European Championships: Nicolo Martinenghi Adds European 100 Breaststroke Gold To World Title; Federico Poggio Makes It Italy 1-2

Nicolo Martinenghi: Photo Courtesy: LEN

European Championships: Nicolo Martinenghi Adds European 100 Breaststroke Gold To World Title; Federico Poggio Makes It Italy 1-2

Nicolo Martinenghi added European gold to the world 100m breaststroke title with a storming second 50 at the European Championships in Rome.

The Italian, who recently turned 23, turned second at halfway behind Lucas Matzerath but a second 50 of 30.78 propelled him to the front and home in 58.26 as the Foro Italico cheered their hero home in the same time in which he won world gold.

Federico Poggio made it an Italian one-two in 58.98 with Andrius Sidlauskas of Lithuania getting bronze in 59.50.

Olympic and world silver medallist Arno Kamminga was seventh in 59.68.

Martinenghi’s victory made it three golds in four finals on day two.

Results;

Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA); 58.26

Federico Poggio (ITA); 58.98

Andrius Sidlauskas (LTU); 59.50

James Wilby (GBR)/Valentin Bayer (AUT); 59.54

Lukas Matzerath (GER); 59.64

Arno Kamminga (NED); 59.68

Bernhard Reitshammar (AUT); 1:00.02

An unbelievable month for Nicolo Martinenghi! ??

After winning gold at the FINA World Championships, Martinenghi claims the Men’s 100m Breaststroke European title in front of his own fans ?

Watch more on LEN TV. #LENRoma2022 pic.twitter.com/M0AUh86Bd6

— LEN – European Aquatics (@LENaquatics) August 12, 2022

Out in 27.48 and back in 30.78, Martinenghi’s winning time perfectly matched what he did to win the title in Budapest.

He acknowledged the absence of Adam Peaty, the world record-holder, who withdrew following his fourth place at the Commonwealth Games which came after he returned from fracturing his foot.

Martinenghi told Swimming World:

“Without Adam it is so different – for me because I don’t race against him since the Olympics.

“Here without Adam the breaststroke is not the same.

“He has to rest too, he has to focus on himself, he has to take care of himself and then he comes back probably better than before.”

The 23-year-old also swam the breaststroke leg as Italy claimed silver in the mixed medley relay meaning a tight turnaround for the Olympic bronze medallist.

“With the noise from the crowd it was one stroke more; they helped me a lot through my final.

“It’s incredible to win in front of my people, to share the podium with Federico, it was a really fun thing.

“Also for the relay. It was really tough but it’s okay.

“We train to race so it’s not a problem to do it back to back.”

Martinenghi finished fifth in the 100br at the last Europeans in Budapest in 2021 but since then he has claimed double bronze at the Tokyo Olympics plus gold in the continental and silver in the world short-course pool.

Then came the world title in the Hungarian capital and tonight’s glory greeted by a raucous crowd at the Foro Italico.

Was Budapest 2021 a turning point?

“I grew race by race. Starting with European short course and then worlds and then the best part was the World Championships a month ago and then I am here to swim in front of my people again.

“I can see the light out of the tunnel that the summer is coming; I really want to rest a little bit. I need to rest for my knees, for my physical situation.

“But it’s okay; the championships are not finished, the work is not done, so I have to continue for the 50 and the relay the last day.”

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