Romania also celebrating as teenager Popivici makes history

Thomas Ceccon of Italy celebrates after winning the Men 100m Backstroke final string a new world record at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, June 20, 2022. (PETR DAVID JOSEK / AP)

BUDAPEST－Monday in Budapest was a great evening for Italians and Romanians, a superb evening for teenagers and, as so often at the FINA World Championships, a good evening for experienced Americans.

Thomas Ceccon broke the first world record of the championships as he won the 100-meter backstroke.

It was a second Italian gold of the competition after Nicolo Martinenghi took the 100m breaststroke title the night before.

In barely an hour, Italy had a third gold as Benedetta Pilato won the women's 100m breaststroke.

Pilato was also the second 17-year-old to win on Monday and the third to take a medal.

David Popovici, a 17-year-old Romanian, seized the men's 200m freestyle crown.

Katie Ledecky, at 25 the oldest winner of the evening by three years, reclaimed the 1,500m freestyle title.

Another American, 20-year-old Regan Smith, retained the 100m backstroke title.

Ceccon shaved a quarter of a second off the 100m backstroke world record as he won in 51.60 sec.

"Today nobody could beat me! What a sensational time－51.6," said Ceccon.

Ceccon took the world record off American Ryan Murphy, who had a closeup view, finishing 0.37 sec behind to claim the silver medal.

In a sport in which most competitors obsessively shave body hair, Ceccon has drawn comments for his mustache. Asked if it was now a lucky charm, he shrugged.

"It's just a mustache," he said.

Ceccon is 21 and Martinenghi, who was back in the pool on Monday to dominate 50m breaststroke qualifying, is 22.

Yet in comparison, the 17-year-old Pilato is a battle-hardened veteran.

She already has a world record, set last year, and a world championship medal, from 2019, both in the 50m breaststroke.

"Before the race I was crying with joy for Thomas, who made me relive the sensations I felt when I set the world record and now, here I am with gold around my neck," she said.

Pilato edged German Anna Elendt by 0.05 sec, with Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte at 0.09 sec.

Popovici took the 200m freestyle in 1 min 43.21 sec to break the world junior record he set in qualifying.

"We just love swimming. We are just ordinary people doing amazing things, I think," he said.

Popovici overhauled Olympic champion Tom Dean in the third 50-meter lap.

Another teenager, 19-year-old South Korean Hwang Sun-woo, grabbed second. Dean held on for third.

Popovici became the first Romanian man to win a world swimming title and said he was looking forward to making the short trip home from Hungary.

"At the airport chaos is going to ensue," he said. "We saw that when I came from Tokyo, where I had fourth place. I am ready for it and for a little celebration."

Even at 17, Pilato and Popovici talked mental preparation for races.

"I can't really sleep during the day," said Popovici. "Sleeping is not the most important thing. What is important is disconnecting yourself from the world, from social media, your phone, anything that gets in the way of achieving my goals."

Pilato struggled at the Tokyo Olympics.

"I have also overcome the anxiety, and learned to take things calmly," she said.

Ledecky cruised to victory in the 1,500m freestyle in 15:30.15. Fellow American Katie Grimes, 16, finished 14.74 sec behind in second.

Ledecky won three straight 1,500m world titles before illness forced her to withdraw from the 2019 final in South Korea. She rebounded to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics, and Monday's gold was a record-extending 17th world title.

Defending champion Smith made the most of the absence of Tokyo gold medalist, Australian Kaylee McKeown, to win the women's 100m backstroke. Tokyo silver medalist, Canadian Kylie Masse, finished second again.

Continuing the evening's trend of 17-year-old medalists, American Claire Curzan took bronze.