Italy Names 47 Swimmer Roster for European Aquatics Championships

FIN, the Italian Swimming Federation, has published a 47-swimmer roster for the upcoming European Aquatics Championships.

The roster includes 38 swimmers who hit qualifying standards for the event, plus an additional 9 discretionary picks from the federation. These discretionary choices are based on relay needs and to give some young swimmers international experience.

Among the women added is Ilaria Bianchi, a three-time Italian Olympian who represented the country at last summer’s World Championships in the 100 fly. She’s the country’s second-best sprint butterflier behind Elena Di Liddo, and can be used on a prelims relay that would still have no trouble qualifying for finals (especially on the strength of the breaststroke depth).

Also added to the roster were Carlotta Zofkova  (Carabinieri / Imolanuoto), Ilaria Bianchi (Fiamme Azzurre / NC Azzurra 91) and Antonella Crispino (Assonuoto Club Caserta). In the male roster, added Leonardo Deplano (CC Aniene), Domenico Acerenza (Fiamme Oro / CC Napoli), Matteo Restivo (Carabinieri / RN Florentia), Federico Poggio (Fiamme Azzurre / Imolanuoto), Andrea Castello (Imolanuoto), Giacomo Carini (Fiamme Yellow / Can. Vittorino da Feltre), and Matteo Rivolta  (Fiamme Oro / CC Aniene).

Italy had a breakthrough performance in swimming at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships, earning 6 golds among 22 total medals. That ranked them 3rd behind the hosts Great Britain and Russia.

The Olympic year European Championships take on a very different vibe, though, as a mixture of nations using it as a last chance qualifier for the Games, and others just as a mid-season racing challenge. In 2016, Italy was also 3rd on the medals table with 5 golds among 17 total.

Most of the country’s top names will return for the event. That includes Simona Quadarella, who is the defending European champion in the 400, 800, and 1500 freestyles. World Record holder and World Champion in the 200 free Federica Pellegrini, and the country’s two male distance aces Gregorio Paltrinieri and Gabriele Detti are also entered.

The battle in prelims of the women’s 100 breaststroke will be electric as well, as the country’s three-headed monster of Benedetta Pilato, Martina Carraro, and Arianna Castiglioni will battle for two spots allowed to advance to the semi-finals. Carraro and Pilato are the two selected for the Olympic Games, which means Castilgioni has the freedom

The 2021 European Aquatics Championships are the event postponed from 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic. Swimming, diving, and artistic swimming will be held at the Danube Arena, while open water swimming will be held nearby at Lupa Lake.

The whole event will run from May 10-23 without spectators, with the swimming portion spanning May 17-23.

• See the full schedule of events here.

Italians Selected for 2021 European Aquatics Championships

Men

1. Lorenzo Zazzeri (men’s 100m free)
2. Pier Andrea Matteazzi (men’s 400m IM)
3. Edoardo Giorgetti (men’s 200m breast)
4. Gabriele Detti (men’s 400m free)
5. Marco De Tullio (men’s 400m free)
6. Lorenzo Mora (men’s 200m back)
7. Alessandro Miressi (men’s 100m free)
8. Manuel Frigo (men’s 100m free)
9. Gregorio Paltrinieri (men’s 800/1500m free)
10. Federico Burdisso (men’s 100/200 fly)
11. Nicolo Martinenghi (men’s 50/100m breast)
12. Thomas Ceccon (men’s 100 back)
13. Alberto Razzetti (men’s 200m IM)
14. Alessandro Pinzuti (men’s 100m breast)
15. Piero Codia (men’s 100m fly)
16. Stefano Ballo (men’s 200m free)
17. Stefano Di Cola (men’s 200m free)
18. Filippo Megli (men’s 200m free)
19. Matteo Ciampi (men’s 200m free)
20. Simone Sabbioni (men’s 100m back)
21. Leonardo Deplano (men’s 50/100m free)
22. Domenico Acerenza (men’s 1500m free)
23. Matteo Restivo (men’s 200m back)
24. Federico Poggio (men’s 100m breast)
25. Andrea Castello (men’s 100m breast)
26. Giacomo Carini (men’s 100m fly)
27. Matteo Rivolta (men’s 100m fly)

Women

1. Simona Quadarella (women’s 800/1500m free)
2. Federica Pellegrini (women’s 100/200m free)
3. Martina Rita Caramignoli (women’s 800/1500m free)
4. Chiara Tarantino (women’s 100m free)
5. Silvia Di Pietro (women’s 50/100m free)
6. Margherita Panziera (women’s 200m back)
7. Costanza Cocconcelli (women’s 50/100m free)
8. Ilaria Cusinato (women’s 200m IM)
9. Sara Franceschi (women’s 400m IM)
10. Carlotta Zofkova (women’s 100m back)
11. Ilaria Bianchi (women’s 100m fly)
12. Antonella Crispino (women’s 100/200m fly)
13. Elena Di Liddo (women’s 100m fly)
14. Silvia Scalia (women’s 50/100m back)
15. Martina Carraro (women’s 50/100m breast)
16. Arianna Castiglioni (women’s 50/100m breast)
17. Benedetta Pilato (women’s 50/100m breast)
18. Stefania Pirozzi (women’s 200m free)
19. Sara Gailli (women’s 200m free)
20. Francesca Fangio (women’s 200m breast)
21. Lisa Angiolini (women’s 200m breast)