Federica Pellegrini and Matteo Giunta Announce Engagement

Olympic gold medalist and World Record holder Federica Pellegrini announced her engagement to Italian National Team coach Matteo Giunta Saturday on Instagram. Giunta is also the head coach of the Rome-based Aqua Centurions of the International Swimming League, a team which Pellegrini belongs to and is competing with in the third season of the league, as well as Pellegrini’s personal coach. Pellegrini recently swam in her 5th Olympic Games and is expected to retire from competition when the Aqua Centurions’ season comes to an end this ISL season. Pellegrini has been with the Aqua Centurions since the ISL’s inception in 2019 and is one of the team captains.

Pellegrini is the World Record holder in the 200 LCM freestyle, set at the 2009 World Championships in Rome in a 1:52.98. Pellegrini was the 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the 200 freestyle and has finished on the podium in the same race at 7-consecutive World Championships (2005-2019) as well as 2-consecutive Olympic Games (2004-2008), though she swam in the Olympic final of the 200 freestyle in 5-consecutive Olympics (2004-2020).

Giunta has an impressive coaching resume and was the 2019 Swammy Award winner for Italian Coach of the Year. Giunta and Pellegrini will return to the pool in Eindhoven in November for the 2021 ISL semi-finals. The top-4 teams that emerge from the semi-finals will advance to the league final in early 2021.

 

PELLEGRINI 200 FREESTYLE FINALS — Olympics & World Championships (LCM)

  1. 2004 Olympics, silver — 1:58.22
  2. 2005 Worlds, silver – 1:58.73
  3. 2007 Worlds, bronze – 1:56.97
  4. 2008 Olympics, gold — 1:54.82
  5. 2009 Worlds, gold – 1:52.98 (WR)
  6. 2011 Worlds, gold – 1:55.58
  7. 2012 Olympics, 5th — 1:56.73
  8. 2013 Worlds, silver – 1:55.18
  9. 2015 Worlds, silver – 1:55.32
  10. 2016 Olympics, 4th — 1:55.18
  11. 2017 Worlds, gold – 1:54.73
  12. 2019 Worlds, gold – 1:54.22
  13. 2020 Olympics, 7th — 1:55.91

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STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
2 years ago

What are the odds she’ll soon release a statement that she has postponed her retirement because she’s so happy to be working with her new coach and fiance?

Troyy
Reply to  STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
2 years ago

Been her coach since 2014 so not so new.

Taa
2 years ago

Cute couple

justanopinion
2 years ago

Sooo, random question…but if you follow her on IG….is this the same dude that seems to live at her house? They seem to look like completely different people. Or do I just not follow enough and old guy got kicked to the curb?

Ell.eff
Reply to  justanopinion
2 years ago

I think the dude you are referring to it’s her brother

Swammer
2 years ago

These pictures and the backdrop … quintessentially Italian. Congratulations!

Just give the trophy to the condors already
2 years ago

So cute , damn I’m always impressed with Pellegrini’s resume what a champ

Ol' Longhorn

The consistency is ridiculous, especially when you compare it with others, say Schmitty, who’ve never been able to regain that form.

Mr Piano
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

To be fair to Allison, she’s struggled a lot with mental health. As someone who’s shared that experience, I can testify as to how it completely cripples your training and performance. You just don’t feel the same. But Pellegrini’s consistency is definitely a marvel.

Cobalt
Reply to  Mr Piano
2 years ago

It helps with “consistency” to have had Filippo Magnini as your live-in boyfriend for almost a decade. And then your coach as your fiancee. Big question everyone wants to know–will Fede and Giunta pose nude for Vanity Fair as she did with Magnini?

https://www.swimmersdaily.com/2012/04/filippo-magnini-and-federica-pellegrini-pose-naked-in-vanity-fair/

Mclovin
Reply to  Mr Piano
2 years ago

I mean, thats exactly what consistency is about, being mentally and physically healthy. He is praising Federica´s mental fortitude, not attacking Allison.

Mr Piano
Reply to  Mclovin
2 years ago

Implying that people with depression are mentally weaker?

Ledecky will go 3:55 in Paris
2 years ago

What is with swimmers dating their coaches

Billabong
Reply to  Ledecky will go 3:55 in Paris
2 years ago

Relax. She is almost 30.

Corn Pop
Reply to  Billabong
2 years ago

She is 33.

Ghost
Reply to  Billabong
2 years ago

She is 33 and I agree, she is old enough. She might have even been dating before he became her coach? Who else does he coach?

Swimmerfromjapananduk
Reply to  Ledecky will go 3:55 in Paris
2 years ago

Nothing wrong

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Ledecky will go 3:55 in Paris
2 years ago

I think the question should be what is it with coaches dating their swimmers.

Becky D
Reply to  Ledecky will go 3:55 in Paris
2 years ago

I don’t care how old she is — it’s always weird when a teammate and your coach are romantically involved.

Swammer
Reply to  Becky D
2 years ago

I hear ya but I will take Federica’s scenario any day over one where a coach starts dating a swimmer’s mom. That’s super awkward.

Becky D
Reply to  Swammer
2 years ago

Thanks for the non sequiter.

Katie
Reply to  Swammer
2 years ago

If athletes are young enough that the coach dating an athlete’s mother is awkward, the coach “dating” an athlete would be unhealthy, a SafeSport violation, possibly illegal depending on the state, and flat-out inappropriate.

About Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson originally hails from Clay Center, Kansas, where he began swimming at age six.  At age 14 he began swimming club year-round and later with his high school team, making state all four years.  He was fortunate enough to draw the attention of Kalamazoo College where he went on to …

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