Mewen Tomac Shines at Short Course World Championships
Mewen Tomac made history on December 15, 2024, by winning his first world medal in the 200m backstroke at the Short Course World Championships held in Budapest, Hungary. With a time of 1:49:93, Tomac secured a bronze medal, finishing behind Hungary's Hubert Kos, who clinched gold with a remarkable time of 1:45:65, and Italy's Lorenzo Mora, who took silver at 1:48:96. Tomac expressed his satisfaction, stating, "A medal was the goal of the week. I'm happy to finish on this," despite a challenging start to the competition where he narrowly missed qualifying for the finals in the 50m and 100m backstroke events.
Denis Auguin, the director of the French swimming teams, praised Tomac's performance, noting that he executed an intelligent race strategy. "He really raced to play for the place that was accessible to him today," Auguin commented, acknowledging the higher caliber of competition from Kos and Mora.
Italy's Strong Finish at the Championships
The Italian swimming team concluded the 17th edition of the World Short Course Swimming Championships with impressive results, securing a total of 9 medals, including one gold, five silvers, and three bronzes. Technical director Cesare Butini highlighted the successful integration of emerging talent alongside experienced athletes, stating, "We tried to initiate and encourage generational change." The team achieved 30 finals appearances and set numerous records, including five Italian records and one European record.
On the final day, Italy celebrated Lorenzo Mora's silver medal in the 200m backstroke and a bronze in the men's 4x100 medley relay. Notable performances also included fourth-place finishes by Benedetta Pilato in the 50m breaststroke and Simone Cerasuolo in the same event. Pilato reflected on her performance, saying, "I gave everything I had... I am happy anyway and now I will think about the season in the long pool."
Record-Breaking Championships
The Short Course World Championships in Budapest were marked by extraordinary achievements, with a total of 30 world records set during the event, including 21 by American swimmers. The competition, held just five months before the Paris Olympics, showcased the depth of talent in the sport, with six new records established on the final day alone. The French team, without star swimmer Léon Marchand, still managed to secure five medals, thanks to standout performances from athletes like Béryl Gastaldello and Maxime Grousset.
As the championships concluded, the results indicated a promising future for both the French and Italian swimming teams, with a blend of seasoned competitors and rising stars ready to make their mark on the international stage.
