Federica Pellegrini, la Divina, saw her name removed from her last remaining World Aquatics World Record on Wednesday in Fukuoka, Japan.
There, pending ratification, Australian 19-year-old Mollie O’Callaghan swam 1:52.85 to break Pellegrini’s 2009-vintage World Record of 1:52.98 in the women’s 200 meter freestyle.
At the same moment of congratulating O’Callaghan for her World Record swim, Pellegrini made an announcement of her own: she and her husband and former coach Matteo Giunta are expecting their first child together.
In the video, Pellegrini shows her belly with the words “we’ll take it back!” before kissing her husband. In the text of the best, Pellegrini congratulated O’Callaghan, and O’Callaghan replied in the comments thanking la Divina for the message.
Pellegrini retired from active swimming in 2021, became engaged that same year, and the couple were married on August 27, 2022.
Pellegrini’s record, the oldest on the books, was done at the peak of a run of dominance that made her a superstar in her own country, but is often underappreciated globally because her best swims were done in 2009 in polyurethane suits. Her polyurethane-suit record, though, has so far lasted longer than any other.
Pellegrini, 34, has an Olympic gold medal in the 200 free from the 2008 Olympic Games and a bronze medal in the same event from the 2004 Games. She is also a 6-time World Champion in long course, 1-time World Champion in short course, and has a total of 19 World Championship medals and 37 European Championship medals.
In total, Pellegrini set 10 World Records in her career:
LCM 200 Free:
- 2007 World Championships, 1:56.47
- 2008 Olympics, 1:55.45
- 2008 Olympics, 1:54.82
- 2009 Italian Championships, 1:54.47
- 2009 World Championships, 1:53.67
- 2009 World Championships, 1:52.98
SCM 200 Free:
- 2008 European Championships, 1:51.85
- 2009 European Championships, 1:51.17
LCM 400 Free:
- 2008 European Championships, 4:01.53
- 2009 Mediterranean Games, 4:00.41
- 2009 World Championships, 3:59.15
hope they play tennis
That’s such a cute video. Nicely done.
Oh how I laughed at this. I couldn’t help but think she had to have put some thought into this knowing the record would likely go down. What perfect hilarious timing and shows the heart of someone who truly loves the sport, a competitive fight and supporting other’s success. Congratulations to all 🙂
We all know she’s a drama queen 👑
Remember her soap opera drama against Laure and some other Italian girls.
She always wants spotlight on her
Lowkey a power move to announce this immediately after her WR gets erased
This is awesome!!! Love it
two in one day! these world record holders are going crazy with the babies lol. Watch Phelps announce another child tmrw haha
only one of them announced it as a wr holder 🙂
Wow, both Pellegrini and Dressel are expecting babies? There must be something in the water…
Oh no, the jizz got in the water.
down horrendous
You should have used a tissue.
Emily Seebohm also announced she was pregnant a few weeks ago
this is hilarious!