Federica Pellegrini facts for kids

Pellegrini in 2009
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Nickname(s)	la Divina
Born	(1988-08-05) 5 August 1988 (age 36) Mirano, Italy
Height	1.79 m
Weight	65 kg
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	Circolo Canottieri Aniene
Coach	Matteo Giunta
Medal record Women's swimming Representing Italy International podiums Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 1 1 0 World Championships (LC) 6 4 1 World Championships (SC) 1 2 5 European Championships (LC) 7 6 7 European Championships (SC) 7 4 6 Universiade 2 1 1 Mediterranean Games 2 0 0 By individual race Event 1st 2nd 3rd 200 m freestyle 17 7 1 400 m freestyle 5 2 4 800 m freestyle 1 1 1 By relay race Event 1st 2nd 3rd 4 × 50 m freestyle 1 0 2 4 × 100 m freestyle 0 3 3 4 × 200 m freestyle 2 1 3 4 × 50 m medley 0 1 2 4 × 100 m medley 0 0 2 4 × 50 m mixed freestyle 0 0 1 4 × 100 m mixed freestyle 0 1 1 4 × 200 m mixed freestyle 0 1 0 4 × 100 m mixed medley 0 1 0 Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing 200 m freestyle Silver 2004 Athens 200 m freestyle World Championships (LC) Gold 2009 Rome 200 m freestyle Gold 2009 Rome 400 m freestyle Gold 2011 Shanghai 200 m freestyle Gold 2011 Shanghai 400 m freestyle Gold 2017 Budapest 200 m freestyle Gold 2019 Gwangju 200 m freestyle Silver 2005 Montreal 200 m freestyle Silver 2013 Barcelona 200 m freestyle Silver 2015 Kazan 200 m freestyle Silver 2015 Kazan 4 × 200 m freestyle Bronze 2007 Melbourne 200 m freestyle World Championships (SC) Gold 2016 Windsor 200 m freestyle Silver 2006 Shanghai 200 m freestyle Silver 2016 Windsor 4 × 100 m freestyle Bronze 2006 Shanghai 400 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Dubai 400 m freestyle Bronze 2014 Doha 4 × 100 m freestyle Bronze 2016 Windsor 4 × 50 m freestyle Bronze 2018 Hangzhou 4 × 100 m medley European Championships (LC) Gold 2008 Eindhoven 400 m freestyle Gold 2010 Budapest 200 m freestyle Gold 2012 Debrecen 200 m freestyle Gold 2012 Debrecen 4 × 200 m freestyle Gold 2014 Berlin 200 m freestyle Gold 2014 Berlin 4 × 200 m freestyle Gold 2016 London 200 m freestyle Silver 2008 Eindhoven 4 × 100 m freestyle Silver 2016 London 4 × 100 m freestyle Silver 2016 London 4 × 100 m mixed freestyle Silver 2016 London 4 × 100 m mixed medley Silver 2020 Budapest 4 × 200 m mixed freestyle Silver 2020 Budapest 200 m freestyle Bronze 2008 Eindhoven 4 × 200 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Budapest 800 m freestyle Bronze 2012 Debrecen 4 × 100 m freestyle Bronze 2014 Berlin 4 × 100 m freestyle Bronze 2020 Budapest 4 × 200 m freestyle Bronze 2020 Budapest 4 × 100 m mixed freestyle Bronze 2020 Budapest 4 × 100 m medley European Championships (SC) Gold 2005 Trieste 200 m freestyle Gold 2008 Rijeka 200 m freestyle Gold 2009 Istanbul 200 m freestyle Gold 2010 Eindhoven 800 m freestyle Gold 2013 Herning 200 m freestyle Gold 2015 Netanya 200 m freestyle Gold 2015 Netanya 4 × 50 m freestyle Silver 2006 Helsinki 400 m freestyle Silver 2007 Debrecen 400 m freestyle Silver 2019 Glasgow 200 m freestyle Silver 2019 Glasgow 4 × 50 m medley Bronze 2005 Trieste 400 m freestyle Bronze 2008 Rijeka 4 × 50 m medley Bronze 2010 Eindhoven 4 × 50 m medley Bronze 2011 Szczecin 4 × 50 m freestyle Bronze 2013 Herning 400 m freestyle Bronze 2017 Copenhagen 4 × 50 m mixed freestyle Universiade Gold 2007 Bangkok 200 m freestyle Gold 2007 Bangkok 400 m freestyle Silver 2007 Bangkok 800 m freestyle Bronze 2007 Bangkok 4 × 200 m freestyle Mediterranean Games Gold 2009 Pescara 400 m freestyle Gold 2009 Pescara 4 × 100 m freestyle National championships Event 1st 2nd 3rd Absolute 24 6 4 Spring 66 15 9 Winter 39 15 2

Federica Pellegrini is an Italian swimmer who has now retired. She was born on August 5, 1988, in Mirano, Italy. Federica is famous for her amazing achievements in freestyle races. People often called her "La Divina," which means "The Divine" in Italian.

Federica won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the 2009 World Championships in Rome, she made history. She was the first woman to swim the 400-meter freestyle in under 4 minutes! Her time was 3:59.15. She also held the world record for the women's 200-meter freestyle.

Federica is the only swimmer, both male and female, to win eight medals in a row in the same event (200-meter freestyle) at the World Championships. She was also the first Italian woman to win an Olympic swimming gold medal. She is the only Italian swimmer to set world records in more than one event. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, she became the first female swimmer to reach five Olympic finals in a row for the 200-meter freestyle. Federica stopped competing in 2021.

Biography: Federica Pellegrini's Swimming Journey

Early Career and Olympic Debut

Federica's first big international win was at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. She was only 16 years old when she won a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle. This made her the youngest Italian athlete ever to win an Olympic medal in an individual event.

At the 2005 World Championships in Montreal, she won another silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle. Two years later, at the 2007 World Championships, she set her first world record in the 200-meter freestyle. However, her rival, Laure Manaudou, broke that record the very next day. Federica still earned a bronze medal.

Breaking Records and Olympic Gold

In 2008, Federica won her first gold medal in a long course (50-meter pool) event. This was at the European Championships in Eindhoven. She won the 400-meter freestyle and set a new world record.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she was expected to win the 400-meter freestyle. She set an Olympic record in the heats but finished 5th in the final. However, she quickly bounced back! On the same day, she set a new world record in the 200-meter freestyle heats. In the final, she broke her own record and won her first Olympic gold medal.

Federica also showed her strength in short course (25-meter pool) events. At the 2008 European Short Course Championships, she won gold in the 200-meter freestyle with another world record. At the 2009 Mediterranean Games, she broke the 400-meter freestyle world record again.

World Championship Dominance

Pellegrini at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships

The 2009 World Championships in Rome were incredible for Federica. She broke the 400-meter freestyle world record again, becoming the first woman to swim it in under 4 minutes. She also won gold in the 200-meter freestyle, breaking her own world record.

At the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, Federica continued her winning streak. She won gold in both the 400-meter and 200-meter freestyle events. This made her the first female swimmer to win the 200-meter freestyle title at two World Championships in a row.

Later Career and Continued Success

After the 2012 Olympics, Federica decided to focus on different events. However, she made a last-minute decision to compete in the 200-meter freestyle at the 2013 World Championships. She won a silver medal, showing her amazing talent.

At the 2014 European Aquatics Championships, she won two more gold medals. She won the 200-meter freestyle and was part of the winning 4 × 200-meter freestyle relay team. This was her last international competition in the 400-meter freestyle event.

Pellegrini during the medal ceremony for the 200-meter freestyle at Kazan 2015.

At the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, she won a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle. She also won a silver medal with the 4 × 200-meter freestyle relay team. By winning the individual 200-meter freestyle silver, she became the first female swimmer to win a medal in the same event at six World Championships in a row.

Pellegrini was the flagbearer for Italy at the Rio de Janeiro 2016.

In 2016, Federica won the 200-meter freestyle at the European Championships in London. She was also the flagbearer for Italy at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Although she finished fourth in the 200-meter final, she later won her first gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle at the World Short Course Championships.

In 2017, at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, she won gold in the 200-meter freestyle. This was a big win, as it was Katie Ledecky's first loss at a major event. Federica became the first swimmer to win a medal in the same event at seven World Championships in a row.

In 2019, Federica won her fourth gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju. This improved her record to eight podium finishes in the same event at the World Championships.

In 2021, at the European Championships in Budapest, she won two silver medals and three bronze medals in various freestyle and medley relay events. At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, she reached the final of the 200-meter freestyle. This made her the second swimmer ever (after Michael Phelps) to qualify for the final of the same event five times. Federica officially retired from professional swimming in November 2021.

Life Outside the Pool

Public Recognition

In August 2015, a part of the Lungomare delle Stelle in Jesolo was named after Federica Pellegrini. This is a special walkway where famous people are honored. Her handprints were also made and are kept in the Kursaal museum in the city.

Television Appearances

Federica has also appeared on television. From 2019 to 2022, she was a judge on the talent show Italia's Got Talent . She also co-hosted some episodes of Le Iene in 2021. In October 2022, she was a contestant on Peking Express with her husband, Matteo Giunta. In September 2024, she joined "Ballando con le Stelle," Italy's version of Dancing with the Stars.

Television Programs

Personal Life

Federica Pellegrini married her long-time coach, Matteo Giunta, on August 27, 2022. They had a baby girl named Matilde on January 3, 2024.

Personal Bests: Federica's Fastest Times

Federica Pellegrini holds 3 European records (ER) and 16 National records (NR). Here are some of her best times in different swimming events:

Event	Long course (year)	Short course (year)
50 m freestyle	24.92 (2019)	24.55 (2017)
100 m freestyle	53.18 (2016)	52.10 (2019)
200 m freestyle	1:52.98 (2009)	1:51.17 (2009)
400 m freestyle	3:59.15 (2009)	3:57.59 (2011)
800 m freestyle	8:24.99 (2010)	8:15.20 (2010)
50 m backstroke	28.53 (2018)	30.01 (2003)
100 m backstroke	1.00.03 (2018)	57.55 (2018)
200 m backstroke	2:08.05 (2013)	2:03.75 (2013)
50 m butterfly	28.46 (2015)	28.59 (2005)
100 m butterfly	1:00.17 (2015)	1:00.39 (2015)
200 m butterfly	2:12.96 (2015)	2:08.69 (2013)
100 m medley		1:04.62 (2003)
200 m medley	2:17.25 (2009)	2:12.20 (2015)
4 × 50 m freestyle relay		1:35.61 (2016)
4 × 100 m freestyle relay	3:35.90 (2016)	3:29.48 (2014)
4 × 100 m mixed freestyle relay	3:24.55 (2016)
4 × 200 m freestyle relay	7:46.57 (2009)	7:43.18 (2018)
4 × 200 m mixed freestyle relay	7:32.37 (2018)
4 × 50 m medley relay		1:45.84 (2019)
4 × 100 m medley relay	3:56.50 (2019)	3:51.38 (2018)
4 × 100 m mixed medley relay	3:43.27 (2019)

See also

In Spanish: Federica Pellegrini para niños

• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women)
• Italian sportswomen multiple medalists at Olympics and World Championships
• Italian swimmers multiple medalists at the international competitions
• World record progression 200 metres freestyle
• World record progression 400 metres freestyle