Rome, 10 Aug. (LaPresse) – Sara Curtis has stormed into the final of the 100m freestyle at the European Swimming Championships with the second-fastest time, setting her sights high: never before has an Italian woman stood on the podium in this flagship event. The 20-year-old from Savigliano – who competes for the Italian Army and CS Roero, and is coached by Todd DeSorbo at the University of Virginia – clocked 52.93 seconds, with a blistering first 50 metres in 25.15 seconds and a more ‘controlled’ second 50 metres in 22.78 seconds, marking the second-fastest Italian time of all time behind her own record of 52.69 seconds, set in the final of the last Settecolli IP when Marrit Steenbergen broke the world record with a time of 51.68 seconds; it was the 26-year-old Dutch swimmer who confirmed her status as the fastest, setting a new meet record of 52.44 seconds, improving on the 52.62 recorded earlier that morning. “I’m very happy; it was the time I wanted, and my aim was to start alongside Marrit in the final,” explains the Piedmontese sprinter, who is coached in Italy by Thomas Maggiora. “So I’m happy because my split time is faster than at Settecolli and than this morning. Now I can’t wait for the final to come so I can give it my all and put myself to the test.” Emma Virginia Menicucci (Army/CC Aniene) finished fifteenth in 54.10.
European Swimming Championships: Curtis reaches the 100m freestyle final: “I can’t wait to put myself to the test”
Rome, 10 Aug. (LaPresse) – Sara Curtis has stormed into the final of the 100m freestyle at the European Swimming Championships with the second-fastest time, setting her sights high: never before has an Italian woman stood on the podium in this flagship event. The 20-year-old from Savigliano – who competes for the Italian Army and CS Roero, and is coached by Todd DeSorbo at the University of Virginia – clocked 52.93 seconds, with a blistering first 50 metres in 25.15 seconds and a more ‘controlled’ second 50 metres in 22.78 seconds, marking the second-fastest Italian time of all time behind her own record of 52.69 seconds, set in the final of the last Settecolli IP when Marrit Steenbergen broke the world record with a time of 51.68 seconds; it was the 26-year-old Dutch swimmer who confirmed her status as the fastest, setting a new meet record of 52.44 seconds, improving on the 52.62 recorded earlier that morning. “I’m very happy; it was the time I wanted, and my aim was to start alongside Marrit in the final,” explains the Piedmontese sprinter, who is coached in Italy by Thomas Maggiora. “So I’m happy because my split time is faster than at Settecolli and than this morning. Now I can’t wait for the final to come so I can give it my all and put myself to the test.” Emma Virginia Menicucci (Army/CC Aniene) finished fifteenth in 54.10.