Swimming

Paris Olympics: Ceccon gold in the 100 backstroke, Macchi silver in foil. The medal table

The Italian, world record holder, finished with a time of 52.00 ahead of China's Jiayu Xu, silver in 52.32 and the USA's Ryan Murphy bronze in 52.39. The day of the other Azzurri

29 July 2024

Thomas Ceccon esulta dopo aver vinto la finale dei 100 dorso alle Olimpiadi di Parigi. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

5' min read

Key points

Third to 50 metres, then the comeback
Coverlet Athlete
"I knew I could win"
Macchi silver in foil
The Other Blue

5' min read

The only Italian in swimming to hold a world record, short legs, long torso and broad shoulders as he likes to tell about himself, takes the gold towards which he intimately knew he was swimming. Thomas Ceccon from Vicenza, class of 2001, the bel tenebroso of Italy's swimming, the favourite according to everyone, closes the circle in Paris: the 100 backstroke Olympic title, the distance that has already taken him to the roof of the world with the world record, always looking to the stars, because that is the destiny of backstrokers. And now the five-circle laurel sought, wanted, expected, but not taken for granted. The second for the Italian team after that of Nicolò Martinenghi in the 100 breaststroke, but also the second personal medal for the Venetian after the one at his debut, a bronze, in the 4X100 style.

Third at 50 metres, then the comeback

The Italian took the Olympic gold medal despite tacking on the 50 in third place, but with a progression studied in detail with lucidity and confidence he touched in 52": beaten by China's Jiayu Xu (52''32) and the American Ryan Murphy (52"39). "I won thanks to long-studied details," he explained before giving in to joy: "I am so happy, and also very excited. Right, legitimate, like his gold. Obtained as it was in the plan: but there were top opponents to exorcise, such as Xu, who had swum decidedly fast in some sections of the semi-final, even falling below the Italian's record times.

But to reach this goal Ceccon, on the Olympic podium at the age of 20 when he celebrated a silver and bronze medal with the relays in Tokyo, has always said that he shed sweat and tears. Repaid, however, by two world titles and four golds at the European Championships and that 51''60 set in Budapest in 2022 that has put him forever among the world record holders. "My passion will always be stronger than the sacrifices," the most versatile swimmer in the Italian squadron has repeatedly said (he also boasts a world title in the 50 butterfly, and if backstroke is his speciality, he also swims at the top in freestyle. He is the only one to have won six medals in three different styles at the European Championships in Rome, four of them gold).

Coverage athlete

With his vintage moustache trimmed, his slightly long hair compressed into a cap, the national Thomas is also a cover athlete. He trains in Verona, in the pool of champions, but loves Rome, is a fan of Jannik Sinner, his idols are Roger Federer and Michael Phelps, the book on his bedside table is Open, the biography of Andre Agassi. He played tennis as a child, but then someone threw him in the water and he never stopped. Having 'emigrated' to nearby Verona, he had to break away from his family; a bit of a bad boy and a lot of a phenomenon, international experts had also bet on Ceccon.

"I knew I could win"

"Even as a kid I knew I could win this medal and today is that day. I cannot be happier than this. When I was 15 years old, the coach asked me: 'What is your dream? I answered: 'To win the Olympics' and he said: 'Take it easy, eh'. It has always been my dream,' Thomas Ceccon told RAI after the award ceremony for the gold in the 100 backstroke. "Winning here is not like at the World Championships. It's a race that happens every four years,' he added. 'I passed strongly and tried to hold on until the end. And at the end I was exhausted'.

"I was moved and it's rare for that to happen. Even before the race I was. The emotion was strong even in the pre-call because being there is a privilege," confessed Ceccon, after winning Olympic gold in the 100 backstroke in Paris, Italy's second at the Games. "Mentally it is a difficult race, it destroys you. It is more difficult mentally than physically - his explanation -. You play everything and the more you think about it, the more wearing it is. Certainly if I had not won I would not have gone home happy'.

Ceccon will be back in the pool in two days' time for the 200 backstroke and the goal now is to reset his mind: "My medal seemed a foregone conclusion, but I could easily have finished fourth. Now I have to suppress my emotions and think that I did not win anything".

Asked what he would say today to the President of the Republic, whom he met at the Olympic village on the eve of the Games, he jokingly replied: 'It's a good thing he didn't care too much,' was the line with which he closed the interview in the mixed zone, referring to the skit that had been staged just a few days ago when the Head of State, speaking to the athletes, had told them that he had taken time away from them for training. 'Everyone said no and that it wasn't true,' Ceccon explained days ago, 'but I told them "actually a little bit yes"'.

Macchi silver in foil

Late in the evening Filippo Macchi won the silver medal in the men's foil at the Paris Olympics. In the final he lost 15-14 to Hong Kong representative Long Ka Cheung, in a challenge decided at the last hit with a disputed decision by the judges. Eighth medal therefore for Italy.

The Other Blues

In short, another title, three medals in three days of competition for the pool, while waiting for the other big cards to be played: first of all that of Gregorio Paltrinieri, who won the final of the 800 style with the third fastest time of 7'42''48, among the best eight also Luca De Tullio, with the seventh time. And the Italian group is firmer than ever after these successes. "Martinenghi's gold was beautiful. It gave charge to the whole group,' said Paltrinieri, who was also awaiting the controversial trials, due to the pollution of the Seine, of the cross-country swimming. 'As for me, I am happy, I did a good race. I want to compete, and a lot'.

In the other eagerly awaited race, the 100 breaststroke, Benedetta Pilato failed to fully redeem the ill-fated Tokyo Olympics, that of disqualification. The Taranto woman finished at the foot of the podium, a fourth place that certainly leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. There was, however, the flash of Ceccon to illuminate a day in which there had been several shadows for Italy. Certainly the elimination in the round of 16 of Tommaso Marini, No. 1 in men's foil, which follows the debacle in women's foil. No glory in judo, out also the archery team, ko with France the Setterosa of water polo at the debut.

Then came the light, 100 metre backstroke royalty: there was none for anyone, and recordman Ceccon also took Olympus.