AP

Ceccon sets world record, Ledecky claims yet another title

Jun 19, 2022, 10:06 PM | Updated: Jun 20, 2022, 2:48 pm

Regan Smith of the United States waves from the podium after winning the Women 100m Backstroke fina...

Regan Smith of the United States waves from the podium after winning the Women 100m Backstroke final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)


              Regan Smith of the United States waves from the podium after winning the Women 100m Backstroke final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Kristof Milak of Hungary competes in his Men 200m Butterfly semifinal at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Silver medalist Katie Grimes of the United States, gold medalist Katie Ledecky of the United States and bronze medalist Lani Pallister of Australia, from left to right, pose on the podium of the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Katie Ledecky of the United States waves from the podium after winning the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Silver medalist Ryan Murphy of the United States, gold medalist Thomas Ceccon of Italy and Hunter Armstrong of the United States, from left to right, pose with their medals after the Men 100m Backstroke final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              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, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Thomas Ceccon of Italy waves from the podium after winning the Men 100m Backstroke final setting a new world record at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Thomas Ceccon of Italy poses with his medal after winning the Men 100m Backstroke final setting a new world record at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Thomas Ceccon of Italy poses with his medal after winning the Men 100m Backstroke final setting a new world record at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Regan Smith of the United States waves from the podium after winning the Women 100m Backstroke final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Kristof Milak of Hungary competes in his Men 200m Butterfly semifinal at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Silver medalist Katie Grimes of the United States, gold medalist Katie Ledecky of the United States and bronze medalist Lani Pallister of Australia, from left to right, pose on the podium of the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Katie Ledecky of the United States waves from the podium after winning the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Silver medalist Ryan Murphy of the United States, gold medalist Thomas Ceccon of Italy and Hunter Armstrong of the United States, from left to right, pose with their medals after the Men 100m Backstroke final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              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, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Thomas Ceccon of Italy waves from the podium after winning the Men 100m Backstroke final setting a new world record at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Thomas Ceccon of Italy poses with his medal after winning the Men 100m Backstroke final setting a new world record at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Regan Smith of the United States waves from the podium after winning the Women 100m Backstroke final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Kristof Milak of Hungary competes in his Men 200m Butterfly semifinal at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Silver medalist Katie Grimes of the United States, gold medalist Katie Ledecky of the United States and bronze medalist Lani Pallister of Australia, from left to right, pose on the podium of the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Katie Ledecky of the United States waves from the podium after winning the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Silver medalist Ryan Murphy of the United States, gold medalist Thomas Ceccon of Italy and Hunter Armstrong of the United States, from left to right, pose with their medals after the Men 100m Backstroke final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              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, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Thomas Ceccon of Italy waves from the podium after winning the Men 100m Backstroke final setting a new world record at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Thomas Ceccon of Italy poses with his medal after winning the Men 100m Backstroke final setting a new world record at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Katie Ledecky of the United States celebrates with Second placed Katie Grimes, right, also of the United States, after winning the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Katie Ledecky of the United States competes in the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Second placed Katie Grimes of the United States celebrates with winner Katie Ledecky, left, also of the United States, after finishing the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Second placed Katie Grimes of the United States celebrates with winner Katie Ledecky, left, also of the United States, after finishing the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Katie Ledecky of the United States celebrates after winning the Women 1500m Freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Italy’s Thomas Ceccon set a world record in the men’s 100 backstroke and Katie Ledecky claimed yet another gold at the swimming world championships on Monday.

Ceccon stunned the competition in Budapest by clocking 51.60 seconds to shave 0.15 seconds off the previous best mark set by American Ryan Murphy at the 2016 Olympics.

Murphy finished second, 0.37 seconds behind, followed by compatriot Hunter Armstrong, 0.38 behind Ceccon.

While the young mustached Italian claimed his first world title, Ledecky extended her record title haul to 17 with her fourth in the 1,500 freestyle.

Ledecky never looked threatened and clocked 15:30.15 – just under 10 seconds more than her world record from 2018 – to finish 14.74 seconds ahead of fellow American Katie Grimes.

Ledecky punched the water in delight then embraced her teammate.

The 16-year-old Grimes is the second youngest medalist in the 1,500 at a worlds since Ledecky won it for the first time in 2013.

Ledecky also won in 2015 and 2017 and has at least four world titles in the each of the 1,500, 800 and 400 freestyle events. Only compatriot Michael Phelps also won at least four gold medals in three different swimming events at the worlds.

Australian Lani Pallister finished third, 18.81 off Ledecky’s pace, for her country’s first medal in this race. The 1,500 freestyle was the only women’s event at a worlds in which an Australian swimmer had not reached the podium.

Italy’s Simona Quadarella, who was second fastest in qualifying, finished fifth, more than half a minute behind.

Regan Smith got another gold for the United States in the women’s 100 backstroke, clocking 58.22 to finish 0.18 ahead of Canadian rival Kylie Masse with another American, Claire Curzan, finishing third.

Then Italy’s show began with Ceccon.

He is the second Italian man to set a world record in long course swimming after Giorgio Lambert. Lambert held the record in the men’s 200 freestyle from 1989-99.

Italy’s Benedetta Pilato followed up by winning the women’s 100 breaststroke in 1:05.93, 0.05 ahead of Germany’s Anna Elendt and 0.09 ahead of Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte.

The 17-year-old Pilato, who couldn’t contain her delight, is the youngest Italian swimmer to win gold at a worlds.

She brought her country’s tally of golds to three, already as many as Italy’s swimmers ever managed at a previous worlds.

Also, Romania’s David Popovici set a world junior record to win the men’s 200 meters in 1:43.21 – 1.26 seconds ahead of the competition.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Ceccon sets world record, Ledecky claims yet another title