2024 Sette Colli Trophy: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2024 SETTE COLLI TROPHY

• Friday, June 21st – June 23rd
• Foro Italico Swimming Stadium, Rome, Italy
• LCM (50 meters)
• Italian Olympic Selection Policy
• Meet Central
• Entry List
• Preview: Storylines to Follow
• Live Results
• Day 1 Prelims Recap

A trio of world record holders are contesting their signature events to kick off the 2024 Sette Colli Trophy on Friday in Rome between Italy’s Thomas Ceccon in the men’s 100 backstroke, Britain’s Adam Peaty in the men’s 100 breaststroke, and Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom in the women’s 50 butterfly.

There’s a showdown looming in the men’s 400 freestyle between Brazil’s Guilherme Costa, Belgium’s Lucas Henveaux, and Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen, who placed 4th, 5th, and 7th at the 2024 World Championships, respectively. Wiffen snagged the top qualifying spot this morning in 3:48.42, just ahead of Costa (3:48.46).

There should also be a fun battle in the women’s 200 freestyle between reigning Olympic silver medalist Siobhan Haughey and top prelims qualifier Mary-Sophie Harvey. Haughey ranks 4th in the world this season (1:54.08) while Harvey ranks 8th (1:55.44).

The first finals session also features finals of the women’s 50 back, men’s 400 free,

Stay tuned for live updates below:

Men’s 100 Back – Final

• World record: 51.60, Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 2022
• European record: 51.60, Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 2022
• Meet record: 52.86, Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 2023
• Olympic ‘A’ cut: 53.74

Top 8:

1. Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 52.43 *Meet record
2. Michele Lamberti (ITA) – 53.35
3. Christian Bacico (ITA) – 54.05
4. Riku Matsuyama (JPN) – 54.19
5. Matteo Brunella (ITA) – 54.48
6. Jonny Marshall (GBR) – 54.51
7. Guilherme Basseto (BRA) – 54.54
8. Lorenzo Mora (ITA) – 54.75
9. Dylan Buonaguro (ITA) – 55.09

World record holder Thomas Ceccon got the first finals session started off with a bang by blasting a meet record in the 100 back at 52.43, taking down his own standard of 52.86 from last year. The 23-year-old Italian was just off his season-best 52.27 from last October that ranks 3rd globally. Ceccon set the world record at 51.60 during the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Fellow Italian Michele Lamberti earned the runner-up finish in 53.35, dropping a couple tenths off his previous-best 53.56 from March’s Italian Championships. The 23-year-old is under the Olympic ‘A’ cut of 53.74, so he’ll be considered for Paris selection since Ceccon is the only Italian man who has already qualified in the 100 back.

Women’s 50 Back – Final

• World record: 26.86, Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 2023
• European record: 27.10, Kira Toussaint (NED) – 2021
• Meet record: 27.57, Holly Barratt (AUS) – 2017

Top 8:

1. Lauren Cox (GBR) – 28.01
2. Maaike de Waard (NED) – 28.04
3. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 28.05
4. Kira Toussaint (NED) – 28.22
5. Tessa Giele (NED) – 28.32
6. Kathleen Dawson (GBR) – 28.34
7. Martina Biasioli (ITA) – 28.63
8. Giada Gorlier (ITA) – 29.00

The women’s 50 back final came down to the wire as the podium was separated by just .04 seconds.

Lauren Cox touched first in 28.01, within a second of her personal-best 27.20 that took bronze at the 2023 World Championships. The 22-year-old Brit barely held off 27-year-old Dutchwoman Maaike de Waard (28.04) and 27-year-old Swede Louise Hansson (28.05) for the title. Hansson dropped .08 seconds off her best time of 28.13 from February’s World Championships while de Waard was slightly off her personal-best 27.54 from the 2022 European Championships, where she claimed bronze.

European record holder Kira Toussaint placed 4th in 28.22, a tenth ahead of Dutch teammate Tessa Giele (28.32).

Men’s 400 Free – Final

• World record: 3:40.07, Paul Biedermann (GER) – 2009
• European record: 3:40.07, Paul Biedermann (GER) – 2009
• Meet record: 3:43.73, Gabriele Detti (ITA) – 2020
• Olympic ‘A’ cut: 3:46.78

Top 8:

1. Guilherme Costa (BRA) – 3:45.33
2. Lucas Henveaux (BEL) – 3:45.81
3. Eduardo Oliveira de Moraes (BRA) – 3:46.29
4. Matteo Lamberti (ITA) – 3:46.85
5. Marco de Tullio (ITA) – 3:47.24
6. Alessandro Ragaini (ITA) – 3:47.48
7. Davide Marchello (ITA) – 3:48.18
8. Daniel Wiffen (IRL) – 3:51.64

Guilherme Costa claimed the men’s 400 free crown in 3:45.33, a couple seconds off his personal-best 3:43.31 from the 2022 World Championships, where he won bronze. The 25-year-old Brazilian is coming off a 4th-place finish (3:44.22) at February’s World Championships, which ranks him 6th in the world this season.

Lucas Henveaux was close behind in 3:45.81, not far off his Belgian record of 3:44.61 from February’s World Championships.

Eduardo Oliveira de Moraes clocked a huge lifetime best to place 3rd in 3:46.29, under the Olympic ‘A’ cut of 3:46.78. The 22-year-old Brazilian crushed his previous-best 3:48.27 from March’s Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont, Illinois.

Matteo Lamberti just missed the podium with a 4th-place effort of 3:46.85, within a second of his best time from last April (3:46.03). The 24-year-old Italian reached the wall within a tenth of the Olympic ‘A’ standard (3:46.78).

Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen placed 8th in 3:51.64 after qualifying 1st this morning in 3:48.42.

Women’s 200 Free – Final

• World record: 1:52.23, Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 2024
• European record: 1:52.98, Federica Pellegrini (ITA) – 2009
• Meet record: 1:54.55, Federica Pellegrini (ITA) – 2016
• Olympic ‘A’ cut: 1:57.26

Top 8:

1. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 1:55.35
2. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) – 1:56.38
3. Freya Colbert (GBR) – 1:56.58
4. Maria Fernanda de Oliveira da Silva Costa (BRA) – 1:57.05
5. Abbie Wood (GBR) – 1:57.56
6. Sofia Morini (ITA) – 1:57.81
7. Gabrielle Roncatto (BRA) – 1:58.01
8. Freya Anderson (GBR) – 1:58.28

Hong Kong 26-year-old Siobhan Haughey cruised to victory in the women’s 200 free with a winning time of 1:55.35, more than a second ahead of top prelims qualifier Mary-Sophie Harvey (1:56.38).

Haughey ranks 4th in the world this season courtesy of her 1:54.08 from last October. The 24-year-old Harvey is fresh off a lifetime best of 1:55.44 at last month’s Canadian Trials.

Reigning 400 IM world champion Freya Colbert fired off a 1:56.58 for 3rd place, within half a second of the Brit’s personal-best 1:56.16 from the 2023 World Championships.

Brazil’s Maria Fernanda de Oliveira da Silva Costa placed 4th in 1:57.05, within a second of her personal-best 1:56.37 from Brazilian Trials last month.

Men’s 100 Breast – Final

• World record: 56.88, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2019
• European record: 56.88, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2019
• Meet record: 58.29, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 2021
• Olympic ‘A’ cut: 59.49

Top 8:

1. Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 58.90
2. Caspar Corbeau (NED) – 59.23
3. Ludovico Viberti (ITA) – 59.27
4. Adam Peaty (GBR) – 59.51
5. Arno Kamminga (NED) – 59.53
6. Federico Poggio (ITA) – 59.87
7. Alessandro Pinzuti (ITA) – 1:00.08
8. Darragh Greene (IRL) – 1:00.73

Italian record holder Nicolo Martinenghi clinched the men’s 100 breast crown as the lone sub-59 second finisher in 58.90. The 24-year-old has been as fast as 58.26 twice in 2022.

Martinenghi touched a few tenths ahead of 23-year-old Dutchman Caspar Corbeau (59.23) and 23-year-old Italian Ludovico Viberti (59.27). Viberti dropped just over a tenth off his previous-best 59.38 from last November, likely earning a trip to Paris under the Olympic ‘A’ cut of 59.49.

Two-time defending British Olympic champion Adam Peaty placed 4th in 59.51. The 29-year-old ranks 2nd this season with his 57.94 from April’s British Trials. Reigning Olympic silver medalist Arno Kamminga was right behind Peaty for 5th place in 59.53.

Women’s 100 Breast – Final

• World record: 1:04.13, Lilly King (USA) – 2017
• European record: 1:04.34, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 2013
• Meet record: 1:04.98, Yuliya Efimova (RUS) – 2018
• Olympic ‘A’ cut: 1:06.79

Top 8:

1. Benedetta Pilato (ITA) – 1:05.44
2. Angharad Evans (GBR) – 1:05.91
3. Martina Carraro (ITA) – 1:06.43
4. Tes Schouten (NED) – 1:06.65
5. Henrietta Fangli (HUN) – 1:07.08
6. Kara Hanlon (SCO) – 1:07.29
7. Francesca Zucca (ITA) – 1:07.53
8. Sophie Hansson (SWE) – 1:07.62

Benedetta Pilato posted a personal-best 1:05.44 to win the women’s 100 breast and jump up to No. 5 in the world this season. The 19-year-old Italian lowered her previous-best 1:05.70 from the 2022 Italian Championships, in the process breaking Arianna Castiglioni‘s national record of 1:05.67 from the 2021 Sette Colli Trophy.

Angharad Evans threw down the second sub-1:06 swim of her career after breaking the British record last month with a personal-best 1:05.54 — the second-fastest swim ever by a British woman and the 6th-fastest in the world this season. Her 1:05.91 tonight was more than half a second faster than her 1:06.54 at British Trials in April.

Martina Carraro recorded her fastest 100 breast since last April’s Italian Championships, placing 3rd in an Olympic ‘A’ cut of 1:06.43. The 30-year-old would have clinched her third Italian Olympic berth if not for Pilato and Lisa Angiolini already qualifying in the event.

Tes Schouten, who won silver in the 100 breast at the 2024 World Championships, placed 4th in 1:06.65. The 23-year-old Dutchwoman ranks 9th in the world this season with her season-best 1:05.82 from February.

Men’s 100 Fly – Final

• World record: 49.45, Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 2021
• European record: 49.68, Kristof Milak (HUN) – 2021
• Meet record: 50.89, Kristof Milak (HUN) – 2021
• Olympic ‘A’ cut: 51.67

Top 8:

1. Nyls Korstanje (NED) – 50.90
2. Edoardo Valsecchi (ITA) – 52.01
3. Gianmarco Sansone (ITA) – 52.22
4. Chad le Clos (RSA) – 52.23
5. Piero Codia (ITA) – 52.24
6. Maxim Skazobtsov (KAZ) – 52.26
7. Michele Busa (ITA) – 52.37
8. Max McCusker (IRL) – 52.62

Nyls Korstanje dominated the men’s 100 fly by more than a second with a winning time of 50.90, scaring Kristof Milak‘s meet record of 50.89 from 2021.

Korstanje, a 25-year-old Dutchman, still ranks 8th this season as his previous season best stood at 50.94 from last week. He narrowly missed his personal-best 50.78 from the 2023 World Championships, where he placed 5th.

The Italian duo of Edoardo Valsecchi (52.01) and Gianmarco Sansone (52.22) placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively, but neither cleared the Olympic ‘A’ cut of 51.67.

Women’s 50 Fly – Final

• World record: 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2014
• European record: 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2014
• Meet record: 25.19, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2018

Top 8:

1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 24.73 *Meet record
2. Rikako Ikee (JPN) – 25.63
3. Viola Scotto di Carlo (ITA) – 25.89
4. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 26.10
5. Michelle Coleman (SWE) – 26.20
6. Maaike de Waard (NED) – 26.24
7. Tessa Giele (NED) – 26.36
8. Kim Busch (NED) – 26.42

Swedish world record holder Sarah Sjostrom broke 25 seconds for at least the 23rd time in her career — a barrier that only she has ever broken — en route to the women’s 50 fly victory in 24.73.

Sjostrom was just off her world-leading 24.63 from February, when she won her sixth world title in a row. Today she touched almost a full second ahead of Rikako Ikee (25.63), who owns the Japanese record at 25.11 from 2018.

Italy’s Viola Scotto di Carlo was the only other swimmer under 26 seconds with a 25.89 for 3rd place.

Men’s 50 Free – Final

• World record: 20.91, Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 2009
• European record: 20.94, Frederick Bousquet (FRA) – 2009
• Meet record: 21.16, Ben Proud (GBR) – 2018
• Olympic ‘A’ cut: 21.96

Top 8:

1. Ben Proud (GBR) – 21.62
2. Leonardo Deplano (ITA) – 21.76
3. Gui Caribe (BRA) – 21.97
4. Kenzo Simons (NED) – 22.00
5. Renzo Tjon a Joe (NED) – 22.14
6. Lorenzo Zazzeri (ITA) – 22.18
7. David Cumberlidge (GBR) – 22.20
8. Luca Dotto (ITA) – 22.44

Ben Proud prevailed in the 50 free with a winning time of 21.62, not far off his season-best 21.25 that ranks 2nd in the world behind Cam McEvoy (21.13). The 29-year-old Brit will be a medal hopeful at Paris next month after tying for 5th (21.72) a few years ago in Tokyo.

Leonardo Deplano ripped a 21.76 for 2nd place behind Proud, moving up to 19th this season. The 24-year-old Italian has been as fast as 21.60 at the 2022 European Championships, where he took silver.

Rising Tennessee junior Gui Caribe claimed 3rd place in 21.97, not far off his personal-best 21.87 from 2022. Though he was a hundredth off the Olympic ‘A’ cut today, the 21-year-old Brazilian already qualified for the Olympics in this event with a season-best 21.88 at Brazilian Trials last month.

Women’s 1500 Free – Final

• World record: 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (USA) – 2018
• European record: 15:38.88, Lotte Friis (DEN) – 2013
• Meet record: 15:48.81, Simona Quadarella (ITA) – 2021
• Olympic ‘A’ cut: 16:09.09

Top 8:

1. Simona Quadarella (ITA) – 15:48.27 *Meet record
2. Isabel Gose (GER) – 15:50.56
3. Leonie Maertens (GER) – 16:05.17
4. Ginevra Taddeucci (ITA) – 16:08.65
5. Giulia Gabbrielleschi (ITA) – 16:18.17
6. Beatriz Dizotti (BRA) – 16:18.53
7. Emma Vittoria Giannelli (ITA) – 16:27.70
8. Tamila Hryhorivna Holub (POR) – 16:41.06

Reigning world champion Simona Quadarella triumphed in the 1500 free in 15:48.27, erasing her own meet record of 15:48.81 from 2021. She held off a strong showing from Germany’s Isabel Gose (15:50.56), who earned the runner-up finish ahead of countrywoman Leonie Maertens (16:05.17).

Quadarella ranks 2nd in the world this season behind only world record holder Katie Ledecky with her 15:43.31 from February’s world title.

Ginevra Taddeucci snuck under the Olympic ‘A’ cut with a 4th-place finish in 16:08.65 to add her name into consideration for the Italian roster headed to Paris next month. The 27-year-old open water standout shaved more than three seconds off her previous-best 16:11.70 from March’s Italian Championships.