By Giusy Cisale on SwimSwam
Italian Olympic swimmers Benedetta Pilato and Chiara Tarantino were briefly detained and questioned by Singapore airport authorities last week after an incident that occurred while the two were returning from a private vacation in Bali after the World Championships.
According to reports, security cameras appeared to show the athletes placing items into a bag inside a duty-free shop and leaving without paying for them. The pair were held for several hours before being released. The Italian Embassy in Singapore assisted throughout the process, and the matter was resolved without legal consequences.
Pilato’s Statement
On Instagram, Pilato addressed the situation directly:
“During my return from Asia, after competing at the World Championships and spending a few days on vacation with teammates, I was unfortunately caught up in an unpleasant episode managed by the Singapore airport authorities.
I immediately cooperated with the local authorities, with the full support of the Italian Embassy. The matter was resolved within a few hours, with no implications for me, thanks to my transparency.
I have never intended to act improperly, and those who know me are aware of how much I value honesty and fairness. This was a difficult personal experience, but one that taught me important lessons about prudence and responsibility. I now return to focusing on my sporting journey with greater determination.”
Pilato, 20, won a bronze medal in the 50 breaststroke at the championships. That is her fifth career World Championship medal in long course in the 50 breaststroke and sixth overall (she won the 100 breast in 2022).
Tarantino, 22, is one of the country’s best sprinters, and attended the World Championships as a relay-only swimmer.
Federation Response
The Italian Swimming Federation (FIN) send an official statement via email emphasizing that the episode occurred during a vacation period and outside of any official team activities:
With regard to the news reports concerning Benedetta Pilato and Chiara Tarantino, the Italian Swimming Federation emphasizes that the episode attributed to them occurred outside of any official federation activity, during a vacation period.
The facts were clarified by the athletes with the local authorities, with the support of the Italian Embassy, which was already in contact with the Federation in relation to the World Aquatics Championships held in Singapore from July 11 to August 3, 2025.
While stigmatizing the incident, the Federation reserves the right to carefully evaluate the matter.
Moving Forward
Both Pilato and Tarantino recently competed at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore and spent a vacation period in Bali. With the case resolved, the two swimmers are expected to resume their training schedules as the focus shifts back to upcoming competitions.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Italian Olympians Benedetta Pilato And Tarantino Stopped in Singapore Over Alleged Theft
