Thomas Ceccon touches Italian record, Sara Curtis off podium
Blasts of Italy’s outperformers in Westmont, in the heart of Illinois and some 30 kilometers from Chicago, in the finals of the first day of the second leg of the World Cup in the short pool, usually decisive for circuit victory.
In battery he had lowered his personal best by more than two seconds, bringing it from 1’53″24 to 1’51″21. In the final he went wild, broke the 1’50 number for the first time in his career, and swam just thirty-three hundredths away from the Italian record of 1’48″43 set by Lorenzo Mora for the European championship title at Otopeni 2023. In short, an amazing Thomas Ceccon pulls a stroke of his own out of his hat and is second in the 200 backstroke, won by Olympic champion Hubert Kos in 1’47″51. Super the final of the 24-year-old from Schio, Olympic gold medalist and world long record holder in the 100 – a member of Fiamme Oro and Leosport, trained at the Federal Center in Verona by Alberto Burlina – who swam in 1’48″76, with a last fifty in 26″84 by a champion. Third is the American Alexandre Desangles in 1’51″17. Ceccon then an hour and a half later took to the water in the 100 medley that he finished fifth in 51″43. Winning them is the U.S. Shaine Casas in 50″45; behind him is the Swiss Noah Ponti in 50″76 and Kos himself in 50″99, who thus strengthens his leadership in the World Cup.
Good fifth place, however, in the 50 backstroke for Sara Curtis on her official return to competition after transferring to Virginia University where she is being tutored by the great Todd DeSorbo. The 19-year-old from Savigliano and Italian record holder (26″03) carded for Esercito and CS Roero, coached in Italy by Thomas Maggiora and sixth at the World Championships in Budapest – touches in 26″27, six hundredths faster than the 26″33 sealed in the battery. Australia’s Kaylee McKeown wins in 25″63, two hundredths faster than American Gretchen Walsh second in 25″65 and nine over fellow Aussie Molli O’Callaghan third in 25″72.
