Thomas Ceccon a record-breaker, eighth place worth gold for Sara Curtis
The present is already a certainty, the future assured because her talent is boundless. Sara Curtis rewrote Italian swimming history yesterday, reaching a never-before-seen final in the queen event. She, who one day will aim to put the crown on her head, updates that tale anyway and is eighth in the final act of the 100 freestyle in 53″41.
Courageous race with no regrets that of the 18-year-old from Savigliano – carded for Esercito and CS Roero – who goes second in 25″28 (25″32 in the battery and 25″42 in the semifinals) but then loses fluidity in the last twenty-five meters and closes with a 28″13 return. The Dutch Marrit Steenbergen in 52″55, followed by Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan in 52″67 and the U.S. and Olympic runner-up Torri Huske in 52″89, is confirmed as the rainbow champion.
“For me it is already an achievement to be here, because it took me a year and a half to reach these levels – says Curtis, European junior champion in Vilnius 2024 – I will continue to work to increase my competitiveness. I want to achieve everything in my mind, with commitment and training I will make it”.
A Thomas Ceccon in gala version instead takes the 100 butterfly final with the fifth time and brings the Italian record to 50″42, erasing the 50″64 with which Piero Codia in 2018 became European champion in Glasgow. Today, as seven years ago, it is lane one that is the protagonist, the one from which the Friulian surprised the old continent and the one from which the 24-year-old from Schio decided to send a message to the competition. To all the evidence of the Olympic champion and world record holder of the 100 backstroke, which falls for the first time in his career under 51″ – carded for Fiamme Oro and Leosport – with a passage unreachable for all in 23″25 and a second fifty always at high frequencies in 27″17. The disappointment of not qualifying for the semifinals of the 200 backstroke is behind us; the desire to add another medal to the three won so far (silver in the 100 backstroke and with the fast relay, bronze in the 50 butterfly) so much.
“I am delighted because I swam with ease. I felt good right from the batteries. I wanted to pass like that and then I didn’t struggle to come back – tells Ceccon, followed at the Federal Center in Verona by Alberto Burlina – For the podium objectively it is very difficult: I’m not saying I won’t try. However, repeating today’s chrono will not be easy: I am quite surprised”. Leading the Swiss and silver medalist in the 50 Noah Ponti in 50″18, behind him the Canadian and Olympic bronze medalist Josh Liendo in 50″24.
