Paris 2024 Olympics, gold not enough for Thomas Ceccon

An historic success, such as to leave one speechless.

Thomas Ceccon è gave himself the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the Paris 2024 Olympics, prevailing in the final over the feared Chinese Xu Jiayu, who won silver, and the U.S. Ryan Murphy, bronze. It was a historic success for the Venetian, already the world recordman in the specialty, so much so that he was left speechless at the end of the race.

"I would like to say so many things, but I try to keep this moment to myself,” Ceccon said hot on the microphones of 'Eurosport' -I would have a thousand things to say about what I went through and what I did. But in the face of such a race I can only say that I am delighted. Although my performance was not è perfect, you know that I am very cynical even towards myself".

So finally Ceccon è let himself go with a liberating smile, admitting: "I have been thinking for four months what to say to the post-race interview, and this è the result. So I have to work on it a little bit more'". Just a detail for the Venetian swimmer, on his fourth career Olympic medal (albeit his first individual one).

Ceccon's gold comes on the heels of a medal in the same metal won by Nicolò Martinenghi in the 100 breaststroke. Both thus join Fioravanti, Rosolino, Paltrinieri and Federica Pellegrini in the very short list of Italian swimmers who have won gold medals at the Olympics.