Louisville Standout Nikita Sheremet Adds World Junior Record in 50 Freestyle
Although Ukraine finished just off the podium in the 200-meter freestyle relay during the opening day of the European Short Course Championships, Nikita Sheremet flourished on the leadoff leg. An 18-year-old freshman at the University of Louisville, Sheremet jumpstarted his nation’s relay with a world junior record in the 50 freestyle, going 20.84. That performance bettered the previous WJR in the 50 freestyle, held by Dutchman Kenzo Simons at 20.98.
Sheremet is no stranger to world junior records, as he tied the record in the long-course version of the 50 freestyle at the World Junior Championships over the summer. In that effort, Sheremet was clocked in 21.75, which tied the WJR of American Michael Andrew. Since equaling Andrew’s record, Sheremet started his college career at Louisville, which already has included a victory in the 50-yard freestyle at the Ohio State Invitational.
In the 50 freestyle, Sheremet is entered with a time of 21.55, which will place him in an outside lane when prelims of the event are held later this week. Sheremet will obviously be faster and contention for a medal is expected in a field that will feature France’s Maxime Grousset as the top seed, followed by Italian Leonardo Deplano and Croatia’s Jere Hribar.
Deplano led the Italian squad to the gold medal in the 200 freestyle relay, splitting 20.88 on the leadoff leg. Meanwhile, Hribar was 20.70 on the front of Croatia’s relay, which earned the bronze medal.