As an Olympian, World, European and NCAA champion, there are near countless examples Chiara Pellacani can draw on for sources of pride and personal inspiration; but that was not always the case.
Just over four years ago, while debating whether to officially accept a move would see the diver leave her homeland for a country which spoke a language she did not, there was perhaps unsurprisingly “anxiety and fear” in her mind.
The Italian had just come off the back of a season which had seen her claim five European medals and make an Olympic debut, at Tokyo 2020. She was at a crucial point in her career.
While there was no drastic need for change, given the success she had attained to date, Pellacani wanted to experience a new environment and in particular the high-performance NCAA setup in the United States of America.
Relocating From Rome and Moving to Miami, via Louisiana?
The University of Miami was her first choice, but with no scholarship available she would instead make the move to Louisiana State University (LSU) in the Spring of 2022, some 1,500km away from her intended destination in Florida.
The springboard diver, who had relocated from Rome, welcomed the opportunity though and embraced the challenge.
“It wasn't easy at the beginning to move to the States, because it's very different from home, but I knew, as did my family and my coach, that it was the best thing for my career,” she recalls to World Aquatics.
“I didn't speak any English before going there, so I used to go to class and I didn't know what was going on, but after a few months, everything was getting easier, and I'm just very happy that I did it because I wouldn't be here (as a World champion) right now.”
After an impressive Freshman campaign at LSU, she was awarded the ‘SEC Female Freshman Diver of the Year’ award and also made a strong start to her sophomore season, before a ‘dream’ move to Miami became a reality.
“It was actually a really good programme (at LSU), I enjoyed it and it was a really hard decision when the chance to go to Miami came about as it was moving somewhere else and starting all over again, which can be scary,” she recalls.
"I knew Miami had the best diving programme though, so if I wanted to get to the next level, it was the best choice I could make"
After making the transfer Pellacani was granted a ‘Redshirt year’ which meant she could train and study at the University, but did not have to compete for the Miami Hurricanes, in order to assist her preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
There she would place a strong, but agonising fourth in the women’s individual 3m springboard competition, but domestic success would follow.
In February 2025, she won the ACC Championships 3m title, before her crowning glory in US college sport, becoming NCAA champion in the 1m discipline.
“Taking a Redshirt year, in an Olympic year, the first year that I came to the school is not something many schools would do and I’m really appreciative that Miami gave me the time to focus on the Olympics and myself,” she told Hurricanes Magazine after her NCAA win.
“They supported me in every decision that I made and they trusted what I was doing. I’m just really glad that I could give them something back and something big.”
Pellacani Produces Multiple World Championship Podium Finishes
Heading into the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Pellacani possessed four medals from previous global championships, but had never stood on the top step of the podium.
Over the course of eight days, she would attain three top-three results, landing her first-ever individual World Championship honours at each end of the contest, in the 1m and 3m events, with a historic synchronised 3m springboard victory sandwiched between them.
Her success, with team-mate, friend and fellow Miami Hurricanes diver Matteo Santoro, was Italy’s first-ever World gold in the discipline, while it also marked the first time an Italian diver had attained a World title since Tania Cagnotto ten years previous.
“I felt it was important to have a good start, so my first individual medal really meant a lot to me and it helped me keep going for the rest of the event,” she tells World Aquatics.
“There was a lot of emotion when me and Matteo won the gold and it’s kind of hard to describe it, but it was amazing, unbelievable and crazy!
“It (World gold) hadn’t happened for a long time for Italy so it was a big honour to top for the country.”
Pellacani continues;
"Diving is not that popular in Italy, so I think the gold with Matteo was important because it’s hopefully gonna inspire some people to get into diving and see how amazing it is"
For the now 23-year-old her individual 3m springboard bronze was particularly significant.
“It means a lot, especially after last year and my fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris because it was tough, but I'm happy that I just kept going,” she states.
“It was just amazing because I've been fourth for so many times and I know there are so many good divers, but I'm happy that I was finally able to get to the podium in the 3m event I love, it means everything.”
Making Moves Across Miami, Rome and Los Angeles?
In December Pellacani graduated at the University of Miami, earning her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, but she will not be returning to Europe full-time just yet.
“I came here to follow my dreams, to learn, and to grow in every possible way,” she wrote on social media.
“I’ve made the best memories ever, but I’m not done yet. I will be starting my master’s program in January here at the University of Miami, and I couldn’t be more excited for this last season.”
Her major international target for 2026 will be the European Aquatics Championships in Paris and she is looking to maintain the momentum generated by her success in Singapore over the coming years, leading into what she hopes will be a ‘third-time-lucky’ Olympics, LA28.
“That’s the goal,” she tells World Aquatics. “I think I have a lot of motivation and excitement to keep going and see what happens next because I have proved what I can do and now the Olympic year (2028) is the dream.”