While Italians held their breath as the men’s team swam their way to a third place in the 4x100-metre freestyle relay at the Paris Olympics on July 27, the internet collectively gasped when swimmer Thomas Ceccon revealed a glimpse of his abs on the podium. As Ceccon celebrated with his bronze medal alongside his teammates, audiences were temporarily distracted by the swimmer’s sculpted abdominal muscles, which peeked out from under his sweatshirt, per People. {"@context":"https://schema.
org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"The Italian swimming team has been compared to “Calvin Klein models”. Photo: @federnuoto/Instagram","url":"https://img.i-scmp.
com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/02/833aa7b9-a08e-4cdc-939a-c88a114576be_be6cfde1.jpg"} The Italian swimming team has been compared to “Calvin Klein models”. Photo: @federnuoto/Instagram Shortly afterwards, the internet was “set ablaze” with comments, the outlet reported, with one spectator comparing the entire Italian team to “ Calvin Klein models ”.
Speaking to Italian news network Rai three days later, the swimmer said that he was just “excited to be on the podium”. Fans are flocking to the Italian swimmer’s social media account, leaving words of admiration – and, most of all, heart-eyed emojis – in the comments section. Ceccon, who also nabbed gold in the men’s 100-metre backstroke at the Games, took to Instagram to share snippets of his Olympic journey with his 430,000 followers.
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Thomas Ceccon has garnered more fans and followers on Instagram since his accidental “ab flash”. Photo: @ceccon_thomas/Instagram","url":"https://img.
i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/02/b342cdc1-4d71-45b4-b8bf-4762ea78df9c_0679fed1.jpg"} Thomas Ceccon has garnered more fans and followers on Instagram since his accidental “ab flash”.
Photo: @ceccon_thomas/Instagram Here’s what we know about the Olympian beyond his toned physique: Road to gold {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Thomas Ceccon has his eyes set on winning medals at the Olympics since young. Photo: @ceccon_thomas/Instagram","url":"https://img.
i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/02/21a2794a-0a38-49cc-b8ae-a9dbf9078037_a26c17fe.jpg"} Thomas Ceccon has his eyes set on winning medals at the Olympics since young.
Photo: @ceccon_thomas/Instagram Becoming an overnight internet sensation may not have been part of his plan, but winning a gold medal at the Olympics was. In the same interview with Italian news outlet Rai Italia, he said he couldn’t be happier about the win and that “As a kid, at 15, the coach asked me, ‘What is your dream?’ I answered, ‘To win the Olympics’..
. it’s always been my dream.” {"@context":"https://schema.
org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Thomas Ceccon also competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Photo: @ceccon_thomas/Instagram","url":"https://img.i-scmp.
com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/02/01bef0bb-ab67-4cf9-9ef1-e72de3645c03_7390c88c.jpg"} Thomas Ceccon also competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Photo: @ceccon_thomas/Instagram But Paris isn’t the swimmer’s first time stepping onto an Olympic podium.
He made his debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There, he also competed in the men’s 4x100-metre freestyle relay, taking home a silver medal, as well as a bronze medal in the 4x100-metre men’s medley relay. At the individual 100-metre backstroke event in Tokyo, Ceccon placed fourth, just missing his chance at a medal.
However, he was able to improve his performance and win gold at the 2022 World Aquatics Championship in Budapest. A multitalented athlete {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Thomas Ceccon can also play tennis.
Photo: @ceccon_thomas/Instagram","url":"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/02/dfe2a1df-c7be-4ef6-b8d1-8673499aaf84_7390c88c.
jpg"} Thomas Ceccon can also play tennis. Photo: @ceccon_thomas/Instagram Besides swimming, Ceccon is also trained in tennis. In a video interview with World Aquatics in 2022, Ceccon says he enjoyed swimming and playing tennis with his brother but found himself at a crossroads where he had to focus on just one of the sports: “But ultimately, I’ve always liked swimming.
I have always enjoyed staying in the water with my brother. So finally, my parents chose I should continue swimming.” Beyond the pool There’s no doubt that his new-found fame and Olympic gold will bring him sponsorship opportunities.
Already a star in his home country, he’s taken to Instagram to promote his sponsors. Ceccon is endorsed by the swimwear brand Arena and has featured in adverts for Swiss watch brand Omega . He’s also been spotted looking chic dressed in suits by Dior.
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Thomas Ceccon endorses luxury watch brand Omega. Photo: @ceccon_thomas/Instagram","url":"https://img.
i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/02/cdcc7391-10fd-4372-9ed7-60781a6a07e3_7390c88c.jpg"} Thomas Ceccon endorses luxury watch brand Omega.
Photo: @ceccon_thomas/Instagram He’s also showcased his curly locks in ads for L’Oréal haircare brand Kérastase. And in one Instagram post Ceccon can even be seen promoting prosciutto ham – by enjoying a giant sandwich. The 23-year-old just went viral after flashing his abs on the podium next to his ‘Calvin Klein model’ teammates when they came third in the freestyle relay Ceccon says he always knew he wanted to win a medal at the Olympics, and has been scooping up ad deals with everyone from L’Oreal to Omega and Arena.
