Italy's Federica Pellegrini easily
qualified for the semi-finals of the 200 metres freestyle at the
swimming world championships in Kazan, Russia, on Tuesday
despite an annoying air bubble in her swimsuit.
The 26-year-old former Olympic and world champion in the
event qualified in second place in her heat with the sixth-best
time overall.
"I had some problems with the swimsuit, which inflated with
an air bubble when I dived in and it started moving around," she
told State broadcaster RAI.
"It was like swimming with a DDD bra and I'm not size DDD.
"Anyway I qualified easily, without wasting energy, and
that's fine," added Pellegrini, who won gold in the 200m at the
2008 Beijing Olympics and did the 200m-400m freestyle double at
both the 2009 Rome world championships and the 2011 world
championships in Shanghai.
Another big Italian medal hope, Gregorio Paltrinieri,
qualified for the final of the men's 800 metres freestyle.
Italy has done well at the world aquatics championships and
has so far won two gold medals and seven bronzes.
Diver Tania Cagnotto has been the big Italian hero so far,
winning gold in the 1m springboard and two bronze medals.
Simone Ruffini got Italy's other gold in the 25km
open-water event and went on to win over more fans by asking his
girlfriend to marry him on the victory.
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