Grand Italy in swimming, gold poker for the Azzurri in Rome

European swimming championships underway in Rome triumph Ceccon, Panziera to Martinenghi

Big day for Italy at the ongoing European Swimming Championships in Rome: the Azzurri won six medals-as many as four gold medals-on a special Friday at the Foro Italico.

Thomas Ceccon won gold in the 50-meter butterfly, finishing with a time of 22″89 ahead of Dutchman Nyls Korstanje and Bulgarian Josif Miladinov; it was his first title in the specialty.

Gold also went to Margherita Panziera in the 200-meter backstroke, ahead of Britain’s Katie Shanahan and Hungary’s Dóra Molnár. For Panziera it is the third consecutive gold in the continental field.

Big celebration also in the 100 breaststroke, where Nicolò Martinenghi dominated in 58″26, equaling the Italian record and beating compatriot Federico Poggio, second in 58″98.

In the evening, Simona Quadarella won gold in the 800-meter freestyle, ahead of Germany’s Gose and Turkey’s Tuncel. It is also her third gold in a row at the European Championships, an absolute dominance.

The icing on the cake came from the 4×100 mixed relay, Ceccon, Martinenghi, Di Liddo and Di Pietro taking silver behind the Netherlands.