Cristina Quintarelli

In the 1970s and 80, women’s butterfly swimming in Italy was dominated by Cinzia Savi Scarponi, and it was not easy for other swimmers to break her domination. A precocious talent emerged at the 1976 Italian championships, however, when 13-year-old Cristina Quintarelli finished third in the 200 metres final. She was runner-up in the same event in 1977, 1981, and 1982. Domestically, her best year was 1978 when, at Milano, she won both the Italian 100m (1:03.06) and the 200m (2:17.68) titles.

Quintarelli made her début with the national team at the age of 14 and in the following years appeared in international matches against Great Britain and the Netherlands, in two Latin Cups (1978-79), the 1977 European Championships, and the 1978 Worlds in West Berlin. At the Split Mediterranean Games of 1979, she won the bronze medal in the 100m behind Savi Scarponi, and the French girl Sophie Falandry. Quintarelli ended her career in 1984 with her only participation at the Olympics. After her swimming days, Quintarelli became a primary school teacher in Roma.