Back from a training camp at Pine Crest, Florida, and racing unrested, Federica Pellegrini clocked a 4:01.69 over 400m freestyle at the Coppa Brema short-course meet, part of preparations to rejoin battle with Italian nemesis Laure Manaudou. The Lioness of Verona also clocked 55.03 and 8:27.41 over 800m, with medley ace Alessia Filippi on 4:06.07 and 8:29.82 over 400 and 800m.

Other solid Italian results: Filippo Magnini, 48.53, en route to a race with Alain Bernard at the French Cup in Lyon, February 22-24; Samuel Pizzetti, 21, on a 14:52.29 in the 1,500m freestyle (a man who last year improved to 15:05.55 from 15:27.75 in 2006 long-course).