Coughlin Breaks American Record While Five Post Top Ten Times in Viareggio

On the second day of competition at the Mussi Lombardi Femiano swim meet in Viareggio Natalie Coughlin took down Ariana Kukors 100 IM American record winning the event in a time of 58.55. Kukors record of 58.65 was set in 2010 at the Short Course World Championships.

With her winning time Coughlin now sits sixth in the world rankings.

The 100 IM was not Coughlin’s only gold medal winning performance of the day. She also won the 100 freestyle in a time of 52.68. Coughlin finished ahead of Federica Pellegrini who recorded a 53.19 and 50 freestyle event winner Erika Ferraioli who posted a 53.30. Coughlin’s time puts her eighth in the world rankings while Pellegrini now ranks 16th and Ferraioli places 17th.

Four other swimmers also recorded times that rank in the world’s top ten.

Silvia Di Pietro won the women’s 50 butterfly recording a time of 25.82 which puts her eighth in the world rankings.

In the women’s 200 butterfly Alessia Polieri took the event in a time of 2:05.69 which places her eighth in the world while Stefania Pirozzi posted a 2:07.81 which ranks 15th.

Gabriele Detti dominated the men’s 1500 freestyle winning the event by 27 seconds, posting a time of 14:41.45. Detti’s time ranks eighth in the world.

Stefania Pirozzi won the women’s 400 IM in a time of 4:33.28 which ranks 10th in the world.

The two most exciting races of the second day of competition came in the men’s 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly where Italian record holders Fabio Scozzoli and Matteo Rivolta were both given a scare.

In the men’s 100 breaststroke Scozzoli was able to hold off a late charge from Claudio Fossi. Scozzoli took the event in a time of 58.51 followed by Fossi who posted a 58.57.

In the men’s 100 butterfly Rivolta made his move in the final 50 meters where he was able to catch and pass Piero Codia. Rivolta took the event in a time of 51.64 followed by Codia who recorded a 51.70.

Full results from the meet can be found here.