European Championships: Italy Set Championship Record En-Route To Men’s Medley Relay Gold Ahead Of France & Austria
Italy set a championship record of 3:28.46 as they brought the European Championships to an end with a dominant victory in the men’s medley relay in Rome.
The quartet of Thomas Ceccon, Nicolo Martinenghi, Matteo Rivolta and Alessandro Miressi won by three body lengths at an ecstatic Foro Italico to take 0.13 off the championship mark of 3:28.46 set by Britain in Budapest last year.
Splits:
52.82: Thomas Ceccon
57.72: Nicolo Martinenghi
50.75: Matteo Rivolta
47.17: Alessandro Miressi
France won the silver in 3:32.50 with Austria taking bronze in 3:33.28.
It was the second time Italy have won this particular relay and brought to an end four straight wins by Britain who finished fourth.
Ceccon concluded the meet with six medals in total: four golds (100 back, 50 fly, 4x100m medley relay and 4×100 free) plus two silvers in the 50 back and mixed medley relay.
He said:
“It feels beautiful. Someone told me that even TV cameras were shaking a bit during our race which never happened before.
“The experience of these championships are memories to be cherished forever.
“I also had medals from the 50m and 100m back so I’ve achieved everything I wanted to.
“This a very young relay except for Rivolta who replaced (Federico) Burdisso.
“Having two golds in one afternoon is more than I can ask for. What a beautiful way to end these championships.
“In 2009 (when the Foro Italico staged the World Championships) I was already training swimming but I wasn’t here but for me this is the perfect setting.
“Finally I take a break from swimming but that won’t be long, just two weeks and soon I’ll be back for training. I’m young so this is the time to work as much as I can.”
Martinenghi, who split an eye-watering 57.72, ended the meet with the 50-100 breaststroke double as well as the medley relay and silver in the mixed medley.
He said:
“To be honest, today I gave everything I had in me. Right now I have no energy left at all but swimming this relay was super emotional for me.
“It feels great to have the fans back to the stands it makes such a huge difference, especially for us Italians.
“But I think the others teams can also feel that here in Italy fans understand and support swimming.
“What a perfect ending to these championships!”
Ndoye Brouard led the French team off in 53.06 as he claimed his second medal of the night following his bronze in the 100.
They matched what the French women had done in claiming silver in the final women’s event of the meet.
He said:
“Tonight was intense for me but that’s what we train for.
“I’m really happy to win a medal with this team, we finally got it. We were super-shocked by the girls’ results before us we told ourselves now it’s our turn. But right now, all I want is the black mascot as I’ve only got whites yet.”
Bernhard Reitshammer led Austria off in the backstroke and said:
“We are very happy that we managed to get on the podium. Our last relay medal was in 2009 in the 4x200m free so this podium is simply amazing.”
Results
- Italy; 3:28.46
- France; 3:32.50
- Austria; 3:33.28
- Britain; 3;33.60
- Poland; 3:34.16
- Ukraine; 3:34,66
- Germany; 3:35.65
- Spain; 3:37.25
For full results and splits, click here
