Sara Curtis & Lisa Angiolini Scorch To Italian Records In Riccione
Sara Curtis and Lisa Angiolini each wrote their own line in the Italian record books on a thrilling night of action on day two of the national championships in Riccione.
Curtis scorched to 27.33 in the 50 back to take 0.06 off Silvia Scala’s Italian standard of 27.39 that stood since the 2022 European Championships in Rome.
Sara Curtis: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
The 19-year-old served notice with a 27.51 prelim PB which sliced 0.39 off her previous best of 27.90 at the 2025 edition.
It comfortably secured her a place on the Italian team for the European Championships in Paris in August and elevates her to third in the rankings behind USA duo Katharine Berkoff and Isabelle Stadden who went 27.24 and 27.29 at last month’s Pro Swim Series in Westmont.
Curtis has made the transition from junior to senior waters and has returned from the USA for the meet where she swims and studies at the University of Virginia.
“I’m very happy because it was one of the goals of these championships,” she said through the Italian federation. “I’m happy with what I’m doing in the United States: I study and train great.”
Federica Toma (28.20) and Francesca Pasquino (28.32) joined Curtis on the podium.
It follows Michele Lamberti’s 50 back record of 24.38 on the opening night in Riccione and with Angiolini’s performance, it brings to three the number of national standards set in two days of competition.
Angiolini Takes Down 200 Breaststroke Record
Lisa Angiolini@ Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
Angiolini also wrote her own line in history with a 2:22.28 standard in the 200m breaststroke. The 31-year-old – who won the 100 breast on the opening day in Riccione – sliced 0.78 off Francesca Fangio’s previous record of 2:23.06 from the Sette Colli meet in June 2021.
She reached halfway in 1:08.01 and accelerated with a 36.73 third 50 before coming home in 37.45. In the process Angiolini destroyed her previous best of 2:24.71 from 2024 and booked her ticket to Paris.
“I must say that I had this record in my sights for a long time,” she said. “But I didn’t think I could go so fast: I’m still in disbelief. I am overjoyed, I have no words. It is difficult to realise what happened…It’s one of the best nights of my career.”
Fangio was second in 2:26.10 with Anna Pirovano third in 2:27.00.
Cerasuolo Rattles Rankings
Simone Cerasuolo broke the 59sec barrier for the first time in the 100 breaststroke as he lowered his PB to 58.82, slicing 0.72 from his previous best from 2023.
Simone Crasuolo: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
It was well within the cut for the European Championships and propels him second in the rankings behind Japanese youngster Shin Ohashi who clocked 58.67 at last month’s Japan Swim.
Federico Poggio (59.92) and Gabriele Mancini (59.98) joined him on the podium.
Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi and Ludovico Blu Art Viberti were both ruled out with injury.
Alberto Razzetti claimed the 200 fly title in 1:54.99 followed by Andrea Camozzi (PB, 1:55.54) and Matteo Christopher Palmisani (PB, 1:56.00) as all three men hit the qualification time for Paris.
- Michele Lamberti clinched the 50/100 back double with a 53.79 victory in the longer race.
- Anita Gastaldi hit a PB of 58.10 to win the women’s 100 fly
- Bianca Nannucci won the women’s 200 free in 1:57.82 ahead of Anna Chiara Mascolo (1:58.09) and Simona Quadarella (1:58.23) with all three women setting PBs