Benedetta Pilato Surprised Herself World Record Swim (Reaction + Race Video)

2021 LEN EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Swimming: Monday, May 17th – Sunday, May 23rd
• Budapest, Hungary
• Prelims at 10:00 am local/Finals at 6:00 pm local
• Event Site
• Entry List
• Live Stream

Following her world record-breaking performance in the women’s 50 breaststroke, Italian Benedetta Pilato told the media she was not expecting to break the world record as she thought she was swimming slower than she had during the prelims session. 

“I thought I was doing less than this morning, but not as much,” Pilato explained. “I honestly don’t know what to say. I felt so much the cheering of others. When I saw the time, I didn’t think it was so low.” 

Pilato explained that she was not even looking at setting the world record, aiming for her own European record instead. When she touched the wall, Pilato claimed she did not even initially recognize her time as a world record. 

“I still have to realize that I set the world record,” Pilato said, “I was thinking about the European record. In these days, I also had some problems with my knee. When Lilly King swam the world record, I was still a beginner.”

The 16-year-old Pilato swam to a final time of 29.30 in the 50 breaststroke during the semi-final session, slicing .1 off of Lilly King’s world record of 29.40 that was set in 2017. Pilato’s time also stands as a new World Junior Record, Championship Record, Italian National Record, and European Record. 

Pilato was the silver medalist at the 2019 World Championships in the event, finishing behind the aforementioned King as the two posted times of 30.00 and 29.84, respectively. Although she will not be able to swim the event at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Pilato will contest the 100m breaststroke.

Race Video 

Originally Reported by James Sutherland. 

WOMEN’S 50 BREAST SEMI-FINALS

• European Record: 29.48, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
• European Championship Record: 29.50, Bendetta Pilato (ITA), 2021

1. Benedetta Pilato (ITA), 29.30 WR
2. Yuliya Efimova (RUS), 30.25
3. Sarah Vasey (GBR), 30.35
4. Ida Hulkko (FIN), 30.39
5. Arianna Castiglioni (ITA), 30.44
6. Sophie Hansson (SWE), 30.53
7. Veera Kivirinta (FIN), 30.76
8. Tatiana Belonogoff (RUS), 30.84

The first women’s world record of the championships falls at the hands of 16-year-old stud Benedetta Pilato, as the Italian lowers the previous mark of 29.40 set by Lilly King in 2017.

Pilato also breaks the European Record of 29.48, set by Ruta Meilutyte in 2013, and re-lowers the Championship, Italian and World Junior Records she set in this morning’s prelims (29.50).

Pilato is the second swimmer to set a world record at these championships, with Kliment Kolesnikov doing so twice earlier in the meet in the men’s 50 backstroke.

Pilato was the silver medalist in this event at the 2019 World Championships behind King, and now has a chance to become Italy’s first European LC champion in this event tomorrow night. The 2019 European SC champion in this event, Pilato entered the meet with a best time of 29.61 set in December.