Thomas Ceccon Claims Olympic Gold in 100m Backstroke

In an exciting finish at the Paris Olympics, Italy’s Thomas Ceccon has made history by winning the gold medal in the men’s 100m backstroke. This victory adds an Olympic gold to his impressive collection, which already includes a world record and several world championships.

Ceccon completed the race in 52 seconds flat, just edging out Xu Jiayu from China, who took the silver medal with a time of 52.32 seconds. Team USA’s Ryan Murphy claimed the bronze with a time of 52.39 seconds. What made this race even more thrilling was that all competitors finished in under 53 seconds.

The race was highly competitive right from the get-go. Ceccon, Xu, and Murphy all held the lead at different points during the final 50 meters, but it was Ceccon who surged ahead at the end, marking his second medal at these Games after previously winning bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Before Ceccon’s victory, no Italian man had ever reached the podium in the 100m backstroke, a category that has predominantly seen American athletes taking gold. Evgeny Rylov was one of the few exceptions, but he did not compete in Paris due to restrictions placed on him by World Aquatics.

Xu had qualified for the final with a strong time of 52.02 seconds, while Ceccon had broken Ryan Murphy’s world record in 2022 with a time of 51.60 seconds. The two swimmers were set in lanes four and five respectively for this highly anticipated final.

XU started strong, reaching the turn first, but Ceccon’s powerful finish allowed him to clinch the title. This win marks Italy’s second gold in two days, following Nicolo Martinenghi‘s triumph in the 100m breaststroke.

Despite a tough competition, Ceccon spoke about the emotional weight of this victory, saying, “To be here is a privilege because not everyone can be part of an Olympic final.” He emphasized the mental challenges he faced leading up to this moment and how important it was for him to overcome them.

Both Xu and Murphy expressed respect for Ceccon and spoke about their aspirations for future competitions. Murphy, who has consistently medaled in the 100m backstroke at the Olympics, acknowledged that the competitive landscape has shifted, with swimmers from around the world closing the gap on American dominance.