Valentina Procaccini, an Italian Junior National Team member, has verbally committed to the University of Florida's 2026 recruiting class. Procaccini, from Roma, Italy, represented Circolo Canottieri Aniene Roma and Italy on the Italian Junior National Team from 2022 to 2024. Her impressive short-course meter performances include setting new best times in the 400 freestyle (4:06.51) and 800 free (8:24.51) at the Criteria Nazional Giovanili in April 2024. Two years earlier, she clocked a best 200 free time of 1:58.37 at the same meet.
Procaccini's lifetime best in the 1500 free (SCM) is 16:05.19, achieved at the Criteria Nazionali in March 2025, surpassing her previous best of 16:06.13 from the Italian Open Championships in November 2024. Her converted times to SCY are as follows: 200 Free (1:58.37 to 1:46.63), 400 Free (4:06.51 to 4:41.72), 800 Free (8:24.51 to 9:36.58), and 1500 Free (16:05.19 to 15:59.43).
Based on these converted times, Procaccini would have placed 5th in the 1650 free and qualified for the 'C' final in the 200 free and 500 free. Her 1650 free time is well under the 2026 Women's NCAA qualifying time of 16:25.29, making her an immediate contender in the SEC and the overall national landscape. Florida's women's roster already includes sophomore Italian breaststroke talent Anita Bottazzo, who set the program's 100 breaststroke record last season.
Procaccini's addition to the Gators' 2026 recruiting class, alongside Maddie Moreth, Bomin Kim, and Lillie McPherson, will fortify the middle distance/distance group, providing lasting scoring potential on the conference and national levels. Fitter and Faster Swim Camps, a proud sponsor of SwimSwam's College Recruiting Channel, honors these dedicated athletes and their supporters, recognizing the pursuit of swimming in college as a lifelong dream.
