European Championships: Thomas Ceccon Becomes First Italian Man To Win 100 Back Ahead of Christou & Ndoye Brouard
Thomas Ceccon became the first Italian man to win the 100 backstroke at the European Championships in Rome.
Ceccon set a world record of 51.60 en-route to the world title in Budapest in June less than eight weeks ago.
The 21-year-old had already won two golds and two silver medals at the Foro Italico before lining up for the final on Wednesday evening but he had never paid a tribute to the European 100 back podium.
Ceccon rose ahead and led throughout, holding off the attack of Apostolos Christou, to win in 52.21.
Christou upgraded his three bronzes to silver in 52.24 with Yohann Ndoye Brouard adding bronze to his 200 gold in 52.92.
Splits
25.15/27.06: Ceccon
25.36/26.88: Christou
25.52/27.40: Ndoye Brouard
Ceccon became only the second Italian man to win a medal in the event following Simone Sabbioni who claimed joint bronze with Christou in 2016 in a race won by Camille Lacourt, who was looking on from the Foro Italico stands while working for French TV.
Ceccon said:
“After the 50m I wanted to fight back though I knew that the Greek was in great shape.
“I wanted to pace myself and then do a faster finish but I started off quickly and finished it that way.
“And now I’m really the number one in the world!”
Christou had won bronze at three straight Europeans between 2016 and 2020 before upgrading to silver for his second medal of the meet.
He said:
“That was a good and close race. I knew I had to give it all, I didn’t see but I felt Ceccon was charging from behind so I tried to push extremely hard.
“As I saw in the replay on the wall, Ceccon did better over the last three metres so I’m not disappointed to lose the gold by 0.03seconds, because this is my second-fastest time ever after the Worlds in Budapest.
“That was a very long season and I think I did a great job.”
It has been a superb meet for Ndoye Brouard.
The 21-year-old won the 200 in a French record despite having to reach the final via a solo time-trial after his starting ledge broke.
And he followed up his individual 100 bronze by leading off the French quartet that were second in the men’s medley relay in the concluding race of the championships.
He said:
“It was alright, I’ve improved but the other guys were just very strong.
“I can feel I lacked the energy I needed at the end to bring it really home. I could feel my legs hurting right now.”
Results
- Thomas Ceccon (ITA); 52.21
- Apostolos Christou (GRE); 52.24
- Yohann Ndoye Brouard (FRA); 52.92
- Roman Mityukov (SUI); 53.55
- Joao Nogueira Costa (POR); 54.01
- Ksawery Masiuk (POL); 54.05
- Ole Braunschweig (GER); 54.25
- Mewen Tomac (FRA); 54.79
For full splits, click here
