Youngster Popovici, veteran Ledecky take glory in swimming worlds

Thomas Ceccon broke the first world record of the championships as he won the 100m backstroke. 

It was a second Italian gold of the competition after Nicolo Martinenghi took the 100m breaststroke title the night before. 

In barely an hour, Italy had a third gold as Benedetta Pilato won the women's 100m breaststroke. 

Pilato was also the second 17-year-old to win on Monday and the third to take a medal. 

David Popovici, a 17-year-old Romanian, had seized the men's 200m freestyle title. 

Katie Ledecky, at 25 the oldest winner of the evening by three years, reclaimed the 1500m freestyle title. 

Her 20-year-old compatriot Regan Smith retained her 100m backstroke title. 

Ceccon shaved a quarter of a second off the 100m backstroke world record as he won in 51.60sec.  

"Today nobody could beat me! What a sensational time: 51.6,"  said Ceccon. 

Ceccon took the world record off American Ryan Murphy, who had a close-up view, finishing 0.37sec behind in second.   In a sport in which most competitors obsessively shave body hair, Ceccon has drawn comments for his moustache. Asked if it was now a lucky charm, he shrugged. 

"It's just a moustache," he said.   

Ceccon is 21 and Martinenghi who was back in the pool on Monday dominating 50m breaststroke qualifying is 22.  

Yet in comparison the 17-year-old Pilato is a battle-hardened veteran. 

She already has a world record, set last year, and a world championship medal, from 2019, both in the 50m breaststroke. 

"Before the race I was crying with joy for Thomas, who made me relive the sensations I felt when I set the world record and now, here I am with gold around my neck," she said.

Pilato edged German Anna Elendt by 0.05sec with Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte at 0.09sec.  

Popovici took the 200m freestyle