Lithuanian Ruta Meylutyte, gold, sets the world record. Thomas Ceccon only fifth in the 50m backstroke final. Franceschi finishes sixth in the 400 medley final
At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka Blessed Pilate conquers the third place and the bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke final. The Lithuanian Ruta Meylutyte, gold, enormously improves the world record in the specialty with 29″16. Silver to the American Lilly King with 29″94. Fifth the blue Anita Bottazzo, in her first world championship. “After a year like this, it’s good. This result gives me hope for next year. Everyone said ‘world championship subdued’, last year the level was lower. We did well, we still manage to be protagonists. I expected Ruta to take me away the world record. It was obvious, I expected it, 29″16 is a man’s time. I will train for next year. There is a bit of lumps, it’s the end of a chapter for me, next year I’ll change everything and I needed this”, Pilate’s words after the race.
No medal, however, for Thomas Ceccon in the last final, that of the 50m backstroke: fifth time for the blue. USA double with gold for Armstrong and silver for Ress, bronze for Chinese Xu. “I felt good, I didn’t expect such a high podium. I didn’t have to defend anything and I tried to do it at my best. Maybe I started too fast. It was a good World Championship, I had some goals and I achieved them”, says Ceccon , who after Italy’s exclusion from the men’s 4×100 medley relay explains: “I tried to mentally detach myself from the disappointment of the morning”.
Will be Franceschi therefore closed the last final with Italians in the race, that of the women’s 400 medley, in sixth position. Gold went to Canadian Summer McIntosh, silver to American Katie Grimes, bronze to Australian Jenna Forrester.
Source-www.adnkronos.com