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Italian Junior National Team member Valentina Procaccini has verbally committed to the University of Florida as a part of the Gators’ 2026 recruiting class.
I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Florida, where I will join the Florida Gators Swimming & Diving program. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to continue both my academic and athletic journey in Gainesville, within one of the top programs in the NCAA. My sincere thanks go to Coach Anthony Nesty and Coach Whitney Hite for believing in me. I would also like to thank my family and friends, my coaches at Circolo Canottieri Aniene, especially Coach Belfiore, and the Fiamme Azzurre for their constant support in my development as an athlete. I am looking forward to beginning this new chapter and making the most of every opportunity at the University of Florida. Go Gators! 🐊
Procaccini hails from Roma, Italy, where she represented Circolo Canottieri Aniene Roma and Italy on the Italian Junior National Team from 2022 to 2024.
One of Procaccini’s best short-course meter showings came at the Criteria Nazional Giovanili in April of 2024. She set new best times in the 400 freestyle (4:06.51) and 800 free (8:24.51).
Two years earlier, at the same meet, Procaccini notched a best 200 free time, clocking 1:58.37.
Procaccini holds a lifetime best in the 1500 free (SCM) from the Criteria Nazionali in March of this year. She turned in a finals time of 16:05.19, bettering her previous best of 16:06.13 from the Italian Open Championships in November of 2024.
Best Times Converted to SCY:
| Event | SCM | SCY Conversion |
| 200 Free | 1:58.37 | 1:46.63 |
| 400 Free | 4:06.51 | 4:41.72 (500 Free) |
| 800 Free | 8:24.51 | 9:36.58 (1000 Free) |
| 1500 Free | 16:05.19 | 15:59.43 (1650 Free) |
The Florida women finished as runners-up to Texas at the 2025 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships a season ago.
Based on Procaccini’s converted times, she would have placed 5th in the 1650 free, and she would have qualified for the ‘C’ final in the 200 free and 500 free.
Procaccini is an immediate contender in the SEC and in the overall national landscape. Her converted best time in the 1650 free is well under the 2026 Women’s NCAA qualifying time of 16:25.29.
Florida currently has sophomore Italian breaststroke talent, Anita Bottazzo, on its women’s roster. Bottazzo set the program’s 100 breaststroke record last season, clocking 57.49 at the UGA Invitational last fall, in addition to her status as a three-time All-American.
At last season’s NCAA Championships, Procaccini would have finished 20th in the 1650 free with that converted time. That time would have sat 4th on last season’s Florida roster, just behind Julie Brousseau’s 15:57.60.
Procaccini will fortify the middle distance/distance group for the Gator women, providing lasting scoring potential on the conference and national level.
Procaccini will join Maddie Moreth, Bomin Kim, and Lillie McPherson in the Gators’ loaded 2026 recruiting class.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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