Rome, Aug. 16 (LaPresse) – At the European Swimming Championships, the spotlight on the final morning of competition is once again on Sara Curtis, who leads the 4x100m medley relay into the final with an Italian record in the 100m backstroke of 58.75, erasing the 58.92 set by multiple European champion Margherita Panziera at the Italian Championships in Riccione on April 4, 2019. The 19-year-old from Savigliano – registered with the Army and CS Roero, coached at Virginia University by Todd De Sorbo and in Italy by Thomas Maggiora – lowers her personal best of 1:00.35 by more than a second and a half. Another gem from the Piedmontese sprinter, adding to her gold with a world record in the 50m backstroke, silver with the 4x100m freestyle relay and bronze medals with the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay and in the 50m and 100m freestyle. Lisa Angiolini (58.75), Anita Gastaldi (58.03) and Emma Virginia Menicucci (54.10) complete the team, which qualifies with the fastest time of 3:57.11, one hundredth ahead of Germany in second with 3:57.12. The men’s 4x100m medley relay also reaches the final with the third-fastest time. Michele Lamberti (54.12), Nicolò Martinenghi (58.12), Michele Busa (51.54) and Carlos D’Ambrosio (47.84) finish in 3:31.62. Russia leads in 3:30.81, followed by Great Britain in 3:31.19.
Swimming, European Championships: Curtis sets record in 100m backstroke relay
Rome, Aug. 16 (LaPresse) – At the European Swimming Championships, the spotlight on the final morning of competition is once again on Sara Curtis, who leads the 4x100m medley relay into the final with an Italian record in the 100m backstroke of 58.75, erasing the 58.92 set by multiple European champion Margherita Panziera at the Italian Championships in Riccione on April 4, 2019. The 19-year-old from Savigliano – registered with the Army and CS Roero, coached at Virginia University by Todd De Sorbo and in Italy by Thomas Maggiora – lowers her personal best of 1:00.35 by more than a second and a half. Another gem from the Piedmontese sprinter, adding to her gold with a world record in the 50m backstroke, silver with the 4x100m freestyle relay and bronze medals with the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay and in the 50m and 100m freestyle. Lisa Angiolini (58.75), Anita Gastaldi (58.03) and Emma Virginia Menicucci (54.10) complete the team, which qualifies with the fastest time of 3:57.11, one hundredth ahead of Germany in second with 3:57.12. The men’s 4x100m medley relay also reaches the final with the third-fastest time. Michele Lamberti (54.12), Nicolò Martinenghi (58.12), Michele Busa (51.54) and Carlos D’Ambrosio (47.84) finish in 3:31.62. Russia leads in 3:30.81, followed by Great Britain in 3:31.19.