University of Florida’s Anita Bottazzo Bests Field in 100 Breaststroke at Italian Champs
The women’s 100-meter breaststroke has been a battleground in Italy in recent years, with several names representing the country in international competition. On the opening day of the Italian Championships in Riccione, the event once again represented a gauntlet.
Surging to the lead on the opening length, Anita Bottazzo fended off her challengers to capture first place in 1:05.82, the only sub-1:06 effort in the field. Bottazzo moved in front of the blocks and touched at the turn in 30.61. She came home in 35.21 to finish ahead of Lisa Angiolini, who touched second in 1:06.01. Bottazzo recently wrapped up her college season at the University of Florida, where she won the consolation final of the 100 breaststroke at the NCAA Championships.
Angiolini was closing on Bottazzo down the stretch, thanks to a back-half split of 34.56. Placing third was Arianna Castiglioni, who turned in a time of 1:06.22. Missing from the final was Benedetta Pilato, who was fifth in the prelims at 1:07.74, but did not race in the championship heat.
In the men’s 50 freestyle, Leonardo Deplano blasted the competition with a mark of 21.62. That time got Deplano to the wall nearly a half-second ahead of Lorenzo Zazzeri, who was timed in 22.10. Deplano was a member of Italy’s bronze-medal 400 freestyle relay at last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Alberto Razetti came through with a victory in the men’s 200 butterfly. Trailing Federico Burdisso through the first 100 meters, Razetti moved to the front of the field at the 150-meter turn and cruised to a comfortable win. Razetti stopped the clock in 1:55.06, which was more than a second faster than runnerup Claudio Faraci (1:56.27). Third place was earned by Alessandro Ragaini (1:56.53), while Burdisso was fourth in 1:57.26.
Veteran Simona Quadarella had no trouble topping the field in the 800 freestyle, as she moved through her 16 laps in 8:24.85, which was good for a nearly nine-second triumph over Emma Giannelli (8:33.53). Quadarella has been one of the world’s most consistent distance swimmers through the years, evidenced by an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo and World Championships podium appearances spanning 2017-2024.
The men’s 400 freestyle featured a runaway by Marco De Tullio, who prevailed by three seconds behind a swim of 3:46.90. De Tullio was ahead of the field by more than a second through the opening 100 meters and was in front by two-seconds plus at the midway point. Second place went to Davide Marchello (3:49.91).
Other victories were claimed by:
Christian Bacico (Men’s 50 Backstroke) – 24.83
Anna Pirovano (Women’s 400 IM) – 4:40.77