Italy scoops up medals in World Swimming Championships

 FUKUOKA, JAPAN - - Italy’s Thomas Ceccon has won gold at the World Swimming Championships while Nicolò Martinenghi has scooped up a silver medal.

 Ceccon won gold in the 50 metre butterfly and Martinenghi won a joint silver in the 100 metre breaststroke.

 Ceccon, with a time of 22″68 (Italian record) beat Portugal's Matos Ribeiro with 22″80 and France's Maxime Grousset with 22″82. 

 Ceccon achieved a historic medal half an hour after a fantastic semi-final in the 100 metre backstroke. 

 Ceccon's gold came just a few minutes after Martinenghi's silver medal in the 100 metre breaststroke at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, which was tied with the Dutchman Kamminga and the American Kink. 

 In first place was China's Qin with an outstanding performance with a time of 57″69.

 Martinenghi remained on the podium after his gold medal in Budapest 2022, when he picked up the place left vacant by Adam Peaty. 

 The 23-year-old from Varese, the Italian record holder (58″26) - reigning European champion in the 50 metres and 100 metres - started in lane 1 after his 59"21 in the semifinals, made a super pass in 27"47 in the 50 metres, a return 31"45 and closes in 58”72 joint with the Dutchman Arno Kamminga - world, European and Olympic silver medallist - and the American Nic Fink - bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020. 

 The crown as king of the World Championships in this event went to China's Haiyang Qin who changed the Asian record to 57”69.