniele Momoni – 23.78
6. Alberto Razzetti – 23.80
7. Gianmarco Sansone – 23.81
8. Federico Burdisso – 23.83

Lorenzo Gargani successfully defended his national title, shaving 0.01 seconds off the time he swam for gold last year. He took the touch by 0.31 seconds, setting a new PB in the process, although missed the European qualifying time of 23.10.

The margins behind him were razor thin, with just 0.21 seconds separating Giulia Meniconi in 2nd and Federico Burdisso in 8th. Menocini set a new best of 23.62 to take silver, having gone 23.84 in prelims to match his PB. He beat out Larbi Giacomini by a single hundredth, as 2025 bronze medalist Simone Stefani was 4th in 23.72 this year.

Alberto Razzetti was slightly off his PB of 23.73 from this morning as he placed 6th in 23.80, while 2025 silcer medalist Burdisso fell to 8th this year in 23.83, just 0.16 seconds slower than his time last year and less than a tenth off his third-seeded time from prelims.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINAL

• World Record – 4:24.28, Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2024
• European Record – 4:26.36, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2016
• ITA Record – 4:34.34, Alessia Filippi, 2008
• World Championships Qualifying Time – 4:39.50

Top 8:

1. Giada Alzetta – 4:41.00
2. Anna Pirovano – 4:42.14
3. Francesca Fresia – 4:43.22
4. Marta Taddei – 4:47.01
5. Ginevra Bagaglini – 4:47.30
6. Elena Ranocchia – 3:37.93
7. Claudia Di Passio – 4:48.64
8. Ludovica Patetta – 4:49.05

Giada Alzetta defended her top seed from the heats, knocking 0.67 off her PB to go 4:41.00 tonight and prevent 2025 champion Anna Pirovano going back-to-back. Alzetta got out fast on fly and never relinquished her lead, remaining at least a second ahead of Pirovano throughout. Alzetta moves up from bronze last year to take gold this time around, although she was 1.50 seconds off the European Championships qualification time of 4:39.50

Pirovano was just under a second and a half off the time of 4:40.77 she swam last year, holding off Francesca Fresia for silver thanks to a strong breaststroke leg. She split 1:18.56 to move from 6th to 2nd, and had the fastest freestyle split of the field in 1:05.52.

Marta Taddei, born in 2009, was 4th in 4:47.01, holding off another 2009-born swimmer in Ginevra Bagaglini who placed 5th just 0.29 seconds behind in a time of 4:47.30. Taddei placed 8th last year in 4:51.29m while Bagaglini won the ‘B’ final in 4:50.57.

MEN’S 50 FREE – FINAL

• World Record – 20.91, Cesar Cielo (BRA), 2009
• European Record – 20.94, Fred Bousquet (FRA), 2009
• ITA Record – 21.37, Andrea Vergani, 2018
• World Championships Qualifying Time – 21.90

Top 8:

1. Leonardo Deplano – 21.64
2. Lorenzo Ballarati – 22.05
3. Giovanni Guatti – 22.14
4. Diego Chessas -22.25
5. Manuel Frigo – 22.32
6. Lorenzo Pignotti – 22.34
7. Lorenzo Zazzeri – 22.37
8. Alessandro Miressi – 22.43

Leonardo Deplano claimed the victory in the men’s 50 free, defending his 2025 title in a time of 21.64. That was well under the 21.99 that he swam this morning and the 21.90 required to claim a spot on the Italian team for the European Championships this summer. Of note, the selection procedures this year guarantee a spot if the winner in an event at this meet dips under the qualifying time.

Deplano was just 0.02 seconds slower than he was to take the win last year, and moves up to 7th in the world so far this year.

No one broke 22 second behind him, with Lorenzo Ballarati coming closest in 22.05. That marked a new best for the Centro Sportivo Carabinieri swimmer, as he outtouched Giovanni Guatti’s 22.14.

Alessandor Miressi was only 8th, as he seeks to reclaim a spot on the Italian team for the international championships this summer. He failed to do so last year for the first time since he made his senior debut in 2017.

WOMEN’S 4×100 FREE – FINAL

Top 3:

1. Centro Sportivo Esercito – 3:39.42
2. Centro Sportivo Carabinieri – 3:41.34
3. GS Fiamme Oro  – 3:41.82

Sara Curtis led off for the Centro Sportivo Esercito team as they led this race wire-to-wire, blasting out to a time of 53.53. That is just over half a second off her Italian National Record of 53.01 from this meet last year, and comes after a successful NCAA championships with Virginia for the 19-year-old.

Emma Menicucci (54.02) Giulia Verona (55.99), and Giulia Ramatelli (55.88) led them home, with Menicucci’s split being the fastest flying split in the field and one of just three under 55 seconds. Fiamme Oro got a 54.82 from Matilde Bagiotti, but were run down on the final length by Anita Gastaldi (54.53) for the Carabinieri.