Diogo Ribeiro Lowers Portuguese 50 Free Record To 21.67 In Samorin
Diogo Ribeiro lowered his Portuguese 50 free record and Milou van Wijk also posted a lifetime best as they emerged top of their respective 50 free finals on day two of the European Aquatics U23 Championships in Samorin, Slovakia.
Vladyslav Bukhov served notice with a 21.52 prelim in the men’s event, the third fastest of his career behind his 21.38 semi at the Doha worlds before he went on to win the title in 21.44.
However, it was Ribeiro – fifth in prelims in 22.19 – who clinched the title as he lowered his Portuguese record to 21.67, cutting a 0.20 chunk from his 21.87 standard from the 2023 national championships. The world 50 and 100 fly champion made his fourth journey inside 22secs as he matched the time posted by Olympic gold and silver medallists Cam McEvoy and Ben Proud at the Australian and British Championships respectively with the former going on to fire off a 21.30 world lead at the world trials earlier this month. It was Ribeiro’s second medal in as many days following silver in the 100 fly.
Milou van Wijk: Photo Courtesy: KNZB
Bukhov was second in 21.74 with David Popovici third in 21.86, 0.03 off his Romanian record of 21.83 set at the national championships in April. That followed his 200 free gold on Thursday in a world-leading time of 1:43.64.
Van Wijk has been consistently chipping away at her best times this year and posted a 24.38 prelim. Come the final and she went 24.23 for a lifetime best, 0.06 inside her 24.29 at the Dutch Championships earlier this month.
Roos Vanotterdijk won two titles in the space of 27 minutes on the opening day in the 100 fly and 50 back. Swimming from lane one in the 50 free final, the Belgian clocked 24.86 for silver with Great Britain’s Darcy Revitt taking bronze in 25.08.
Vanotterdijk dusted herself down and returned for the 100 back where she led at halfway. However, Adela Piskorska came from fourth at the turn to pick off those ahead of her and take the title in 1:00.01. Vanotterdijk claimed her second silver of the night and fourth medal of the meet so far in 1:00.27 with Bertille Cousson third in 1:00.90.
Chmielewski Dominates 200 Fly; Damasioti Comes Past Pudar For Women’s Title
Krzysztof Chmielewski won silver in the 200 fly at the 2023 World Championships, a feat he replicated a year later at the European Championships in Belgrade before going on to finish ninth in the semis at Paris 2024, locked out of the final by 0.02. Second behind Matteo Palmisani at the first turn, the Pole took control thereafter to dominate in 1:54.91. It’s his second-fastest time of the season following his 1:54.36 at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Sacramento. Andrea Camozzi of Italy was second in 1:56.94 with Apostolos Siskos coming from sixth at the final turn to storm through for third in 1:57.23, a day after winning the 200 back.
Doha world bronze medallist Lana Pudar led at the halfway point of the women’s 200 fly, closely tracked by Georgia Damasioti. The Greek made her move and pulled away on the third 50 before extending her lead to win in 2:09.21 as she upgraded 100 fly silver to gold over four lengths. Pudar was second in 2:10.85 with Laura Lahtinen of Finland next home in 2:12.05.
Mitsin Wins As Werner Claims Double
Petar Mitsin set a Bulgarian 200 free record of 1:46.48 when finishing second behind Popovici on the opening night. He booked lane four for the 400 where Arne Schubert led through 150 before Mitsin took the lead, one that was never threatened as he won by more than two seconds in 3:46.66. Tyler Melbourne-Smith of Great Britain was next home in 3:48.69 with Saso Boskan coming from fifth at the final turn to third thanks to a 27.60 final 50, the Slovenian clocking 3:49.26.
Petar Mitsin: Photo Courtesy: Istvan Derencsenyi
The lead changed hands through the first half of the women’s 400 free before Maya Werner took control at the halfway mark. The German came home in 4:07.89 to make it a 400/800 double. Francisca Martins of Portugal was second in 4:09.03 with Minna Abraham third in 4:09.56, a day after sharing 200 free gold with Hungary teammate Nikolett Padar.
Luka Mladenovic made his way steadily through the field to head the men’s 200m breaststroke in 2:10.08, 0.20 off the Austrian record. It was his second title following gold in the 50 as he secured World Championship qualification. Eoin Corby of Swim Ireland was next home in 2:10.50 after being sixth at halfway with Maksym Ovchinnikov third in 2:10.77 after leading at the final turn.
Eneli Jefimova led throughout to win the 100m breaststroke in 1:06.30 and clinch the sprint double following victory in the 50 on Thursday. Kotryna Teterevkova was second in 1:07.50 with Ellie McCartney coming from sixth at halfway to take third in 1:07.58. That was a second medal of the meet for the Swim Ireland athlete after she won the 200IM title.
Cedric Bussing went ahead on the penultimate 50 to come through for the men’s 400IM title in 4:13.93 with Charlie Hutchison (4:14.12) and Dominik Torok (4:15.17) joining him on the podium. Justina Kozan added 400IM gold to her 200 free bronze in 4:41.57 ahead of Giada Alzetta (4:44.31) and Eszter Szabo Feltothy (4:47.23).
Double world bronze medallist Ksawery Masiuk won the 50 back in 24.82, 0.06 ahead of Lysander Osman of France who clocked 24.88. The pair were the only men inside 25secs with Adam Jaszo of Hungary next home in 25.02.