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ROME, Italy, July 26. THE reigning world record holder Federica Pellegrini blasted the 4:00 barrier in the women's 400 free in front of a roaring home crowd at the FINA World Championships.
Pellegrini produced a stellar final 100 meters en route to capturing the record and the world record with an astounding 3:59.15. The swim bettered her previous mark of 4:00.41 set in Pescara, Italy earlier this year.
Great Britain went 2-3 to complete the podium. Joanne Jackson placed second in 4:00.60 to break her previous best of 4:00.66, which stood as a world record before Pellegrini broke it. Rebecca Adlington also went 4:00 with a third-place time of 4:00.79.
Allison Schmitt missed the American record in the event with a fourth-place 4:02.51. Katie Hoff's 4:02.20 from 2008 survived the attempt.
France's Coralie Balmy (4:03.29), Romania's Camelia Potec (4:03.41), France's Ophelie-Cyrielle Etienne (4:04.54) and Denmark's Lotte Friis (4:07.62) completed the race.