Simona Quadarella Becomes Italy’s Fastest Short Course 1500 Freestyler

While competing at Pietralata Federal Center in Rome, Italy over the weekend, Italian swimmer Simona Quadarella scored a new national record in the women’s short course 1500m freestyle. Winning the event at the regional championships competition, Quadarella clocked a swift mark of 15:49.92, crushing the previous national record of 15:56.25 held by Aurora Ponselè since 2014.

Heading into her most recent meet, Quadarella was already less than a second off of the Italian record, having registered a personal best of 15:56.78 earlier this month. Her 15:49 outing this weekend, therefore, represents the first time an Italian woman has dipped beneath the 15:50 threshold in the short course 1500m freestyle event. Quadarella now tops the world rankings, representing the only female under the 16:00-mark at this point in the season.

The 18-year-old Circolo Canottieri Aniene swimmer is steadily emerging on the international distance freestyle scene, having made her mark at last year’s World Junior Championships in Singapore. After finishing 2nd to America’s Sierra Schmidt in the 800m free, Quadarella brought home the gold in the 1500, establishing a new meet record in the process.

The 1500m distance for women is not offered at the FINA World Short Course Championships, but Quadarella is expected to compete in the 800m race where she is currently ranked 10th internationally.