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 Grande Ufficiale OMRI (Italian pronunciation: [fedeˈriːka pelleˈɡriːni]; born 5 August 1988) is an Italian retired swimmer. A native of Mirano, in the province of Venice, she won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the 2009 World Championships in Rome (long course swimming pool, 50 m), Pellegrini became the first woman ever to break the 4-minute barrier in the 400 m freestyle with a time of 3:59.15. She also held the women's 200 meters freestyle world record (long course, 50 m).

Pellegrini is the only swimmer − male or female − to have won eight medals in a row in the same event (200 meters freestyle) at the World Championships. She is also the first female Olympic swimming champion from Italy and the only Italian swimmer to have set world records in more than one event. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, she became the first female swimmer to qualify for five consecutive Olympic finals in the same specialty (200 m freestyle). She is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Pellegrini retired from active competition in 2021. She was nicknamed "La Divina" ("The Divine") by Italian sport journalists.

Biography

Career

2004 Olympics

Pellegrini's first international podium was at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where she won the silver medal in the 200 m freestyle at the age of 16, becoming the youngest Italian athlete ever to win an Olympic medal in an individual event.

2005–2007

Pellegrini competed at the 2005 Montreal, where she got a silver in the 200 m freestyle, just behind Solenne Figuès, after being the favourite in the event, because of setting previously the best time of the season in the distance. Two years after, she took part of the 400 m freestyle, her first attempt in the event, where she finished fifth. Then she competed also at the 200 m freestyle, where, in the semi-finals, she set her first world record of her career, with a time of 1:56:47, beating the previous one belonging to Franziska van Almsick. But it was beaten the day after in the final by her rival Laure Manaudou, who got the gold medal and immediately broke her world record, while she got just the bronze, behind Annika Lurz too.

2008

Pellegrini's first long course (50 meters) gold medal came at the 2008 European Championships in Eindhoven, where she won the 400 m freestyle setting a world record (4:01.53). She was disqualified in the heats of 200 m freestyle for a wrong start.

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, she arrived as the world-record holder and favourite for the gold medal in the 400 m freestyle, having set the Olympic record in the heats (4:02.19), but only finished 5th in the final. On the same day, she recovered from that disappointment by setting a world record (1:55.45) in the heats of the 200 m freestyle; in the final, she broke her own world record (1:54.82) and won her first Olympic gold medal.

Pellegrini also proved her strength in short course events at the 2008 European Short Course Championships in Rijeka, when she won the gold medal in the 200 m freestyle at a world-record pace (1:51.85). At the 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Pellegrini broke the world record in the 400 m freestyle with a time of 4:00.41 to better Joanne Jackson's record of 4:00.66.

2009 World Championships

Pellegrini at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships

At the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Pellegrini broke the world record again in the 400 m freestyle with a time of 3:59.15, winning the gold medal and in doing so becoming the first female swimmer to break the 4-minute barrier in the event; she won the gold medal also in the 200 m freestyle and she broke her own world record with a time of 1:52.98. At 2009 European Short Course Championships in Istanbul she broke the world record in the 200 m freestyle with a time of 1:51.17. At the 2010 European Championships in Budapest Pellegrini won the bronze medal in the 800 m freestyle, behind Lotte Friis and Ophélie-Cyrielle Étienne, and the gold medal in the 200 m freestyle with a time of 1:55.45; in the same year, she announced that she would be working with Laure Manadou's former coach, Philippe Lucas.

2011 World Championships

At the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, Pellegrini won the gold medal in the 400 m freestyle with a time of 4:01.97, becoming the second female swimmer after Laure Manaudou to win the gold medal in this event at two consecutive World Aquatics Championships. Two days later, she won the gold medal in the 200 m freestyle too with a time of 1:55:58, becoming the first female swimmer ever to win this title at two consecutive editions of the World Aquatics Championships; after the success in Shanghai, she parted ways with her French coach and began working with Federico Bonifacenti.

2012

In May 2012, she was surprisingly excluded from the final of the 400 m freestyle at the 2012 European Aquatics Championships, after winning two gold medals in other events (200-metre freestyle and 4 × 200 m freestyle relay) and a bronze medal in 4 × 100 freestyle relay.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Pellegrini finished fifth in the 400 metres freestyle with a time of 4:04.50 and the 200 metres freestyle with a time of 1:56.73.

2013 World Championships

After the Olympics, Pellegrini declared she wouldn't take part to 200 and 400 metres freestyle at 2013 World Aquatics Championships to take a gap year. She chose to prepare herself for 200 metres backstroke competition to compete for Italy at World Championships. Anyway, with a last-minute decision, Pellegrini took part to 200 metres freestyle event at the 2013 World Championships and eventually won a silver medal with a time of 1:55.14, her best since Rome. Pellegrini won the silver medal behind Missy Franklin.

2014

At the 2014 European Aquatics Championships she repeated herself, winning the two gold medals of the previous championship, in the 200-metre freestyle (preceding Hosszú and Heemskerk) and in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay, this one with an exceptional vamp over the Swedish team. She took part of 400-metre freestyle too, finishing fourth in the final, and this was her last international competition in that event.

2015 World Championships

Pellegrini during Victory Ceremony of the 200 m freestyle at Kazan 2015

At the World Aquatics Championships held in Kazan (Russia) in 2015, she won the silver medal in 200 metres freestyle behind Katie Ledecky and ahead of Missy Franklin with a time of 1:55.32, and the silver medal in the 4 × 200 meter freestyle relay behind the United States. By winning the silver medal in the individual 200 metres freestyle, she became the first female swimmer in history to get a medal in the same event at six consecutive World Championships.

2016

Pellegrini flagbearer for Italy at Rio de Janeiro 2016

In May 2016, she competed in European Championships in London and won the 200m freestyle with a time of 1:55.93, beating Femke Heemskerk from Holland. At the Settecolli, in June, she set the Italian record in the 100 freestyle (53:18), and she made a very interesting time in the 200 freestyle (1:54:55), her personal best with the textile suit.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Pellegrini was flagbearer for Italy, and competed in the following disciplines: 200m freestyle, and in the 4 × 100 and 4 × 200 m freestyle relays.

Pellegrini missed the podium during the competition, ranking fourth during the 200 m final. Eventually, she stated that failing to win an Olympic medal in the women's 200 metres freestyle final in Rio de Janeiro was so devastating for her that she may consider "making changes to her life".

Nevertheless, she got a prime redemption at the World Short Course Championships in Windsor (Ontario), because she won her first gold medal in the 200 freestyle, beating Katinka Hosszú.

2017

Pellegrini competed in a Milan meet on 12 March 2017 and finished first in 100 m freestyle with 54.77 and second in 100 m backstroke with 1:01.59. She competed in Indiana 2017 Arena Pro Swim Series in 2–4 March 2017 and won gold in 200 m freestyle with a time of 1:56.07. At the World Aquatics Championships held in Budapest, she won the gold medal in 200 metres freestyle ahead of both Katie Ledecky and Emma McKeon with a time of 1:54.73. This was Ledecky's first loss at a major event. By winning the gold medal in the individual 200 metres freestyle, she became the first swimmer ever to get a medal in the same event at seven consecutive World Championships. She competed in the 100 metres freestyle too.

2018, the sabbatical year

After winning her seventh consecutive medal at the World championships of Budapest 2017 Pellegrini decides to allow herself a sabbatical with milder training and partial abandonment of her beloved 200m freestyle. And this is how at the European Championships in Copenhagen in December 2017 as individual competitions she participates in the 100 m freestyle which she finishes in seventh position in the final, and in the 100 m backstroke where she does not qualify for the final swimming only the tenth time of the semifinals. The only satisfaction of this review is the bronze medal in the 4 × 50 mixed freestyle relay.

We continue on this path also at the European Long Course Championships in Glasgow of the following season where there is only a fifth place in the final of the 100 m freestyle and several placings at the foot of the podium in the relays, but also in this case Pellegrini seemed do not show up for the appointment in optimal conditions.

2019

Pellegrini won the gold medal (her fourth overall) in the 200 m freestyle race at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships held at Gwangju, with a time of 1:54.22, before Ariarne Titmus and Sarah Sjöström, taking advantage of Katie Ledecky, Emma McKeon and Taylor Ruck's withdrawals in the event, and so improving her record of being the one, among female and male swimmers, to achieve eight podiums in the same event during eight consecutive editions of the World Championships earning the title of 9th-most decorated swimmer history with individuals medals alone. She didn't go beyond the heats in the 50 metres freestyle and in the 100 metres freestyle. She took part in the finals of the 4×100-metre mixed freestyle relay and the 4 × 100 m medley relay.

2021

In May, Pellegrini competed at the European Championships in Budapest, where she won double silver medal respectively in the 200m freestyle and in the 4 × 200 m mixed freestyle, and a triple bronze medal in the 4 × 200 m freestyle, in the 4 × 100 m mixed freestyle and in the 4 × 100 m medley.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, she qualified for the final of the 200 metre freestyle. This made her the second swimmer in history (after Michael Phelps) to qualify for the final of the same event five times.

Pellegrini announced that she would retire at the conclusion of her third ISL season. Her final race as a professional was in her home country in Riccione on 30 Nov 2021.

Celebrity

In August 2015 a section of the Lungomare delle Stelle of Jesolo was named after Federica Pellegrini and, as per tradition, the cast of the athlete's hands was made, preserved in the museum Kursaal of the city.

Television

From 2019 to 2022 she was a judge on the talent show Italia's Got Talent , broadcast on TV8 and Sky Uno. Since October 2021 she has hosted some episodes of Le Iene with Nicola Savino. In October 2022 she was one of the contestants in the tenth edition of Peking Express, paired with her husband Matteo Giunta. In September 2024 she participated in "Ballando con le Stelle" Italy's version of Dancing with the Stars with her partner dancer Angelo Madonia.

Television programs

Personal life

From August 2011 to late 2016, Pellegrini was in a relationship with swimmer Filippo Magnini, having previously been engaged to another teammate, Luca Marin.

On 30 October 2021, Pellegrini announced her engagement to her long-time coach Matteo Giunta. They married at San Zaccaria, Venice, on 27 August 2022. On January 3, 2024 they had a baby girl named Matilde.

Personal bests

Pellegrini currently holds 3 European records (ER) and 16 National records (NR). Her personal bests are (as of 15 December 2019):

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)

International championships (50 m)

     Did not compete

Meet	100 free	200 free	400 free	800 free	200 back	4 × 100 free	4 × 200 free	4 × 100 medley	4 × 100 mixed free	4 × 100 mixed med	4 × 200 mixed free
WC 2003						8th					not scheduled
EC 2004		4th				5th		4th
OG 2004	10th					10th		DSQ(h)
WC 2005	10th							5th
EC 2006		heats				6th	5th	DSQ(h)
WC 2007			5th				13th	10th
EC 2008		DSQ(h)
OG 2008			5th			10th	4th	14th
WC 2009							4th
EC 2010
WC 2011							13th	14th
EC 2012			10th
OG 2012		5th	5th			12th	7th	11th
WC 2013					9th	10th	7th	DSQ(h)
EC 2014			4th							5th
WC 2015						6th			5th
EC 2016							5th
OG 2016		4th				6th	13th	8th
WC 2017	15th					10th		8th	5th	8th
EC 2018	5th					5th		4th	4th	5th
WC 2019	22nd									6th	not scheduled
EC 2021						6th
OG 2021	DNS	7th					DSQ	6th		4th

Pellegrini swam only in the heats

Pellegrini qualified from the heats, but scratched the semi-finals

National championships

Pellegrini won 129 national swimming championships (both individual and relay races), in absolute (24), winter (38) and spring (66) editions

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