Winter Italian Championships, day two: Ceccon and Pilato guarantee a slot at the Olympic Games

Thomas Ceccon opened the second day of the Italian Winter Swimming Championships. The day after the impressive displays by Gregorio Paltrinieri and Alberto Razzetti, and in a packed Stadio del Nuoto in Riccione, the Veneto talent triumphed in the 100m backstroke: A time of 52.82 proved enough to gain an individual pass for Paris 2024. The 22-year-old from Thiene (photo ANSA) had already rewarded Italy with a national place for the next Olympic Games along with his teammates with the silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the Fukuoka World Championships, but in this case he secured an individual Olympic pass. Next up was Benedetta Pilato (photo ANSA). The 18-year-old from Taranto won a spectacular 100m breaststroke final with a time of 1’05.80. This secured her a spot in Paris 2024, where she will strive for the first Olympic medal of her promising career.