Luca Dotto Breaks Italian Record in 100 Free, 47.96, Now #2 in World

Two days after winning the men’s 100 free on Day One of the 2016 Italian Assoluti National Championships and Olympic Trials with 48.40 (you can read our coverage here), Luca Dotto of Forestry became the first Italian man in history to break through the 48-second barrier leading off Forestry’s 400 free relay in 47.96.

There’s something about the leadoff of the men’s 400 free relay that brings out the best of Dotto. He did it last year as well when he led off Forestry’s 4×100 free relay in 48.40, which was .10 faster than Marco Orsi’s winning time in the individual event two days prior. This year Dotto’s repeat performance broke the Italian national record and vaulted him to Number 2 in the world for the season.

2015-2016 LCM Men 100 Free

2Kyle
CHALMERS
AUS47.58*WJR08/10
3Nathan
ADRIAN
USA47.7206/30
4Pieter
TIMMERS
BEL47.8008/10
5Santo
CONDORELLI
CAN47.8808/10
View Top 26»

Dotto has improved both halves of his race over the last 12 months. His up-front speed is especially notable; since last year Dotto has taken .34 off the first leg of the 100.

For comparison, here are Dotto’s four swims from 2015 and 2016 Assoluti:

2016 Relay Leadoff 2016 100 Free 2015 Relay Leadoff 2015 100 free
22.72 22.98 23.06 23.19
25.24 25.42 25.34 25.85
47.96 48.40 (1st place) 48.40 49.04 (3rd place)

 

Dotto was already qualified for this summer’s Olympic Games in this event, but at .44 faster than his original qualifying time, he now looks like he could be among the finalists in Rio. At a minimum, he’ll need to slice another half second off his time to make the podium. Still, Dotto’s time would have put him on the third step of the podium at World Championships in Kazan last summer, and would have been 7th in the 100 free final at the 2012 Olympics in London.

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bobo gigi
8 years ago

aggressive with 2 g.
In French only 1 g.
🙄

bobo gigi
8 years ago

ThomasLurzFan, you are agressive. Not very nice. I was just kidding and just tried to lighten the mood. You can of course discuss about everything you want here. I didn’t know I had prevented you from doing it.
Then I predict the American roster for Rio maybe for one year but I update it very regularly. And I don’t see what is not reasonable. 🙂 I pick 2 names per event plus a few others for the relays. My predictions don’t have to be reasonable. I don’t predict times or medals. I try to predict the American roster. Just for fun.

Ervinforthewin, your name before that one was Jean-Michel on swimswam. Not a Chinese first name! And you know… Read more »

carlo
8 years ago

My predictions 4×100 free
Gold. France
Silver Australia
Bronze the US/Russia

Brazil is not in this one.

Individual 100 free.
If McEvoy is McEvoy then he wins gold and breaks the 47 sec barrier
Silver ning zetao
Bronze no idea

Individual 50 free
Manaudou smokes everybody.

I don’t know how the night finals will affect the swimmers though.

bobo gigi
8 years ago

Funny to read the Germany vs Belgium contentious debate above about Adrian and the men’s 100 free final. 🙂

A Frenchman is gonna try to put an end to your discussion.

What will the men’s 100 free final look like?

The crystal ball says nothing for the moment.

Stop. I see something. Yes.

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No German and no Belgian in the men’s olympic 100 free final!
I’m so sorry.

http://nsa21.casimages.com/img/2012/03/15/120315095407333603.jpg

Rafael
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

We might have a race where all 8 could be from different countries and it would not surprise me.

Stephen
Reply to  Rafael
8 years ago

I think the Aussies with Cam Mac and Chalmers….could supply 2 in the final

Daz
Reply to  Stephen
8 years ago

All I can say, as an Aussie, is I hope you’re correct! It’s been nearly 50 years since we won it. A few silver but no gold.

thomaslurzfan
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

Sorry, but what exactly does our nationality have to do with it? None of us claimed that a belgian or a german will reach the final (although belgium actually might have a chance), so why are you bringing it up here? Please give your own opinion (if you have one), but dont tell us how or about what we are allowed to discuss here. Its funny that you say the “crystal ball thing”, considering that you predicted the american roster for Rio about one year ago … I think our predictions are much reasonable than your predictions back then.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

Your sarcasm is not surprising , since u believe your barometer is correct . Wait end of june , u won’t put and of to this discussion any soon . I am not belgian by the way , sorry . Wrong assumption from your part . If there is a french in the final , u are lucky .

bobo gigi
8 years ago
bobo gigi
8 years ago
bobo gigi
8 years ago

G3, so with your rule Natalie Coughlin has never swum her crazy 59.58 in 2002 in the 100 back. First woman under the minute. There’s no video anywhere! 😆
Same remark about Michael Phelps’ first world record in March 2001. No video! 😆

SOSO
8 years ago

NING Zetao is 47.96, we can find it in the FINA’s world ranking and swimvortex’s world ranking, why here is 47.97?

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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