Gold medalist Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy kisses the medal after the awarding ceremony of men's 100m breaststroke of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
PARIS, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi produced a storming finish to win a dramatic men's 100m breaststroke final at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
The 24-year-old clinched gold in 59.03 seconds, just two hundredths of a second ahead of Britain's Adam Peaty, who was aiming to become only the second swimmer to win gold in the same event at three Games.
Nic Fink of the United States took bronze, less than a hundredth of a second behind Peaty.
"It's a dream come true," Martinenghi said. "I dreamed of this when I was young, so I grow with this as a goal in my mentality - I prepare, I build my wall."
"Today's the final step, the gold medal in the Olympic Games, that's my dream. I don't know what to say. I can say that I am an Olympic champion," Martinenghi said he wasn't aware his rivals had been so close to him in the final stretch.
"I didn't see anybody next to me because I was focused on my own race," he said. "The last 10 strokes I just saw Nic next to me and said, 'OK, now we have to fight.' I'm ready to fight, so I did it."
"At the end when I saw only one red light on my start, I said, 'OK I did it, finally I did it.'"
Peaty, who became the first man to claim three medals in the Olympic 100m breaststroke, heaped praise on Martinenghi.
"He is an incredible racer," the 29-year-old said. "I've been racing him for years. For me, I feel like I've still won. That's the beauty of it. My heart, I put my all into it and I couldn't have put anymore. My son there was obviously enjoying it, and that's the true joy in it." ■
Silver medalists Adam Peaty (L) of Britain reacts as Gold medalist Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy shows the medal after the awarding ceremony of men's 100m breaststroke of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Xu Jiayu of China prepares to compete before the men's 100m backstroke semifinal of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Xu Jiayu of China prepares before the men's 100m backstroke semifinal of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Xu Jiayu (1st L) of China competes during the men's 100m backstroke semifinal of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Qin Haiyang of China reacts ahead of the men's 100m breaststroke final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Qin Haiyang of China reacts ahead of the men's 100m breaststroke final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
(240728) -- PARIS, July 29, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. swimming athlete Michael Phelps greets spectators during the evening session of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Paris La Defense Arena in Paris, France, 28 July 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Qin Haiyang of China competes during the men's 100m breaststroke final of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
