Thomas Ceccon smashed a world record and compatriot Benedetta Pilato then continued Italy's strong start to the Swimming World Championships as she won a second gold of the evening in Budapest on Monday. Ceccon shaved a quarter of a second off the 100m backstroke world record as he won in 51.60sec. "I didn't expect this time," Ceccon said. "I didnt expect to go so fast."

Pilato was also delighted after she won the last final of the evening, the women's 100m breaststroke, by a fingernail. "I am super-happy and proud," she said. "It was a dream which came true." Ceccon edged the old world record holder American Ryan Murphy, who set the mark, at the 2016 Olympics by 0.37sec. Another American, Hunter Armstrong was third. "Today nobody could beat me! What a sensational time 51.6. It still has to sink in," he said.