World swimming championships, Pilate flies to the final, Ceccon regrets

by our correspondent Stefano Arcobelli

June 19
– Budapest

It was the day of the frogs of Italy: with a triumphal Martinenghi and a very convincing Benedetta Pilato, just 18 cents from the staff but second semifinalist and authoritative candidate for salt on the podium of the Olympic specialty, she who here in Budapest a year ago made the world record of 50. Benedetta Pilato darted in the semifinal of the 100 breaststroke women, clocking the second time in 1’05 “88 (30” 71), behind the German Anna Elendt 1’05 “62 (30” 65). Third is the Chinese Tang Qianting 1’05 ”97, fourth the Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte in 1’06” 04, only eleventh Arianna Castiglioni 1’06 ”59 (31” 16). Benny says: “I saw myself in front but I didn’t really understand if it was really like that. I wanted to make the final, I deserve it. I tried to give everything. This morning it didn’t go well, I never train in the morning with school. This afternoon a lot Better. The world record pool? It always excites me. Martinenghi is always the top: I am more anxious to watch his races than to watch mine “. And Castiglioni: “I tore the second 50 too far. I started too fast in terms of frequency and I paid for it in the end. That’s how it went”.

REGRET

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Thomas Ceccon surpasses himself in the 100 backstroke and reaches the final with the second time in 52 ”12, an Italian record with all the trimmings, indeed the tenth time in history. His previous limit was 52 ”30. Faster than the 2001 Vicenza rider only the Greek Christou in 52 ”09, third the American Hunter Armstrong in 52” 37. Then Thomas returns to the block for the final of the 50 butterfly hitting fifth in 22 ”86. If he had reiterated the time trial of the semifinal he would have been third, bronze which instead goes in 22 ”79 to the American Michael Andrew who climbs on the podium with Caeleb Dressel 22” 57 and with the Brazilian world record holder Nicholas Santos at 22 ”78. The South American goes to the medal at 42. Thomas says: “By the time of the semifinal I would have finished third, so obviously it bothered me a bit about the medal because it was only a few cents. ‘. We will see tomorrow”. Speaking of backstrokes, Margherita Panziera and Silvia Scalia are respectively 10a and in 1’00 “26 and 1’00” 58. In the lead is the world record holder Regan Smith in 57 “65. Tenth is also in the 200 sl Marco De Tullio who equals the staff in 1’46” 29 and in the race in which David Popovici, Romanian phenomenon achieves the junior world record in 1’44 “40. Finally with the tenth performance in history, the American Alex Walsh wins the gold of the 200 medley at Katinka Hosszu in 2’07” 13 on the Australian Kaylee McKeown 2’08 “57, bronze all other American Leah Hayes, bald girl and author of the junior world record in 2’08 “91. A second day of finals dominated by the USA, who do not win gold only in the specialty in which Nicolò Martinenghi triumphed. Italy confirms its great vivacity and tomorrow Quadarella and Paltrinieri are back, after the speed it’s up to the hard workers …