Laura Podestà

Laura Podestà was an Italian swimmer. She competed at the 1972 München Olympics in the 100 m freestyle, the 4×100 m freestyle relay, and the medley relay. She also took part at the 1970 European Championships in Barcelona and the first World Swimming Championships in Beograd in 1973, where she was eliminated in the heat of the 100 m freestyle but reached the final in the 4x100 m freestyle relay, finishing seventh.

Between 1970 and 1974 Podesta took part in international duals against Poland and West Germany and two editions of the Latin Cup, in Rio de Janeiro and Marseille. At the 1971 Mediterranean Games she helped Italy win the 4x100 freestyle relay.

Domestically Podesta held the Italian record in the 100m freestyle for just under 4 years (August 1973 to June 1977), improving it three times (from 1:01.40 to 1:01.02) and taking it away from Novella Calligaris. She also won the Italian title in this event in 1973 in Livorno, beating Calligaris by three tenths of a second.