Ludovico Viberti, Sara Curtis Lead Big Italian Showing at Sette Colli
Although he could not match the Italian record he set during preliminaries, Ludovico Viberti continued to flash speed in the 50-meter breaststroke at the Sette Colli in Rome. In the final of the event at the Foro Italico, Viberti checked in with a time of 26.43, the second-fastest of his career. The only time he’s been faster came in the morning, when Viberti clocked 26.27 to become the No. 3 performer in history.
Viberti has set himself up as a leading contender for the world title in the 50 breaststroke, with the World Championships scheduled to begin next month in Singapore. Viberti led four men under the 27-second barrier in the 50 breaststroke, including runnerup Ivan Kozhakin (26.59) of Russia, who was racing as a neutral athlete. The Italian pair of Simone Cerasuolo (26.71) and Nicolo Martinenghi (26.89) finished third and fourth.
While Viberti will contend for the podium at this summer’s global showcase, his timing as an emerging sprint breaststroker is perfect. Earlier this year, the International Olympic Committee announced that 50-meter stroke events will be part of the Olympic program beginning with the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. The addition of sprint disciplines will provide greater opportunity for speed specialists such as Viberti.
Viberti led a big day for Italy, which is customary at the annual Sette Colli. The home Italian crowd was also treated to victories by Federico Burdisso, Sara Curtis and Benedetta Pilato. Burdisso logged a wire-to-wire triumph in the 200 butterfly, where he clocked 1:54.76 for the only sub-1:55 outing in the field. Burdisso was in front from the start, splitting 25.46 at the 50-meter mark and 53.89 at the midway point of the race. Burdisso had the fastest third 50 in the field and made the turn for home in 1:23.66. Japan’s Tomoru Honda was the runnerup, going 1:55.40.
Headed for the University of Virginia in the fall, Curtis topped the field in the women’s 100 freestyle, as she touched the wall in 53.73. She was followed by countrywomen Emma Menicucci (54.30), Sofia Morini (54.39) and Chiara Tarantino (54,54). Earlier this year, Curtis set the Italian record in the 100 free at 53.01.
Pilato captured top honors in the women’s 50 breaststroke, although her effort in the final was shy of what she produced during prelims. After going 29.99 during the morning heats, Pilato won the sprint breast title in 30.30, which was .11 quicker than the 30.41 of Finland’s Veera Kivirinta.
Simona Quadarella got the best of Germany’s Isabel Gose in the women’s 800 freestyle. After trailing during the first half of the race, Quadarella moved into the lead and slightly expanded her margin over the final laps. Quadarella won in 8:21.99, with Gose going 8:23.86.
Italy’s Anita Gastaldi clipped Great Britain’s Katie Shanahan in the women’s 100 backstroke, 1:01.08 to 1:01.09.
Germany Powered by Angelina Kohler and Florian Wellbrock
Florian Wellbrock led the men’s 800 freestyle early, dropped back to second, but reclaimed the lead late to earn the victory in 7:49.99. Wellbrock was challenged by Italy’s Luca De Tulli, who led in the middle of the race and finished in a time of 7:51.47.
Coming off a victory in the 50 butterfly on Thursday, Angelina Kohler maintained her momentum in the 100 butterfly. Kohler surged to a commanding lead and won in 57.07, a half-second ahead of Greece’s Anna Ntountounaki (57.58). The reigning world champion in the 100 fly, Kohler went out in 26.27, which enabled her to build a comfortable margin on the field.
In Other Action:
Russia’s Miron Lifintsev, representing the Neutral Athletes B, earned his second first-place finish of the meet. Lifintsev followed a victory in the 100 backstroke with a win in the 50 backstroke, where three athletes broke the 25-second barrier. Lifintsev went 24.78 to edge Italy’s Michele Lamberti and Russia’s Pavel Samusenko (NAB), who tied in 24.85.
In the men’s 100 freestyle, Russian Egor Kornev nearly beat his best time of the year when he won the event in 47.60. Kornev has been 47.42 in 2025, good for No. 5 in the world rankings, and he had no trouble defeating the opposition in Rome. Finishing behind Kornev was Italy’s Carlos D’Ambrosio, who recorded a mark of 48.18. Third place went to another Italian, as Manuel Frigo was timed in 48.38.
Sitting second after the opening butterfly leg, Ireland’s Ellen Walshe took the lead by the end of the backstroke leg and never relinquished that advantage en route to winning the 400 individual medley in 4:37.80. Walshe was only a little more than two seconds off her Irish record of 4:35.32, which she set earlier this year in Fort Lauderdale.
Hungarian Gabor Zombori prevailed in the men’s 400 individual medley, as he fended off a late charge by Italian Alberto Razzetti. Zombori got to the wall in 4:14.37, which was a little more than a second faster than the 4:15.43 of Razzetti, who was followed by Great Britain’s Max Litchfield (4:15.58). Razzetti was seventh at the halfway mark, but rallied over breaststroke and freestyle to finish second.