Ludovico Viberti Lowers Italian 50m Breaststroke Record In Sette Colli Prelims; Goes Third All-Time
Ludovico Viberti lowered the Italian 50m breaststroke record to 26.27 as he went third all-time in day two prelims at the Sette Colli in Rome.
The Paris Olympian took to the blocks on Friday morning with a best of 26.80 only to emerge a little over 26secs later having taken 0.06 from Nicolo Martinenghi’s standard of 26.33 en-route to the European title in 2022 at the same Foro Italico. It was also a meet record, outstripping Adam Peaty’s 2018 mark of 26.41.
“This record represents an enormous satisfaction, as well as the crowning achievement of so much work,” said Viberti through the Italian Federation. “Going to the World Championships was a goal but it is not a point of arrival: the goal is to always go fast.”
He now stands third all-time behind Peaty who owns the top six times topped by his 25.95 WR and Qin Haiyang with a best of 26.20.
Viberti displaced Ilya Shymanovich at the top of the rankings with the Belarus-born swimmer who competes as a neutral athlete having gone 26.37 in April.
The 23-year-old will return for the final at the Foro Italico on Friday evening where victory will see him secure the 50-100 double after he won the longer race in 59.06.