2025 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
- Singapore, Singapore
- World Aquatics Championships Arena
- LCM (50m)
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MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty (GBR), 2017
- World Junior Record: 26.97 – Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
- Championship Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty (GBR), 2017
- 2023 World Champion: Qin Haiyang (CHN) – 26.29
- Simone Cerasuolo (ITA), 26.54
- Kirill Prigoda (NAB), 26.62
- Qin Haiyang (CHN), 26.67
- Ivan Kozhakin (NAB), 26.73
- Melvin Imoudou (GER), 26.74
- Chris Smith (RSA), 26.75
- Koen de Groot (RSA), 26.81
- Luka Mladenovic (AUT), 26.89
Simone Cerasuolo makes history in Italian men’s breaststroke, becoming the first Italian ever to win the world title in the 50m breaststroke—despite the country’s strong tradition in the event.
The 22-year-old swimmer from Emilia Romagna claimed the world crown in 26.54 seconds, edging out Russia’s Prigoda (26.62) and pre-race favorite Qin of China (26.67).
This marks a significant breakthrough for Cerasuolo, who had long dominated age-group competitions, especially in the 25-meter pool. After taking silver behind Nicolò Martinenghi at the 2023 European Short Course Championships in Otopeni, he now steps fully into the spotlight in an event recently added to the Olympic program for Los Angeles 2028.
His personal best is just one-hundredth of a second faster than the time he swam in Singapore, a mark he set at the 2024 Italian Championships in Riccione.
Speaking to Italian Television, after the race, Cerasuolo thanked his family and recalled the lessons from his father, who always pushed him to give his best: “True strength comes out in tough times—and I proved that today.”
Cerasuolo trains in his hometown under coach Cesare Casella. He came up through the same training group as Fabio Scozzoli, former Italian team captain and now strength coach to the newly crowned world champion.
Italy’s rich breaststroke tradition continues to produce new stars, following in the wake of international icons like Olympic champion Nicolò Martinenghi—and national record holder Ludovico “Blu Art” Viberti, who just a month ago clocked a 26.27, the third-fastest time ever in the event.
Viberti didn’t compete in the 50m breaststroke in Singapore, as the two Italian spots had already been secured by Martinenghi and Cerasuolo.
Today’s performance doesn’t surpass Cerasuolo’s personal best, which he set a year ago at the national championships with a time of 27.53—one hundredth of a second faster than today.
