Italy’s Nicolò Martinenghi Wins Worlds Silver After a Sleepless Night – and Vomiting

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  • Prelims: Day 1
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Italy won a pair of individual medals on Monday in Singapore: one from Nicolo Martinenghi in the 100 breaststroke, and then a second via a strong semifinal swim by Thomas Ceccon, who is back where he belongs—in the final of the 100 back. But the road back to the podium for the Olympic champions was not easy.

Exactly one year after his Olympic gold in Paris, Martinenghi did it again. He climbed on the podium at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, taking silver in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 58.58—just behind Qin Haiyang of China, who touched first in 58.23. Denis Petrashov from Kyrgyzstan got the bronze in 58.88.

It was a tough race, and Tete (as we call him) gave it everything. He was leading through the first 75 meters, but Qin closed stronger in the last stretch. Still, Martinenghi held off the rest of the field with heart and guts. And this silver? It means even more when you know what happened behind the scenes.

Speaking with Sky minutes after the race, Martineghi said:

I’m over the moon even if it doesn’t look like it, because I’m really tired.

I gave everything I had. In the last meters I was completely done.

I couldn’t fight the comeback. But I’m happy. Training with Matteo helped me recharge, find new motivation and challenges.

Then he added something unexpected:

Last night, I was in the bathroom the whole night, vomiting. I didn’t sleep at all. I don’t know if it was food poisoning or something else. I even thought about giving up this final. But when you have the chance to carry this flag in a world final, you just go. I was empty inside, but my head and heart were full.

The news comes amid reports of the same for American and British swimmers, who camped together in Phuket, Thailand. Italy did not camp in Thailand, but rather traveled straight to Singapore.

Then, there’s Thomas Ceccon.

The Olympic and world champion in the 100 backstroke qualified for the semifinals with a quiet 53.65, 13th overall. That’s not the kind of time you expect from the world record holder (51.60), and he knows it.

“I never learn… I always make the same mistake,” he told RAI, clearly disappointed. “Everyone went fast, and I just followed the Chinese guy next to me. He actually swam slower than me.”

But a few hours later, Ceccon came back. And this time, he showed up like the Olympic and World Champion he is.

In the semifinals, he dropped more than a second and posted a 52.35—the 4th fastest time overall. He started with more confidence, and controlled the race better. Solid, smart, and back in the game.

‘ho avuto un’intossicazione alimentare, credo, sono stato male e volevo rinunciare alla gara ma per amore di questa nazione e questo sport ho deciso di presentarmi, ho dato tutto me stesso e sono contentissimo’

Tete ❤️‍🩹 pic.twitter.com/65y3PE5MTC

— 𝑆𝑎𝑟𝑎.🌹𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐲 👑 (@smiletiziano1) July 28, 2025