Noè Ponti with the second gold medal in his hand has a good laugh
Image: Keystone
With a new Swiss record of 50.33 seconds, Ponti moved up to fourth place in the all-time rankings for the 100m medley
Image: Keystone
A third medal beckons in the 100 m dolphin on Saturday
Image: Keystone
Ponti also wants to go for it in the 50 m crawl - he could be the outstanding swimmer in Budapest
Image: Keystone
Ponti only had 20 minutes between the semi-final of the 100 m dolphin and the final of the 100 m medley on Friday
Image: Keystone
Noè Ponti with the second gold medal in his hand has a good laugh
Image: Keystone
With a new Swiss record of 50.33 seconds, Ponti moved up to fourth place in the all-time rankings for the 100m medley
Image: Keystone
A third medal beckons in the 100 m dolphin on Saturday
Image: Keystone
Ponti also wants to go for it in the 50 m crawl - he could be the outstanding swimmer in Budapest
Image: Keystone
Ponti only had 20 minutes between the semi-final of the 100 m dolphin and the final of the 100 m medley on Friday
Image: Keystone
Gold again! Noè Ponti's success stories at the short course world championships in Budapest are never-ending. More medals beckon over the weekend.
13.12.2024, 20:32
13.12.2024, 23:02
SDA
"It's going well for me!" says the 24-year-old from Ticino, quite immodestly. Then he is at a loss for words. And finally he admits that what is going on around him in Budapest these days is really "awesome".
Noè Ponti is completing a mega program in Hungary. Three races before winning the gold medal in the 50 m dolphin on Wednesday. Another three races in the 100 m medley. The third race in the 100 m dolphin will follow on Saturday - and that will also be another final. And from Saturday, Ponti will also try to win something in the 50 m crawl.
Gold in wet pants
He was even excused for not walking through the media mixed zone between the semi-final of the 100 m dolphin, which he of course also won on Friday at 6.40 pm, and the medley final shortly after 7 pm. "It wasn't an easy day," Ponti ultimately summed up. "A quick swim after the semi-final, a drink and on we went," said Ponti. There was no time to put on dry swimming trunks, for example.
But when it's on, it's on. "It wasn't easy to concentrate on the 100 m dolphin so shortly before a final," said Ponti. Nevertheless, he qualified for Saturday's final with the best semi-final time. The gold medal in the 100 m medley did not just fall into his lap either - despite a 78 hundredths lead at the finish. "I was still behind after 75 meters. But on the last 25 meters I was able to go full throttle again."
"What's still to come is an encore"
With the short course world championship record, Noè Ponti improved to 4th place in the "eternal ranking list" over 100 m medley.
Stepping on the gas on the last short course length will become Ponti's trademark in Hungary. What is still possible in Saturday evening's third final over 100 m dolphin? Ponti: "We'll see. I already have two gold medals. Everything that's still to come is an encore!"
And the Ticino swimmer isn't even talking about the 50 m crawl yet. He will also be competing in this sprint distance on Saturday morning. Anyone who witnessed Ponti crawl away from the competition in the last 25 meters of the medley final on Friday is confident that Ponti can do anything in this fourth discipline.
