Paltrinieri Rocks 14:33.10 European Record in 1500 Free At Sette Colli

2020 SETTE COLLI TROPHY

The 2020 Sette Colli Trophy ended with a bang, as Italian Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri busted out the fastest performance of his career in the 1500m freestyle. In the process, he’s backed up his assertions that, in spite of changing coaches in an effort to continue to pursue open water, he’s still fully committed to the 1500 free in the pool.

Paltrinieri is the reigning Olympic gold medalist in this event from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, having put up a monster 14:34.57 for gold 4 years ago. His swim from the European Championships earlier that year, done in 14:34.04, previously stood as the continental mark in the event.

Tonight in Rome, however, the 25-year-old found a new gear to reach a time of 14:33.10 to not only claim the gold, but overtake his own previous PB, Italian Record, and European Record.

Paltrinieri’s time would have taken gold at last year’s World Championships ahead of winner Florian Wellbrock’s (GER) 14:36.54. Paltrinieri was 3rd in that Gwangju race, capturing bronze in 14:38.75.

All-Time Top 10 Performers, Men’s 1500m Freestyle

  1. Sun Yang, China – 14:31.02
  2. Gregorio Paltrinieri, Italy – 14:33.10
  3. Grant Hackett, Australia – 14:34.56
  4. Florian Wellbrock, Germany – 14:36.15
  5. Mykhailo Romanchuk, Ukraine – 14:36.88
  6. Ous Mellouli, Tunisia – 14:37.28
  7. Connor Jaeger, USA – 14:39.48
  8. Mack Horton, Australia – 14:39.54
  9. Ryan Cochrane, Canada – 14:39.63
  10. Gabriele Detti, Italy – 14:40.86

The entire breakdown of Paltrinieri’s performance, the 2nd best performance in history only behind Chinese swimmer Sun Yang’s WR of 14:31.02, is seen below.

 

As originally reported:

MEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE – FINAL

Sette Colli Record – Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), 14:49.06 2017
Italian Record – Gregorio Paltrinieri, 14:34.04 2016

  • GOLD – Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) 14:33.10
  • SILVER – Domenico Acerenza (ITA) 14:49.98
  • BRONZE – Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA) 15:06.29

Busting out the fastest 1500m free time of his career, Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri sizzled with a time of 14:33.10 to take the gold in the final event here at Sette Colli.

Paltrinieri held the Italian national record with the 14:34.04 that he swam at the 2016 European Championships before winning Olympic gold a few months later. His former best time was also the European record in the event.

Flash forward to tonight and the unstoppable 25-year-old blasted the 2nd fastest performance all-time. Only Chinese Olympic champion Sun Yang’s World Record of 14:31.02 from the 2012 Olympic Games has been faster.

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Torchbearer
3 years ago

Sad when you think this could have been his swim at the Olympics a few weeks ago…..

Corn Pop
Reply to  Torchbearer
3 years ago

Hardly sad . He is lucky he has & has had training opportunities .

Andy
3 years ago

Were the announced doping tests during training still in place during the lockdown?

straightblackline
3 years ago

Awesome swim. With Wellbrock, Romanchuk, Grgic ….the 1500 at the Olympics will be one for the ages. Just a query about the top ten list. Shouldn’t Zhang Lin(he of the ridiculous 7.32.12 WR in the 800) be on it? I believe he swam 14.35.43 at the Asian Games in 2010.

straightblackline
Reply to  straightblackline
3 years ago

I don’t know how I got it mixed up. Thanks for clarifying it.

Justhereforfun
3 years ago

I’m not sure if this meet is streamed live or someone is patient enough to film the whole 1500, but I NEED a video of this race

giuseppe mostini
Reply to  Justhereforfun
3 years ago
Polar
3 years ago

I’m just thrilled to see this, absolutely insane!!

DLswim
3 years ago

He “only” went 56.6 in the last 100… if he had gone 53.5 like Sun did when he set the world record, he would have set a new WR and gone under 14:30. Crazy!

sabeaumont
Reply to  DLswim
3 years ago

Sun Yang has always been much better in the 200/400 free though do I don’t know if that’s realistic. Definitely helps with his closing speed.

giuseppe mostini
Reply to  DLswim
3 years ago

greg’s real problem is the tacks! unfortunately he loses about 3 tenths per turn from his opponents his real time would be 14.24s! when someone reminds him he gets really angry. it is a detail that makes him inexplicably nervous and touchy

Luigi
Reply to  DLswim
3 years ago

I don’t think Greg could swim a no-dive 53 if his life depended on it. He just doesn’t have that gear.

swimfan210_
3 years ago

Very impressive! He really crushed it in this final swim. If he remains on this form and gets a chance to swim shaved/tapered, I think he will go under 14:30. I really hope to see a world record go down in 2020! This one’s got incentive for sure as I think we all want to see the record belong to someone who earned it fair and square. Also I wonder what Romanchuk would have gone if he swam. It would be a good race.

DLswim
Reply to  swimfan210_
3 years ago

I think he was shaved for this, judging from the video (except for a slight stache…).

giuseppe mostini
3 years ago

paltrinieri swims every year doing extraordinary times even without opponents. romanchuk and wellbrok disappear and when there are big competitions … et voila! make amazing times! I would like them to do 14.34.14.40 every year and not just when needed. as for doping … all top athletes use it … everyone! not only sun yang … maybe he exceeds … maybe

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Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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