BUDAPEST, Hungary - Northwestern junior Federico Burdisso helped Italy to a world championship in the 400m Medley Relay on Saturday at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.
One year after winning a bronze medal in the same event in Tokyo at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Burdisso split a 50.63 for the butterfly leg of the relay to claim gold for Italy. Swimming out of lane three, Burdisso was joined by Thomas Ceccon, the world record holder in the men's 100m backstroke, and fellow Olumpic medalists Nicolò Martinenghi and Alessandro Miressi.
Swimming against the American favorites, Burdisso entered the pool with the lead as he battled Olympic gold medalist Michael Andrew. Holding off Andrew in what became a two-country duel between Italy and the United States, Burdisso handed the lead to Miressi for the final strech.
The Italians turned in a European-record time of 3:27.51 to out touch the heavily-favored Americans by 0:00.28 seconds. To quote broadcaster Rowdy Gaines, on the call for the Olympic Channel, "that was a shock." It was Italy's first-ever world championship in a relay event.
Burdisso also won an Olympic bronze bronze medal in the Men's 200m Butterfly in Tokyo last summer, as he became the first Wildcat to medal at an Olympic Games since Matt Grevers in 2012 and the first athlete to medal while enrolled at Northwestern since Nancy Simons in 1956.
One year after winning a bronze medal in the same event in Tokyo at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Burdisso split a 50.63 for the butterfly leg of the relay to claim gold for Italy. Swimming out of lane three, Burdisso was joined by Thomas Ceccon, the world record holder in the men's 100m backstroke, and fellow Olumpic medalists Nicolò Martinenghi and Alessandro Miressi.
???? Team ITALY claims GOLD in the Men's 4X100 Medley Relay ahead USA and Great Britain!
— FINA (@fina1908) June 25, 2022
Full Results https://t.co/w7sSOf4eNs pic.twitter.com/24sT6uN84O
Swimming against the American favorites, Burdisso entered the pool with the lead as he battled Olympic gold medalist Michael Andrew. Holding off Andrew in what became a two-country duel between Italy and the United States, Burdisso handed the lead to Miressi for the final strech.
The Italians turned in a European-record time of 3:27.51 to out touch the heavily-favored Americans by 0:00.28 seconds. To quote broadcaster Rowdy Gaines, on the call for the Olympic Channel, "that was a shock." It was Italy's first-ever world championship in a relay event.
Italy wins its first gold medal in history in a relay event at the World Championships #FINABudapest2022 pic.twitter.com/mtkANUrEx4
— FINA (@fina1908) June 25, 2022
Burdisso also won an Olympic bronze bronze medal in the Men's 200m Butterfly in Tokyo last summer, as he became the first Wildcat to medal at an Olympic Games since Matt Grevers in 2012 and the first athlete to medal while enrolled at Northwestern since Nancy Simons in 1956.