Hugo Gonzalez erased the oldest Spanish record from the books as he consigned Aschwin Wildeboer’s 2008 200 back standard to history in Sabadell.
Gonzalez posted 1:47.84 to cut 1.38 from Wildeboer’s record of 1:49.22 that had stood since the European Short Course Championships in Rijeka, Croatia, in December 2008.
It was the longest-standing national standard, dating back to 11 December 2008 with Rafael Munoz’s 100 fly record of 49.74 on 12 December that year now the oldest on the Spanish books.
Gonzalez’s previous best was 1:50.22 from November 2021 and he moves up to number two performer in the world behind Gabriel Jett who posted 1:47.75 at the US trials.
Ten world records and 14 European standards fell at the Rijeka meet with the pool a sea of multi-coloured polyurethane and neoprene swimsuits. Fifteen of the 17 top European nations signed a protest to FINA over the suits and pushed for tighter regulations. Forty-three WRs fell at the 2009 World Championships seven months later in Rome with the suits banned from 1 January 2010.
Ireland’s John Shortt was second behind Gonzalez in 1:49.02.
Elsewhere, Youssef Ramadan and Irene Ciercoles swam to championship records in the men’s and women’s 100 fly.
Ramadan, of Egypt, went 49.14 to take 1.27 off Josh Liendo’s prelims record of 50.41 with the Canadian second in the final in 49.90.
Ciercoles continued her flying form as she added the 100 fly to her 50 free and 100 back titles in 57.82.
At a glance:
- Men’s 400 IM: Diego Mira Albaladejo (ESP), 4:07.82
- Women’s 400 IM: Emma Carrasco Cadens (ESP), 4:38.17
- Men’s 50 Breaststroke: Eudald Tarrats Vilaro (ESP), 26.51
- Women’s 50 Breast: Nayara Pineda Lopez (ESP), 30.30* Spanish Age Record
- Men’s 100 Fly: Youssef Ramadan (EGY), 49.14* Championship Record
- Women’s 100 Fly: Irene Ciercoles (ESP), 57.82* Championship Record
- Men’s 200 Back: Hugo Gonzalez (ESP), 1:47.84* Spanish Record
- Women’s 200 Back: Carmen Weiler Sastre (ESP), 2:05.37