FLASH! Johannes Liebmann Takes Down European 800 Free Record
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Johannes Liebmann took down his own European record in the 800 free en-route to gold in Paris.
The 19-year-old dominated the race and came home in 7:37.59 to cut 0.35 from the record of 7:37.94 he set at the Swim Open Stockholm in April.
It was also a championship standard for Liebmann who cut 3.27secs from Gregorio Paltrinieri’s record of 7:40.86 at Roma 2022 and the sixth-fastest time in history.
Sven Schwarz – himself a former European record holder in the event – made it a Germany 1-2 in 7:41.16 with Zalan Sarkany third in 7:41.75.
Liebmann – a member of the Magdeburg powerhouse under the eye of watchful of Bernd Berkhahn – led from the off with Sarkany for company with the Hungarian tracking him and not letting the teenager out of his sight.
Liebmann was 0.28 ahead at halfway which Sarkany reduced to 0.13 after 500m after which the German accelerated and put distance between himself and the rest of the field.
His momentum drove him into the wall with the crowd greeting his continental record with a roar as a battle royale unfolded behind him. Sarkany was second at the final turn, 0.34 ahead of Schwarz who went past to punch a German 1-2.
Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen was fourth in 7:43.30, the Irishman following 12 months of illness, surgery and a change of coaches and continents and back.
Liebmann is the first German to have won the crown since it was introduced to the programme at Eindhoven 2008. Christian Kubusch and Lukas Märtens won silver in 2010 and 2022 respectively with Florian Wellbrock taking bronze in 2018. The last six titles have been shared evenly between Paltrinieri and Mykhailo Romanchuk, the now-retired Ukrainian.
