Fans came equipped with banners and prepared to cheer as if they were at a football match at the nearby Stadio Olimpico. And they were not disappointed.
Italy's Federica Pellegrini thrilled the crowd at the Foro Italico by smashing her old world record en route to the 400-meter freestyle title Sunday at her home world championships, becoming the first woman to break the 4-minute barrier.
Pellegrini touched in 3 minutes, 59.15 seconds, more than a second faster than her previous mark of 4:00.41 set last month.
"I knew I would finish first because I didn't see anyone else around me, but I didn't know about the record until I turned around and looked at the board," she said, adding that she heard the fans cheering "from the first to the last meter."
Olympic bronze medalist Joanne Jackson finished second, a distant 1.45 seconds behind, and the gold medalist at last year's Beijing Games, Rebecca Adlington, was third, 1.64 back.
Pellegrini led from start to finish, and the two Britons weren't even in striking distance for the second half of the race, with the cheers growing louder after each lap.
"We've got PBs. It's a very different environment, getting used to the heat," Adlington said. "Obviously on home ground (Pellegrini) has got all that crowd cheering for her. It's definitely her night.
"It's definitely something I'm going to remember for the rest of my life. And in London that will be our crowd," Adlington added, referring to the 2012 Olympics.
Adlington has stuck with her Speedo LZR swimsuit, while Pellegrini and the other competitors used 100 percent polyurethane suits from Jaked and Arena _ considered the fastest in the pool this year.
"I've proven that you can still get a medal," Adlington said.
Pellegrini won the 200 free in Beijing but finished fifth in the 400, despite entering as the world record holder.
"This medal is worth a lot. It's more emotional than Beijing because it was tougher," Pellegrini said. "This race was tougher mentally than physically. Only me and (coach Alberto) Castagnetti know how hard we worked this year. But sometimes mental fatigue can betray you.
"You can train all year but then if you're not 100 percent in you're head, you don't win. I had some problems this year but my character helped me win, even if I didn't believe it until the last five meters."
At one race earlier this year, Pellegrini had to step off the starting block when she was overcome by a nervous breakdown. And few hours before this final, she wasn't even sure she could race.
"At one point, I thought there was no hope. This afternoon I was in bed and I thought I had a fever, but I didn't want to measure it," Pellegrini said. "In warmup, the cold water helped me cool down."
