Rome, 1 August (LaPresse) – Simona Quadarella qualifies for the 800 final. Three days after winning silver with a European record in the 1500 (15'31‘79), Simona Quadarella returns to the water to face an additional opponent in the long distance: Canadian champion Summer McIntosh, who wins the second heat in 8'19’88 compared to the Italian's 8'20"48. The 26-year-old Roman covered sixteen laps at an average of 31.6 seconds with a slight slowdown in the last 200 metres, qualifying for her fifth consecutive long-course final at European, World and Olympic level. "After the 1500 metres, I obviously entered the water with a different mindset and great determination. I struggled a bit more, but I think that's normal,‘ said Quadarella, who is coached by Gianluca Belfiore for CC Aniene. ’Tomorrow's final will be very difficult because McIntosh is hard to beat. The field of contenders for the podium has widened and she could swim very close to Ledecky. I will always give my best."