Italy’s first gold medal in Paris went to Nicolò Martinenghi, as he won the 100m breaststroke final.
Nicolò Martinenghi, after winning the bronze medal twice in Tokyo three years ago, started timidly from lane 7 but went on to take the 100m breaststroke with authority.
The Italian swimmer, with a second 50-meter sprint in the final stretch, finished in 59.03 seconds. As Martinenghi remarked after the race, it was about seizing the ‘winning moment’ rather than the time. He triumphed over Britain’s Adam Peaty, the breaststroke king who had returned to top form after a difficult period. Peaty shared second place with American swimmer Nic Fink.
“I’m speechless, except to say that once again I’ve proven it’s not the time that counts, but knowing how to seize the moment,” said the Italian, who trained in Varese before moving to Circolo Aniene in Rome.
“The time isn’t my best, but what matters is being on that podium and hearing the Italian anthem, even if I don’t sing it—not out of indifference, but out of superstition.”
On the podium, the champion from Lombardy, who had also been honoured with the keys to his hometown Azzate, listened to the Italian national anthem with a barely concealed smile of emotion. He blew a kiss to the stands, saying, “This medal is for all those who love me – my family, my girlfriend. The only thing missing was Olympic gold. What did I think about during the race? Nothing, just being in front.”
Nicolò has a deep passion for breaststroke: “I didn’t choose the breaststroke, it chose me,” he often says.
Today, it’s Ceccon’s turn to shine in the backstroke.
