2026 Sette Colli Trophy: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

67th SETTE COLLI TROPHY 

• Friday, June 26th – Sunday, June 28th
• Prelims at 9am local (3am ET)/A-Finals at 7pm local (1pm ET)
• Foro Italico, Rome, Italy
• Meet Central
• Entry List
• Live Results
• Finals Livestream
• Day 1 Prelims Recap

Welcome to the first finals session of the 2026 Sette Colli Trophy, and we are in for some excitement tonight.

This morning’s prelims session was full of surprises and saw a number of top ranking athletes miss the ‘A’ final including Thomas Ceccon in the 100 fly, Adam Peaty in the 50 breast, and Marrit Steenbergen in the 200 freestyle.

There is still plenty of fast swimming on the docket for tonight along with a few major showdowns scheduled.

Order of Events

• Men’s 50 Backstroke
• Women’s 50 Backstroke
• Men’s 400 Freestyle
• Women’s 200 Freestyle
• Men’s 50 Breaststroke
• Women’s 100 Breaststroke
• Men’s 100 Butterfly
• Women’s 50 Butterfly
• Men’s 50 Freestyle
• Women’s 1500 Freestyle

Apostolos Christou, from Greece, is the top seed in the men’s 50 backstroke at 25.08, seven hundredths ahead of 2nd seed Francesco Lazzari‘s 25.15 from Italy.

The women’s 50 backstroke is headlined by Sara Curtis, who set a new Italian record time of 27.23 to earn the top seed in tonight’s final by almost a second, and had her initial DQ overturned, allowing her to race again tonight.

Marco De Tullio will be the top seed in the men’s 400 freestyle as the only swimmer under 3:50 in the prelims with his 3:48.24. Luca De Tullio took the 2nd qualifying spot in 3:50.30.

The 200 freestyle will see Siobhan Haughey as the top seed as all eight of the swimmers in the ‘A’ final swam under 2:00 in the prelims.

The men’s 50 breaststroke will be a tight battle between Italians Ludovico Blu Art Viberti, Simone Cerasuolo, and Nicolo Martinenghi along with Ivan Kozhakin, from Russia, who is the top seed in 26.52, and Belarus’ Ilya Shymanovich, who is the 3rd seed.

Olympic medalist Mona McSharry is the top seed for tonight’s 100 breaststroke final, just ahead of Italy’s Lisa Angiolini and Benedetta Pilato in 2nd and 3rd. They were the only three swimmers under 1:07 this morning.

In the men’s 100 fly, Noe Ponti and Kristof Milak highlight one of the major showdowns of the day as the 1st and 2nd seeds in 50.59 and 50.98 respectively.

The women’s 50 fly is another major showdown with Gretchen Walsh and Sarah Sjostrom meeting for the first time in a butterfly race since the 2023 World Championships.

Romania’s David Popovici, Brazil’s Gui Caribe, and Croatia’s Jere Hribar all swam under 22 seconds in the 50 freestyle prelims to take the top three seeds with Caribe in 1st and Hribar and Popovici tied for 2nd.

Finally, the session will wrap up with the women’s 1500 freestyle Timed Final where Italy’s Simona Quadarella, the 2nd fastest performer in history in the event, is the top seed by almost a minute over the rest of the field.

Men’s 50 Backstroke — Final

• World Record — 23.55, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) — 2023
• European Record — 23.55, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) — 2023
• Meet Record — 24.39, Michael Andrew (USA) — 2019

Top 3 Finishers

1. Apostolos Christou (GRE) — 24.40
2. Francesco Lazzari (ITA) — 24.69
3. Michele Lamberti (ITA) — 24.82

Apostolos Christou swam the top time in the men’s 50 backstroke final, stopping the clock in 24.40 to come in just one hundredth off Michael Andrew’s 2019 meet record time of 24.29.

This swim was also just four hundredths off his Greek Record time of 24.36 from the European Championships in August of 2022, and he will jump to #7 in the world this season.

Italy’s Francesco Lazzari took 2nd in 24.69, a little more than a tenth ahead of fellow Italian Michele Lamberti‘s 24.82 for the bronze. Lazzari’s swim was a new personal best, taking eight tenths off the 24.77 he swam in July of last year, while Lamberti added a bit from the 24.38 mark he set in April of this year.

Women’s 50 Backstroke — Final

• World Record — 26.86, Kaylee McKeown (AUS) — 2023
• European Record — 27.10, Kira Toussaint (NED) — 2021
• Meet Record — 27.23, Sara Curtis (ITA) — 2026

Top 3 Finishers

1. Sara Curtis (ITA) — 27.07 **New European Record
2. Costanza Cocconcelli (ITA) — 27.83
3. Chiara Lamanna (ITA) — 28.28

Sara Curtis blasted a massive 27.07 in the women’s 50 backstroke to set a new European Record in the event, taking down Dutch swimmer Kira Toussaint’s 2021 record time of 27.10.

Curtis set a new Italian Record, meet record, and lifetime best in the prelims of 27.23, and took another two tenths off that tonight to move up to #2 in the world this season, only behind American Katharine Berkoff‘s 26.98.

Italy’s Costanza Cocconcelli took 2nd in 27.83 to be the only other swimmer under 28 seconds in the final. Her previous best was 27.92 from the 2021 edition of this meet.

Men’s 400 Freestyle — Final

• World Record — 3:39.96, Lukas Martens (GER) — 2025
• European Record — 3:39.96, Lukas Martens (GER) — 2025
• Meet Record — 3:43.73, Gabriele Detti (ITA) — 2020

Top 3 Finishers

1. Marco De Tullio (ITA) — 3:45.10
2. Alessandro Ragaini (ITA) — 3:46.96
3. Luca De Tullio (ITA) — 3:47.39

The men’s 400 freestyle was all about the Italians with the top three spots all going to the home country. Marco De Tullio swam the top time of 3:45.10, finishing nearly two seconds ahead of 2nd place Alessandro Ragaini, who stopped the clock in 3:46.96 for 2nd.

De Tullio took the lead at the first 50, splitting 26.32, and he never looked back, extending that lead throughout the race. At the 200, he flipped in 1:50.59, sitting about three tenths ahead of Ragaini’s 1:50.87 in 2nd.

Over the last 200, De Tullio was 28.65/28.65/28.85/28.36 to to build his lead over Ragaini’s 28.77/28.96/29.53/28.83 splits.

Luca De Tullio took 3rd in 3:47.39 half-a-second ahead of Brazil’s Guilherme Costa, who swam 3:47.84 for 4th.

Marco De Tullio was about a second off his best 3:44.14 from June of 2022. Ragaini was about three tenths off his best of 3:46.66 from September of 2023, and Luca De Tullio added three tenths from his lifetime best 3:47.09, which he set in March of 2024.

Women’s 200 Freestyle — Final

• World Record — 1:52.23, Ariarne Titmus (AUS) — 2024
• European Record — 1:52.98, Federica Pellegrini (ITA) — 2009
• Meet Record — 1:54.55, Federica Pellegrini (ITA) — 2016

Top 3 Finishers

1. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) — 1:55.00
2. Alessandra Mao (ITA) — 1:57.24
3. Anna Chiara Macolo (ITA) — 1:58.16

Siobhan Haughey dominated the women’s 200 freestyle final, swimming the top time of 1:55.00 to earn the win by more than two seconds over the rest of the field.

She turned in 27.24 after the first 50, sitting three tenths ahead of Italian teenager Alessandra Mao‘s 27.54 in 2nd.

From there, Haughey was 29.42/29.58/28.76 to be the only swimmer in the ‘A’ final under 30 seconds on all four 50s. This swim was a little off her season best of 1:54.13, which she set at the Mare Nostrum Tour in Canet.

Mao took 2nd in 1:57.24, two tenths off the lifetime best 1:57.00 she swam at last summer’s World Junior Championships. She was the only other swimmer in the ‘A’ final under 1:58.

Anna Chiara Mascolo took 3rd in 1:58.16, a tenth off her lifetime best of 1:58.09 from April, and American Alex Walsh finished 4th in 1:58.39

Marrit Steenbergen won the ‘B’ final in 1:56.02, which would have been 2nd in the ‘A’ final. She also swam under 30 seconds on all four 50s, splitting 27.08/29.41/29.61/29.92.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke — Final

• World Record — 25.95, Adam Peaty (GBR) — 2017
• European Record — 25.95, Adam Peaty (GBR) — 2017
• Meet Record — 26.27, Ludovico Blu Art Viberti — 2025

Top 3 Finishers

1. Simone Cerasuolo (ITA) — 26.63
2. Ludovico Blu Art Viberti (ITA) — 26.74
3. Ivan Kozhakin (NAB) — 26.77

The men’s 50 breaststroke was very close with the top three finishers touching within about a tenth of each other. Simone Cerasuolo came out victorious, swimming 26.63 to win the event by 11 hundredths over Ludovico Blu Art Viberti‘s 26.74.

Cerasuolo’s swim was a little off his 26.51 season best from the Italian Championships, which currently ranks 2nd in the world.

Viberti was also off his season best of 26.69 from prelims, which ranks 9th in the world this year.

Ivan Kozhakin took 3rd in 26.77, again a little off his season best of 2652 from prelims, which is the 3rd fastest time in the world this year.

Germany’s Melvin Imoudu took the ‘B’ final in 26.96 to be the 4th swimmer in the final under 27 seconds. He currently ranks 4th in the world with the 26.57 he swam at the German Championships in April.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke — Final

• World Record — 1:04.13, Lilly King (USA) — 2017
• European Record — 1:04.35, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) — 2013
• Meet Record — 1:04.98, Yulia Efimova (RUS) — 2018

Top 3 Finishers

1. Benedetta Pilato (ITA) — 1:05.85
2. Mona McSharry (IRL) — 1:06.30
3. Lisa Angiolini (ITA) — 1:06.53

Benedetta Pilato won the women’s 100 breaststroke final in 1:05.85, the only swimmer under 1:06 in tonight’s finals session.

She was out in 2nd, turning in 31.45 to sit about a tenth behind Lisa Angiolini‘s 31.32 in the lead. Pilato came home very strong, however, splitting 34.40 on the final 50, almost eight tenths faster than Angiolini’s 35.21.

Mona McSharry swam 1:06.30 to finish 2nd overall, about two tenths ahead of Angiolini’s 3rd place time of 1:06.53 after she split 31.71/34.59.

Pilato’s swim was about four tenths off her 2024 Italian Record time of 1:05.44. McSharry was eight tenths off her Irish record of 1:05.51, and Angiolini added half-a-second from her best of 1:06.00.

Men’s 100 Butterfly — Final

• World Record — 49.45, Caeleb Dressel (USA) — 2021
• European Record — 49.62, Maxime Grousset (FRA) — 2025
• Meet Record — 50.41, Noe Ponti (SUI) — 2025

Top 3 Finishers

1. Kristof Milak (HUN) — 50.47
2. Noe Ponti (SUI) — 50.89
3. Michele Busa (ITA) — 51.57

The men’s 100 fly final went to Hungary’s Kristof Milak in a time of 50.47, two tenths off his world leading time of 50.22 from the Hungarian Nationals in April.

Milak led from start-to-finish, splitting 23.76 on the first 50 to get out two tenths ahead of Switzerland’s Noe Ponti, who turned in 23.96

He was 26.71 on the final 50, again about two tenths ahead of Ponti, who split 26.93 on the 2nd 50. Ponti stopped the clock in 50.89, three tenths off his season best 50.59 from prelims.

Italy’s Michele Busa took 3rd in 51.57, just five hundredths off his best of 51.52 from July of 2025 after splitting 23.96/26.93.

Women’s 50 Butterfly — Final

• World Record — 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) — 2014
• European Record — 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) — 2014
• Meet Record — 24.73, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) — 2024

Top 3 Finishers

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 24.51 **New Meet Record
2. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) — 25.05
3. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) — 25.87

Gretchen Walsh made a statement in the women’s 50 fly final, setting a new American record time of 24.51 to beat World Record holder and butterfly queen Sarah Sjostrom by more than half-a-second.

Walsh’s swim takes down her former record time of 24.66, which she set last June at U.S. Nationals, and is the 2nd fastest performance in history in the event. Only Sjostrom’s world record swim of 24.43 has been faster, and Walsh put that on notice today.

Sjostrom, who is 10 months postpartum after having her son last August, had a very strong race to finish 2nd, swimming 25.05 to set the new #2 time in the world this year, beating Kate Douglass‘ 25.24 by almost two tenths.

Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk took 3rd in 25.87, about a tenth off the 25.75 she swam at the Mare Nostrum Tour in Monaco.

Arina Surkova of Russia won the ‘B’ final in 25.82, which would have been 3rd in the ‘A’ final. This was eight hundredths off her season best 25.74 from the Russian Championships earlier this month.

Men’s 50 Freestyle — Final

• World Record — 20.88, Cameron McEvoy (AUS) — 2026
• European Record — 20.94, Frederick Bousquet (FRA) — 2009
• Meet Record — 21.16, Benjamin Proud (GBR) — 2018

Top 3 Finishers

1. Gui Caribe (BRA) — 21.46
2. David Popovici (ROU) — 21.82
3. Leonardo Deplano (ITA) — 21.90

Gui Caribe won the men’s 50 freestyle final in 21.46, exactly tying his lifetime best time in the event from April of 2025. This swim will move him up to #5 in the world this year in the event.

Romania’s David Popovici took 2nd in 21.82, a new personal best time by one hundredth from the 21.83 he set last April at the Romanian Championships last April. Popovici is much stronger at outdoor pools, like this one, which means he could have some strong swims in the tank the rest of this week, especially with a best time under his belt already.

Italy’s Leonardo Deplano took 3rd in 21.90, four tenths off his best of 21.50 from the Olympic Games in Paris.

Women’s 1500 Freestyle — Final

• World Record — 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (USA) — 2018
• European Record — 15:31.79, Simona Quadarella (ITA) — 2025
• Meet Record — 15:48.27, Simona Quadarella (ITA) — 2024

Top 3 Finishers

1. Simona Quadarella (ITA) — 15:46.19 **New Meet Record
2. Noemi Cesarano (ITA) — 16:16.27
3. Azzurra Sbaragli (ITA) — 16:25.03

Simona Quadarella set a new meet record in the women’s 1500 freestyle, swimming 15:46.19 to win the event by about 30 seconds over 2nd place finisher Noemi Cesarano.

Quadarella led the race from wire-to-wire, swimming 29.41 on the opening 50 to turn about a second ahead of Switzerland’s Vanna Djakovic, who turned 2nd in 30.26. Djakovic ended up finished 6th at 16:38.29.

Quadarella’s swim moved her up to the 3rd fastest time in the world this season, behind only Katie Ledecky and Lani Pallister.

Noemi Cesarano, from Italy, finished 2nd in 16:16.27, a six second drop from her previous best time of 16:22.96 from April of 2025.

Fellow Italian Azzurra Sbaragli took 3rd in 16:25.03, a full second drop from the 16:26.23 mark she set in April.