The international swimming world was recently set abuzz with the remarkable achievement of Simona Quadarella, who secured a coveted win in the 800 freestyle category at the World Championships in Doha. This triumphant victory marks the second gold medal for the commendable Roman swimmer at these championships, following an earlier win in the 1500 freestyle category.
With her victory, Quadarella has not only etched her name in the annals of Italian swimming history but has also made a significant mark on the international swimming scene. Representing the Circolo Canottieri Aniene, Quadarella’s victory in the 800 freestyle at the World Championships has reinstated Italy’s position at the pinnacle of this race after a hiatus of 51 years. The last time Italy was in this position was on September 9, 1973, when Novella Calligaris claimed victory at the ‘Tasmajdan Sports Centre’ in Belgrade with a new world record of 8’52″973.
The 25-year-old Quadarella, who is also a part of the Aniene Rowing Club, was at the center of arguably the most thrilling and exhilarating final of the World Cup in Doha, which is scheduled to conclude tomorrow. She demonstrated a tactically flawless performance, securing her win in 8’17″44 with just a ninth of a second separating her from the tenacious German competitor, Isabel Gose, and a 4″82 lead over New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather, who had been a noteworthy contender in the earlier stages of the race. Quadarella and Gose engaged in a heated contest that kept spectators on the edge of their seats, with the lead switching between them at each pool.
In the final pool, Quadarella initiated a daring attack that Gose attempted to counter. However, when Gose touched the plate, she found herself having to be content with silver. Prior to this, Simona Quadarella has not been able to secure a double win in the 800-1500 freestyle at the World Championships. This is a feat she has achieved thrice at the European Championships (2018, 2021 and 2022), at the Universiade (2017), and at the European Youth Championships (2014).
