14-Year-Old Bendetta Pilato Sprints to 50 Breast Top Seed Over King, Carraro at World Swimming Championships

Benedetta Pilato of Italy was the only swimmer to break 30 seconds in the heats. Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / deepbluemedia

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FINA World Swimming Championships

Gwangju 2019

Day Seven Heats (Women’s 50 Breaststroke)

14-year-old Italian Benedetta Pilato, just the third youngest in the entire event, swam to the top seed in the 50 breaststroke on Saturday morning at the 2019 FINA World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Pilato was born January 18, 2005, and only two swimmers in the entire event are younger than her. Saint Lucia’s Naima Hazell was born in June 2005 while Mali’s Aichata Konate was born in December.

Despite her being so young, Pilato was the only swimmer to break 30 seconds in the heats of the 50 breast with a 29.98. World record holder and reigning World Champion Lilly King qualified in the second spot at 30.18 as she is feeling a little more refreshed than some of her rivals since she was disqualified in the heats of the 200 breaststroke.

“It was good,” King said. “I’m honestly just glad I didn’t have to do a turn in that race! So yeah – it felt pretty good, pretty easy.”

King was disqualified for a non-simultaneous touch in the 200 breast prelims, which USA Swimming protested immediately after. The DQ was sent to a jury of appeal but the disqualification was solidified and King was not granted a spot in the semifinals.

“I was just trying to stay calm throughout the whole process,” King said. The DQ wasn’t formally announced until an hour before the start of finals on Thursday.

“I knew that Team USA was pulling out every stop they could to try and get the DQ overturned so keeping that in the back of my mind I think, just kind of kept me calm throughout the day. It is something you just have to deal with so I just have to put it past me and move on to the 50.”

King was able to qualify without incident this morning as she is looking to win her second gold medal of the meet.

Italian Martina Carraro is the third seed at 30.38 as the Italians showed out well this morning. Veteran Alia Atkinson (30.53) of Jamaica is seeded fourth while 2013 World Champ Yulia Efimova (30.63) is seeded fifth for Russia.

Australia’s Jessica Hansen (30.69), Belarus’ Alina Zmushka (30.71) and Finland’s Ida Hulkko (30.72) also moved through to the semifinals.

1	PILATO	Benedetta	ITA	29.98
2	KING	Lilly	USA	30.18
3	CARRARO	Martina	ITA	30.38
4	ATKINSON	Alia	JAM	30.53
5	EFIMOVA	Yuliya	RUS	30.63
6	HANSEN	Jessica	AUS	30.69
7	ZMUSHKA	Alina	BLR	30.71
8	HULKKO	Ida	FIN	30.72
9	HANSSON	Sophie	SWE	30.96
10	METZ	Rosey	NED	30.99
11	SCHOUTEN	Tes	NED	31.03
12	SZTANKOVICS	Anna	HUN	31.13
13	BELOUSOVA	Anna	RUS	31.20
13	SUO	Ran	CHN	31.20
15	ELENDT	Anna	GER	31.24
16	VERMEIREN	Fleur	BEL	31.36

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