18-Year-Old Carlos D’Ambrosio Resets Italian 200 Free Record in 1:45.23

2025 World Championships

• July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
• Singapore, Singapore
• World Aquatics Championships Arena
• LCM (50m)
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  • Prelims: Day 1
  • Finals: Day 1

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – Semifinals

• World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• World Junior Record: 1:42.97 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
• Championship Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• 2023 World Champion: Matt Richards, GBR – 1:44.30
• 2024 Olympic Champion: David Popovici, ROU – 1:44.72

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Luke Hobson (United States) — 1:44.80
2. Hwang Sunwoo (South Korea) — 1:44.84
3. Kamil Sieradzki (Poland) — 1:45.00
4. David Popovici (Romania) — 1:45.02
5. Carlos D’Ambrosio (Italy) — 1:45.23
6. Tatsuya Murasa (Japan) — 1:45.39
7. James Guy (Great Britain) — 1:45.50
8. Gabriel Jett (United States) — 1:45.60

Carlos D’Ambrosio, who broke 48 seconds twice while leading off the Italian 4×100 free relay last night, had another big swim in tonight’s 200 free semifinals to qualify 5th into the final tomorrow.

The 18-year-old, who broke 1:46 for the first time exactly one month ago at the Sette Colli, hacked three-quarters of a second off the 1:45.99 he swam to take the win there.

He now ranks 12th in the world this season, and joint-39th all-time

D’Ambrosio swam leadoff legs of 47.96 and then 47.78 for the Italian 4×100 free relay yesterday, helping them to silver in a big National Record of 3:09.58 in the final.

He took 4th place in the first semi-final tonight, which ended up containing six of the eight finalists. The youngster was swimming out of lane 8 after qualifying 16th this morning, just 0.05 seconds ahead of Australia’s Ed Sommerville.

D’Ambrosio was faster on every 50 than in his previous best, and had built enough of a lead over Filippo Megli‘s record to withstand the 26.48 that he closed in. Megli was also in the field tonight, placing 14th in 1:46.49 after going 1:46.39 this morning.

He jumps up four spots in the Italian all-time rankings from 5th, vaulting over two swimmers who are here with him in Singapore. De Tullio made the 400 free final last night, placing 6th in 3:44.92.

Italian All-Time Top 5, Men’s 200 Free

1. Carlos D’Ambrosio, 2025 World Championships – 1:45.23
2. Filippo Megli, 2019 World Championships – 1:45.67
3. Marco De Tullio, 2022 European Championships – 1:45.70
4. Stefano Ballo, 2021 Tokyo Olympics – 1:45.77
5. Alessandro Ragaini, 2024 Italian Championships – 1:45.83

D’Ambrosio has now taken 1.55 seconds off his best time so far this season, dropping from 1:46.78 to 1:45.23. He was part of the Italian 4×200 free relay last summer that finished 10th in the heats in Tokyo, splitting 1:47.24.

In addition to this record and the Polish and Norwegian records in the semi-finals, there were Belgian, Greek, Irish, and Luxembourgish records in the heats this morning.

• Belgian Record: Lucas Henveaux – 1:46.03
• Greek Record: Dimitrios Markos – 1:46.28
• =Irish Record: Evan Bailey – 1:46.66
• Luxembourgish Record: Ralph Daleiden Ciuferri – 1:47.74