World Championships, Simona Quadarella in final in 800 freestyle

Simona Quadarella in the finals in the 800. In the semifinals Silvia Di Pietro in the 50 butterfly with the Italian record, Thomas Ceccon in the 100 butterfly and Lorenzo Zazzeri and Leonardo Deplano in the 50 freestyle. That was the Italian balance of the morning in Singapore at the World Swimming Championships with seventh place for the Italian 4×200 freestyle relay team. The’gold went to Great Britain, silver for China and bronze medal for Ausralia

Three days after her silver with European record in the 1,500 (15’31″79), Simona Quadarella returns to the water and finds one more opponent than in the long distance: the Canadian star Summer McIntosh who wins the second battery in 8’19″88 compared to the 8’20″48 of the Italian. Ahead of them all travels in a higher gear the U.S. Ledecky, who in 8’14″62 is aiming for the 24th career rainbow gold.

“After the 1500 I entered the water obviously with a’different awareness and with great determination. I struggled a little bit more, but I think that is normal – declares Quadarella – Tomorrow the final will be very difficult, because McIntosh is hard to beat. The field of pretenders to the podium has widened and she could swim very close to Ledecky. I will always give my best”.

An astonishing Silvia Di Pietro shatters the Italian record in the 50 butterfly of 25″78 that she had set for fifth place at the 2014 Berlin Europeans and in 25″41 gets into the semifinals with the third fastest time. “Mamma mia what a surprise! I really didn”t think I was going so fast,” said the Roman swimmer.