Italy's Filippo Magnini won Italy's first gold medal of the world swimming championships here on Thursday but had to share the honours in the 100 metres freestyle with Canada's Brent Hayden.
Magnini, who won gold in the same event two years ago, clocked exactly the same time as the Canadian and so judges awarded gold medals to them both.
"It's a bit strange but I can still say I'm world champion. Two years ago I was the surprise and it wasn't easy to defend the title," he said.
"I was practically dead in the last five metres but to have come first anyway is fantastic".
Magnini, 25, said that he had not felt 100% before the final because he had a sore arm after Sunday's 4 x 100 relay in which the Italians won silver.
Italy swimming coach Alberto Castagnetti admitted he was slightly disappointed not to see the Italian alone on the winner's podium and had been surprised by Hayden's recent improvement.
"Magnini started off too fast, a bit uptight and in the end he paid for it. I never thought it would be so close. But it was still a magnificent race and Filippo was fantastic," he said.
