Pellegrini Pays Price For Keen Start
2008-03-22
Craig Lord
The Italian is out of the 200m freestyle after false-starting in heats at the European Championships

The fifth morning of heats at the European Championships in Eindhoven saw Federica Pellegrini (ITA) banished from the 200m freestyle in which she was expected to challenge the world record after a 1:54.98 split in the relay last night.

Pellegrini false-started and and found her name demoted to the bottom of the list on the result sheet alongside that of Laure Manaudou (FRA), who did not swim. Pellegrini is the new girl in the life of Italian medley swimmer Luca Marin, fofrmer beau of Manaudou.

Clearly the swiftest in the water over 200m, Pellegrini is not the only favourite to miss finals due tomorrow: the 100m butterfly went without Milorad Cavic of Serbia after his t-shirt protest brought an end to his campaign.