Italy's Federica Pellegrini snatched 0.25 seconds off the previous world record of the women's 400 meters freestyle when she won the final at the Mediterranean Games in Pescara on Saturday.

Pellegrini swam four minutes and 0.41 seconds to reclaim the record, which made her a big favorite for next month's world championships in Rome.

"Even I am surprised by the record. Clearly I underestimated myself," she told Rai television.

The former record of 4:00.66 was set by Britain's Joanne Jackson in Sheffield, England in March.

Pellegrini, 20, is also the 200m freestyle world record holder and Olympic champion. She was the 400m record holder before Jackson bettered her mark.

The four-yearly Mediterranean Games, which has welcomed over 4,000 competitors from 23 countries in the region, officially began on Friday and runs for 11 days.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2009)