Nicolo Martinenghi

NICOLO MARTINENGHI

• Club : Circolo Canottieri Aniene (ITA)
• Coach: Marco Giovanni Pedoja

As a child he hated water.
He started swimming at the age of six to imitate his older brother, but soon became passionate about the sport.
Breaststroke by vocation. He has often said that although it takes a little bit of madness to be a breaststroke, it is the stroke he loves most and the only one he really sees fit.

Hard work does not frighten him, but excites him, competitive and stubborn.

His myth has always been Fabio Scozzoli. His goal is the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, after missing the qualifying time for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Although only 18 years old, he boasts a proven champion’s palmarès.

As a junior athlete, he achieved the following records in his career:

LCM RECORD:

• 4th April 2017: 50M breaststroke 26″97
• 2nd February 2017: 100m breaststroke  59″23
• 2nd February 2017: 4×100 mixed relay time 3’35″24

LCM  EUROPEAN RECORD:

• 4th April 2017: 50m breaststroke 26″97
• 2nd February 2017: 100m breaststroke  59″23
• 2nd February 2017: 4×100 mixed relay 3’35″24

He is also the Italian record holder for the 100-metre breaststroke with a time of 59″01, achieved on 23/08/2017

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

Nicolò’s international career took off in 2015.
He competed at the European Youth Olympic Festival, where he won three golds, in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and in the 4×100 mixed relay.

The same year, he won silver at the Junior World Championships.

In 2016, he competed at the Junior European Championships in Hodmezovasarhely, Hungary. In the 4×100 mixed relay Nicolò swam the breaststroke leg with a time of 59″76.

Only Fabio Scozzoli had until then done a better time in the breaststroke split (58″79) at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona) in the 4×100 mixed relay.

In those European Championships, Nicolò Martinenghi made the podium four times:

• gold medal in the 100m breaststroke
• gold medal 4×100 mixed relay
• silver in 50m and 200m breaststroke

2017

2017 was a year full of international commitments. In June, Nicolò surprised everyone and, in the splendid setting of the ‘Settecolli’ Trophy in Rome, set a new Italian Record in men’s 100m breaststroke in 59″31. He lowered the 59″42 that Fabio Scozzoli swam at the World Championships in Shanghai.

Martinenghi finished second behind British  Adam Peaty.

Only a few months later, in August, Nicolò Martinenghi lowered the Italian Record during the Junior World Championships, setting a new record at 59″01.

• Junior European Championships – Netanya (ISR): gold 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke, 4×100 mixed, 4×100 mixed relay
• International ‘Settecolli’ Trophy – Rome: silver 100 breaststroke
• World Junior Championship Indianapolis 2017: gold 50 breaststroke; gold 100 breaststroke; bronze 4×100 medley relay; 4th 200m breaststroke; 5th 4×100 medley relay

EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIP – COPENHAGEN 2017

In the semi-final of men’s 50 breaststroke, Nicolo Martinenghi lowered his Junior World Record with a time of 26″31 and entered the final.

In the final he finished in eighth place with a time of 26″48.

Also in the semi-final of the men’s 100 metres breaststroke Nicolò sets the Junior World Record with a time of 57″60, the last time to enter the final.

In the final he lowers the Junior European and World Record with a time of 57″27

In the 200 breaststroke he fails to book a place in the final, but still manages to swim his personal best with 2.07.64

PUBIC BONE FRACTURE

At the beginning of 2018 Martinenghi suffered a fracture in his left pubic bone. A long rehabilitation kept him away from events until November 2018.

RETURN TO COMPETITION

At the end of October 2018, Nicolò Martinenghi returned to competition. He competes at the FINA SC World Championships  in Hangzhou in December.

At the 2019 Euro Meet in Luxembourg, Martinenghi swam the first world seasonal performance by swimming a time of 59.37

ITALIAN ELITE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

At the Italian Elite Swimming Championships in Riccione, held in April 2019, Martinenghi obtained a pass for the FINA World Championships in Gwangju in the 50m breaststroke with a time of 26.98.
The 2019/2020 season begins with his inclusion in the new International Swimming League. Martinenghi is selected in the Aqua Centurions team.

MARTINENGHI QUALIFIED FOR TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS

The Italian Elite Swimming Championships in December 2019 are the first major opportunity to grab a spot for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

In the 100m breaststroke, Martinenghi, after shining in the morning heats, earned his first individual qualification for the Tokyo Olympics. In the morning heats he was the only one to swim the 100 breaststroke under a minute, setting the fastest time of 59.67.
In the 100-metre breaststroke final, he touched the wall in 58.75, setting a new Italian record.

2020/2021 SEASON

The 2020/2021 season officially starts with the Italian Open Championships, held in Riccione in December 2020. In March, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all competitions were suspended and cancelled. The Olympics, for the first time in history, were also postponed for a year.

Before arriving in Riccione, Nicolo Martinenghi had a personal best of 26.85, swum at the Trofeo Settecolli in 2019. The Championships were held without qualifying heats. With a time of 26.56, Martinenghi swims his new personal best and erases the Italian record that Fabio Scozzoli set during the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju in 26.70.

The clocking of 26.56 takes Martineghi to the top of the seasonal world ranking, surpassing the time set by Arno Kamminga during the Olympic Qualification Meeting in Rotterdam.

ITALIAN SPRING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021

At the Italian  championships held in Riccione from 31 March to 3 April 2021, Nicolo Martinenghi lowered his Italian Record with 58.37.

As far as the Olympic season is concerned, Martinenghi’s time is currently the 1st in the world and thus rises to the top of the provisional ranking ahead of the Games.

SETTECOLLI TROPHY 2021

At the 2021 Settecolli Trophy Nicolò Martinenghi lowered his Italian record in the men’s 100m  breaststroke, stopping the clock at 58.29.

QUOTES

I have always known that I swim for myself, and for no one else. But now I don’t just ‘know’ it, I feel it too. (The Owl Post)

No one will ever pay the price for the mistakes I make, or stand on the podium in my place (The Owl Post)

The future is an interpretation of the present, which is constructed by dint of opinions and ideas. It is not about others, not now, not ever. (The Owl Post)

The physical has a memory, and it is made up of exactly what you put into it. (The Owl Post)

TOKYO OLYMPICS

After lowering the Italian national record to 58.28, Nicolò Martinenghi won the first Italian swimming medal of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the men’s 100-metre breaststroke.

MEN’S 100-METRE BREASTSTROKE FINAL

• WR 56.88 GBR PEATY Adam Gwangju (KOR) 21 Jul 2019
• OR 57.13 GBR PEATY Adam Rio de Janeiro (BRA) 7 Aug 2016
• Italian Record Nicolo Martinenghi 58.28 25/07/2021 Tokyo
• 2016 Olympic Champion: Adam Peaty (GBR) – 57.13

He enters the first Olympic final of his career with the third fastest time. Nicolo Martinenghi is vying for a place in the Olympus of world breaststroke with the only two men in the history of swimming who have broken the 58-second barrier in the 100 metres. Adam Peaty, the world record holder and reigning Olympic champion, takes the No. 4 lane with his 57.63. Arno Kamminga has the second fastest time in the semi-finals, 58.19. The challenge would be all made in Europe if it were not for the danger lurking behind the Chinese Yan Zibei and the American Michael Andrew

TOP 3

1. GOLD Adam Peaty 57.37
2. SILVER Arno Kamminga 58.00
3. BRONZE NICOLO MARTINENGHI 58.33

Nicolo Martinenghi won Italy’s first swimming medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. With a time of 58.33 Martinenghi finished third behind Britain’s Adam Peaty, who confirmed himself as Olympic champion, and Arno Kamminga, silver in 58.00.

NICOLO MARTINENGHI IN TOKYO

• Federation: Italy
• Time of entry: 58.29
• Date of birth 01/08/1999
• Age : 21 years, 357 days
• 1st Olympics (2021)
  • 100 METRES BREASTSTROKE
    National record: 58.28, Nicolò Martinenghi (ITA), 2021.
  • IN THIS EVENT:
    4th all-time performer (58.29, Trofeo Sette Colli, 2021)
    World junior record holder in the short and long course
    Olympic history: #1 Olympiad, 2021.
  • WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
    2019: DSQ (Semifinal)
    2017: 9th (59.41).
  • EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
    2021 Euro: 5th (58.94)
    2019 SCM Euro: 5th (56.70)
    2017 World Junior: Gold (59.58)
    2017 Euro Junior: Gold (59.23)
    2016 Euro Junior: Gold (1:00.30)
    2015 Euro Summer Festival: Gold (1:01.75).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Junior World Record Holder in the short course and long course 100m breaststroke men
• European Championships 2021:
• 50 metres breaststroke, 4×100 medley, 4×100 mixed medley Bronze
• 2017 World Junior: 50, 100-metre breaststroke GOLD
• 2016 Euro Junior: Gold 100 metres breaststroke, silver 50/ 200 metres breaststroke
• 2015 Euro Summer Festival: Gold 100 metres breaststroke, silver 200 metres breaststroke

2012 EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS – KAZAN

At the European Short Course Championships held in Kazan, Russia, in November 2021, Nicolò Martinenghi won:

• GOLD in the 100 breaststroke in 55″63 ITALIAN RECORD
• silver 4×50 mixed in 1’36″39 Italian Record (Michele Lamberti 22″72, Nicolò Martinenghi 25″13, Elena Di Liddo 25″09, Silvia Di Pietro 23″45)
• bronze in the 50 breaststroke in 25″54

2012 WORLD SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS – ABU DHABI 2021

• silver 100-metre breaststroke 55.80
• bronze mixed 4×50 metres medley relay Lorenzo Mora, Nicolo Martinenghi, Elena Di Liddo, Silvia Di Pietro 1:37.29
• bronze 4×50m mixed relay (Lorenzo Mora, Nicolo Martinenghi, Matteo Rivolta, Lorenzo Zazzeri)

2022 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – BUDAPEST

At the World Championships 2022, held in Budapest, Hungary, Nicolo Martinenghi won gold in the 100-metre breaststroke, setting a new Italian record with a time of 58.26

In the 50-metre breaststroke final, Martinenghi fought for the top of the podium until the last few metres. A very close finish in which the American Nic Fink got the better of the Italian Nicolo Martinenghi, world silver medallist in 26.45, by 0.03 . Michael Andrew completed the top3, who after bronze in the 50 butterfly also took third place in the 50 breaststroke.

The second gold medal of the World Championships in Budapest came in the 4×100 metres mixed relay. With a time of 3:27.51, Italy set the European Record thanks to Thomas Ceccon, Nicolò Martinenghi, Federico Burdisso, Alessandro Miressi

2022 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROME

At the European Championships in Rome, Martinenghi was confirmed as the 100-metre breaststroke champion, winning European gold after world gold. With a time of 58.26, he equalled the Italian record that had seen him triumph in Budapest two months earlier. For Italy it was a splendid one-two with Federico Poggio dropping below 59 seconds and picking up silver medal.
Nicolò Martinenghi, after winning the 100-metre breaststroke, achieved the double. With a time of 26.33 he won gold in the men’s 50-metre breaststroke, lowering the Italian record he had set in Riccione in 2021 to 26.39.

MARTINENGHI’S MEDALS AT THE 2022 ROME EUROS

• GOLDS: 100 metres breaststroke 58.26 IR: 50 metres breaststroke 26.33 IR: men’s 4×100 mixed (breaststroke leg 57.72)
• SILVER: mixed 4×100 medley relay (breaststroke leg 58″13)

WORLD SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022 – MELBOURNE

At the 2022 World Short Course Championships, held in Melbourne, Australia, Nicolo Martinenghi won silver medals in both 50 and 100 metre breaststroke.

Nicolo Martinenghi reached the final of the men’s 100-metre breaststroke as top seeded. In the qualifying heats and semifinals, he managed to swim the fastest time in the field, entering the final with a 56.01, which also places him at the top of the seasonal world ranking.

In the final, Nic Fink took the lead in the event by turning the 50-metre mark in 26.04, while Nicolo Martinenghi turned in a time of 26.36 and held second place. The American Fink took the world title with a time of 55.88, while Martinenghi was silver in 56.07.

Adam Peaty, after running at 150 metres in second position, climbed onto the third step of the podium, taking bronze in 56.25.

In the 50-metre breaststroke Nic Fink mocked Nicolo Martinenghi once again. Just as in Abu Dhabi, the American Fink managed to put the Italian ahead. At the World Championships 2021, Fink beat Nicolo Martinenghi by two hundredths and won the title, 25.53 to 25.55. In Melbourne, gold went to the American with a time of 25.38, a new Championships record, while Martinenghi touched four hundredths later, taking silver in 25.42.

RELAY WORLD RECORD

With the men’s 4×50 metre relay Nicolo Martinenghi set a new world record.
Lorenzo Mora improved on the time set in the individual final and left Italy in touch with the United States, Nicolo Martinenghi put the arrow in his teeth by swimming the only breaststroke leg under 25″, and Matteo Rivolta definitively broke away from the chasing group, leaving Leonardo Deplano to chase the world record, which came with a time of 1:29.72.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS FUKUOKA 202

Martinenghi arrived at the World Championships in Fukuoka with a season’s personal best of 59.04, achieved during the qualifying heats.
In the final, he won silver together with Nic Fink (USA), Arno Kamminga (NED) with a time of 58.72.

2024 DOHA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP

At the 2024 World Championships Martinenghi won silver in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke with times of 26.39 and 58.84 respectively