Benedetta Pilato (born 28 January 2005) is an Italian swimmer.
She is European champion and holder of the world record in the long course 50 metre breaststroke.
She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in the 100 metre breaststroke.
At the 2021 World Short Course Championships she won a silver medal in the 100 metre breaststroke.
Career
2019 World Aquatics Championships
Pilato competed in the women's 50 metre breaststroke at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, winning the silver medal, at the age of 14.
On 27 July 2019, at the beginning of the senior national team, at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, she entered the final of the 50 breaststroke with the third best time (30.17), after setting the new Italian record and winning her heat in 29.98, beating her previous record set at the Settecolli Trophy (30.13).
The next day she placed second on the podium in the breaststroke, finishing behind the American Lilly King.
2020
Pilato was the recipient of SwimSwam's World Junior Female Swimmer of the Year award for the year 2020.Dornan, Ben (2 January 2021).
"2020 Swammy Awards: World Jr Female Swimmer of the Year - Benedetta Pilato".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 13 June 2021.
2021
2020 Summer Olympics
At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Pilato entered as the number six seed in the 100 metre breaststroke, in the prelims round of competition on 25 July 2021, she was disqualified and did not advance to the semifinals round of competition.Sutherland, James (25 July 2021).
"Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 25 July 2021."
Olympic Swimming Results".
WTOP-FM.
24 July 2021.
Retrieved 25 July 2021.
The reason for Pilato's disqualification was that she did not move her feet on the same horizontal plane during her kicks, which is also known as a scissor kick.DeGeorge, Matthew (25 July 2021).
"Olympics: Tatjana Schoenmaker Sets Olympic Record in 100 Breast".
Swimming World.
Retrieved 25 July 2021.
International Swimming League
Pilato was selected to compete on team Energy Standard for the 2021 International Swimming League.Penland, Spencer (1 August 2021).
"ISL Season 3: Free Agency Period Closed After 36 Free Agent Signings In July".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 2 August 2021.
2021 European Short Course Championships
Leading up to the 2021 European Short Course Swimming Championships held at the Palace of Water Sports in Kazan, Russia in November, Pilato was highlighted as a competitor to watch in one of the top five female races, the 100 metre breaststroke, by SwimSwam.Race, Retta (1 November 2021).
"Top 5 Women's Races To Watch At 2021 European Short Course C'Ships".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 1 November 2021.
Pilato won her prelims heat in the 100 metre breaststroke on day one of competition, 2 November, with a time of 1:05.23 and ranked fourth amongst Italian swimmers.LEN (2 November 2021).
"2021 European Short Course Swimming Championships Kazan (RUS): Results 50m Breaststroke Women Preliminary".
Microplus Informatica.
Retrieved 2 November 2021.
As Pilato was the fourth fastest Italian across all prelims heats of the event, she did not advance to the semifinals since only the two fastest swimmers in the prelims heats from a country were eligible for the semifinals.Sutherland, James (2 November 2021).
"Pilato, Sabbioni Among Big Names Eliminated In Heats On Day 1 Of SC Euros".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 2 November 2021.
On the fifth day, she swam a 29.62 in the prelims heats of the 50 metre breaststroke and qualified for the semifinals ranked first.LEN (6 November 2021).
"2021 European Short Course Swimming Championships Kazan (RUS): Results 50m Breaststroke Women Preliminary".
Microplus Informatica.
Retrieved 6 November 2021.
Later in the day, she swam a 29.67 in the semifinals, ranked second overall, and advanced to the final of the event the next day.LEN (6 November 2021).
"2021 European Short Course Swimming Championships Kazan (RUS): Results 50m Breaststroke Women Semi-Final".
Microplus Informatica.
Retrieved 6 November 2021.Pezzato, Aglaia (6 November 2021).
"Europei Kazan: Finali E Semifinali Day 5 Recap Live" (in Italian).
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 6 November 2021.
On the last day of competition, Pilato won her first medal of the competition, a silver medal in the 50 metre breaststroke with a time of 29.75 seconds in the final.LEN (7 November 2021).
"2021 European Short Course Swimming Championships Kazan (RUS): Results 50m Breaststroke Women Final".
Microplus Informatica.
Retrieved 7 November 2021.Hamann, Michael (7 November 2021).
"2021 European Short Course Championships: Day 6 Finals Live Recap".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 7 November 2021.
2021 World Short Course Championships
Pilato entered to compete in one individual event at the 2021 World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the 50 metre breaststroke."
2021 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m): Athlete Entries".
FINA.
9 December 2021.
Retrieved 10 December 2021.Race, Retta (10 December 2021).
"Entry Lists Published For 2021 FINA Short Course World Championships".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 10 December 2021.
In the prelims heats of the event, she ranked third overall with a time of 29.73 seconds and qualified for the semifinals.FINA (16 December 2021).
"15th FINA World Swimming Championships 2021 Abu Dhabi (UAE): Women's 50m Breaststroke Heats Results Summary".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 16 December 2021.
Pilato qualified for the final of the 50 metre breaststroke with a time of 29.76 seconds in the semifinals, ranking fourth overall.FINA (16 December 2021).
"15th FINA World Swimming Championships 2021 Abu Dhabi (UAE): Women's 50m Breaststroke Semifinals Results Summary".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 16 December 2021.Hamann, Michael (16 December 2021).
"2021 Short Course World Championships: Day 1 Finals Live Recap".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 16 December 2021.
In the final, Pilato won the silver medal with a time of 29.50 seconds, finishing less than two-tenths of a second behind gold medalist Anastasia Gorbenko of Israel.FINA (17 December 2021).
"15th FINA World Swimming Championships 2021 Abu Dhabi (UAE): Women's 50m Breaststroke Final Results".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 17 December 2021.
Pilato split a 29.78 for the breaststroke leg of the 4×50 metre mixed medley relay in the prelims heats on day three, helping advance the relay to the final ranking fourth.FINA (18 December 2021).
"15th FINA World Swimming Championships 2021 Abu Dhabi (UAE): Mixed 4x50m Medley Relay Heats Results Summary".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 18 December 2021.
The finals relay, on which Nicolò Martinenghi substituted for Pilato, placed third and she won a bronze medal for her prelims contributions.FINA (18 December 2021).
"15th FINA World Swimming Championships 2021 Abu Dhabi (UAE): Mixed 4x50m Medley Relay Final Results".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 18 December 2021.
World records
;Long course
Personal bests
;Long course
Awards and honours
SwimSwam Swammy Award, World Junior Female Swimmer of the Year: 2020
SwimSwam Top 100 (Women's): 2021 (#32)Ortegon, Karl (13 February 2021).
"SwimSwam's Top 100 For 2021: Women's #40 — #31".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 11 October 2021.
See also
Italy national swimming team – Women multiple medalists
50 m breaststroke – Women long course all-time top 25
References
External links
