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sports Diamars 21 Juni 2022

Italy's Ceccon sets world record in

men's 100 backstroke

(AP) — Italy's Thomas pest to shave 0.15 seconds off held the record in the men's
Ceccon has set a world the previous best mark set by 200 freestyle from 1989-99.
record in the men's 100 American Ryan Murphy at
backstroke at the swim- the 2016 Olympics. Ceccon is also the young-
ming world champion- est gold medalist at 21 in
ships. Ceccon is the second Italian the men's 100 backstroke at
man to set a world record in a worlds since the then-19-
Ceccon clocked 51.60 sec- long course swimming after year-old Aaron Piersol of the
onds on Monday in Buda- Giorgio Lambert. Lambert United States won in 2003.

Poland cuts Russia-based player out of World Cup plans

Russian club. for a brief spell in France with Lyon,
and is married to a Russian woman.
The Polish soccer federation said on
Monday coach Czesław Michnie- There was no word from the fed-
wicz told Rybus that he would be left eration on two other national play-
out of the squad for Nations League ers who have contracts with Russian
games in September and out of Po- clubs. Midfielder Grzegorz Kry-
land's plans for the World Cup be- chowiak of FC Krasnodar and Sebas-
cause of his "current club situation." tian Szymanski are still covered by
existing contracts signed before the
The full back was with Lokomotiv invasion, and Krychowiak moved on
Moscow last season and stayed with loan to Greek club AEK Athens fol-
the team after the Russian invasion of lowing the invasion.
Ukraine. He signed a new two-year
contract with Spartak Moscow on Poland will face Mexico, Argentina
June 11. and Saudi Arabia in the World Cup
group stage.
Rybus has played 66 times for Poland, After Russia launched its invasion
most recently in November, and was of Ukraine in February, Poland said
in the squad for the last World Cup in it would refuse to play a scheduled
2018 and last year's European Cham- World Cup qualifying playoff against
pionship. Russia in Moscow. FIFA awarded Po-
(AP) — Poland won't consider de- for the World Cup in Qatar after He has spent almost all of the last de- land a bye into the next round, where
fender Maciej Rybus in its plans he signed a new contract with a cade at various Russian clubs, except it beat Sweden 2-0 to qualify.

Rüdiger: It was 'Madrid or nothing' after leaving Chelsea

(AP) — While he was still with in the Champions League this year," fore joining Roma in 2015 and even- Madrid signed defender David Alaba
Chelsea, Antonio Rüdiger experi- Rüdiger said. "It was unbelievable. tually Chelsea in 2017. last year to help make up for the ab-
enced first-hand what it felt like Obviously, by the time the final came Rüdiger said his idols at Madrid in- sence of veteran Sergio Ramos, who
to be a Real Madrid player. around I knew I was going to play for clude former Brazil great Ronaldo joined Paris Saint-Germain. Alaba
Real Madrid. I was right behind them and fellow central defender Pepe. started in the Champions League fi-
He was on the losing end as Madrid and I was thrilled when they won it. "(Pepe) has attributes I love. And off nal against Liverpool alongside Éder
pulled off one of its stunning Cham- Next year, I want to keep competing the pitch, from what I've seen, he's Militão. Nacho Fernández has also
pions League comebacks that culmi- for more titles." a good guy, but on the pitch he's a played in central defense when need-
nated with its record-extending 14th monster," Rüdiger said. ed.
European title this season. The 29-year-old Rüdiger said Ma-
Rüdiger said his experience at the drid's archrival Barcelona showed in-
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in that terest in signing him but it was "Ma-
quarterfinal loss made his decision to drid or nothing."
join the Spanish powerhouse easier. "The first contact between Real Ma-
drid and my agent came in September
"The match I played with Chelsea at last year," he said. "The second time
the Bernabéu was special, so intense," I spoke to (coach Carlo) Ancelotti
the central defender said during his himself was in April. My contact with
official presentation at Madrid on him was the most important moment
Monday. and that's when I made the decision
"It was my first time playing at the to join this club. He told me he want-
Santiago Bernabéu," he said. "It was ed me here, he trusted me, and that I
an incredible feeling for me. After the could really help the team."
third goal (for Chelsea), there was
still a really positive atmosphere. I Madrid signed a four-year contract
took away amazing feelings and hav- with the Germany international,
ing the chance to play for a club like who helped Chelsea win titles in the
this is unbelievable." Champions League, Europa League,
Madrid went down 3-0 in that second Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup
leg of the quarterfinals against Chel- and FA Cup. He scored five goals in
sea, with Rüdiger scoring one of the 54 matches with Chelsea last season,
goals, but the hosts rallied and still both a record for him with the club.
advanced.
"I simply wouldn't know how to de- Rüdiger made his Bundesliga debut
scribe what Real Madrid achieved with Stuttgart as an 18-year-old be-