Men’s 1500 Free
Winning the men’s 1500 free was Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri. His time of 14:27.78 is the fastest time done in the world this year. Although having the desire to win the event he was surprised to do so, “This was a really hard race and I didn’t expect to win it. Of course I wanted to get a medal because I won this event at the Long Course Europeans. However, I’m not that good on short course because my underwater kicks are not too good. I was nearly dead at the finish, but I’m really happy that I achieved my goal.”
Coming in second in a time of 14:30.87 was Sergiy Frolov of the Ukraine destroying his own National Record of 14:42.01 set in 2010, but Frolov has much higher expectations for his performance at worlds, “I am competing here at these European Championships without tapering, and on that background my results here are really good. I want to swim around 14:15 minutes at the Worlds in Istanbul which means I am aiming at Yuri Prilukov’s European record of 14:16.13 minutes…”
Finishing in third was Anthony Pannier of France in a time of 14:41.97 which was three seconds slower than the time he posted at French Nationals, “I don’t care about my time at all and how I swam: my only goal was to win a medal!”
Women’s 50 Backstroke – Semi Final
Aliaksandra Herasimenia (BLR) – 27.06
Kira Toussaint (NED) – 27.12
Laure Manaudou (FRA) – 27.19
Lauren Quigley (GBR) – 27.19
Men’s 50 Breaststroke – Semi Final
Damir Dugonjic (SLO) – 26.52
Florent Manaudou (FRA) – 26.56
Aleksander Hetland (NOR) – 26.56
Women’s 400 Freestyle
Camille Muffat did not disappoint breaking the World Record in the 800 freestyle in a time of 3:54.85 eclipsing the old mark of 3:54.92 set by Great Britain’s Joanne Jackson in 2009.
After breaking the 800 freestyle at the French National Championships only a week ago, she was expected to have a much better 400 freestyle at the same meet, but under performed posting a time of 3:59.38. Muffat obviously had a plan which included not over extending herself at French Nationals in the 400 and deciding to forgo the 800 at this weekends European Championship so that she had enough left to do what she did today.
Joanne Jackson’s World Record Splits
27.74; 57.29(29.55); 1:27.10(29.81); 1:56.93(29.83); 2:26.61(29.68); 2:56.38(29.77); 3:26.18(29.80); 3:54.92(28.74)
Camille Muffat’s World Record splits
26.84; 56.24 (29.40); 1:25.91 (29.67); 1:55.95 (30.04); 2:25.94 (29.99); 2:56.01(30.07); 3:25.72(29.71); 3:54.85(29.13)
“I really wanted to break that World record – and I did it!”
Lotte Friis of Denmark, winner of the 800 freestyle finished second in a time of 3:58.85 breaking her own National Record of 3:59.06 from 2009.
“It was great to be in this World record race. I can learn a lot during my daily training with Camille Muffat in Nice. However, I’m not yet in top form after an extended break after the Olympics.”
Finishing third was Coralie Balmy of France in a time of 3:59.80.
“It’s a great result for the French team that we finished first and third. It’s a great achievement to win gold and set a new World record.”
Upon the completion of this race it marks the 100 and 101st medal that France has won at European Short Course Championships since it’s inauguration in 1996.
Men’s 100 IM – Semi Final
Peter Mankoc (SLO) – 52.84
Martti Aljand (EST) – 53.16 – National Record
Gal Nevo (ISR) – 53.24 – National Record
Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Semi Final
In the women’s 100 breaststroke semi final Rikke Moeller Pedersen qualified first in a European Short Course Championship Record time of 1:04.49. With that time Pedersen is only twenty-eight one-hundredths of a second from her own European Record of 1:04.21 set in 2009.
Qualifying second was Petra Chocova of the Czech Republic in a time of 1:06.22 breaking her own National Record of 1:06.80 set in 2009.
Qualifying third was Ireland’s Sycerika Mc Mahon in a time of 1:06.46 demolishing the Irish National Record set by in 2002 by Emma Robinson in a time of 1:09.02.
Women’s 100 IM
The Hungarian women are sticking to their country’s tradition of being the at the top of the world in individual medley events. Katinka Hosszu finished first in a time of 58.83, the best time she has posted this year and the best swum in the world this year.
“The 100m individual medley – there is just one thing to do – swim as fast as you can. There are no tactics like for instance in the 400m freestyle. I still have to learn a lot in that respect.”
Coming in second was Hosszu’s Hungarian team mate Zsuzsanna Jakabos in a time of 59.15, the second fastest time swum in the world this year.
“I reached my goal in setting a new personal best, but I still have to improve a lot in breaststroke.”
Siobhan-Marie O’Connor of Great Britain finished third in a time of 59.72.
“This is my first medal at a major event like this. I just missed out on a first medal yesterday, and therefore I’m really happy. It was a hard race because I knew before that I had to be really fast to make that medal.”
Men’s 200 Butterfly
Not to be outdone by his female teammates Hungarian Laszlo Csheh won the 200 butterfly for the third time at the European Short Course Championships (2007, 2011) in a time of 1:52.11.
“I decided to have an easy first half and than increase my pace. The time is not that good, I have to improve my form in butterfly.”
He is very accurate in saying that the time is not that good since the fastest time posted this year was by Hdemasa Sano of Japan at the Japanese Nationals earlier this month of 1:50.28.
Coming in second was Viktor B. Bromer of Denmark in a National Record time of 1:53.38 breaking the record set by Chris Christensen of 1:55.77 in 2009.
“I didn’t expect anything from this Europeans, perhaps making a final. I improved my personal best here in Chartres for about 2.5 seconds; this improvement can only have something to do with changing my coach. Now I’m hoping to make the final at the Worlds in Istanbul too.”
Finishing third was Joeri Verlinden of the Netherlands in a time of 1:53.47.
“I didn’t expect anything from this Europeans, perhaps making a final. I improved my personal best here in Chartres for about 2.5 seconds; this improvement can only have something to do with changing my coach. Now I’m hoping to make the final at the Worlds in Istanbul too.”
Women’s 100 Butterfly – Semi Final
Ilaria Bianchi (ITA) – 57.18 – National Record
Veronika Popova (RUS) – 57.65
Jeanette Ottesen Gray (DEN) – 57.67
Men’s 100 Freestyle
Vladimir Morozov posted the fastest time in the world this year to win the men’s 100 freestyle in a time of 45.68. Morozov was extremely aggressive in this race with his sites set on Amaury Leveaux’s world record of 44.94. Leveaux’s 50 split in that race was 21.72 Morozov went out in a time of 21.34, but did not have enough speed in the final 50.
“I didn’t expect anything from this Europeans, perhaps making a final. I improved my personal best here in Chartres for about 2.5 seconds; this improvement can only have something to do with changing my coach. Now I’m hoping to make the final at the Worlds in Istanbul too.”
Russian National Record holder Evgeny Lagunov finished second in a time of 46.52. After the race he commented on his feelings on the Morozov and how he himself is now getting long in the tooth, “Vladimir Morozov represents the new Russian sprint generation. Though I finished runner-up, I’m already an ‘old man’.
France’s Yannick Agnel finished third in a time of 46.80 a touch slower than the 46.68 he posted last week at the French National Championships.
“The two Russians were out of reach today. I just don’t yet have the necessary short course speed.”
Women’s 50 Backstroke
France’s Laure Manaudou is on top of the world again. Figuratively and she just missed literally. After swimming a 26.78 Manaudou was thrilled with winning the event, “I’m so happy, it’s a great feeling to win a gold medal again after four years without swimming. I was a bit stressed before the race because my semi-final was far from perfect.”
26.78 is also the second fastest time posted this year only to be better than Austraila’s Rachel Goh who has swum 26.66.
Finishing in second was Croatia’s Sanja Jovanovic in a time of 26.84, “Second place is excellent for me. I could have won but I made a few minor mistakes during the race.”
Coming in third was the Czech Republic’s Simona Baumrtova in a time of 26.97. After the race she did not hide her disappointment in her performance, “It looks like I am stuck with bronze. I imagined this race to be different for my, by time as well as place…”
Men’s 50 Breaststroke
Italian Fabio Scozzoli just missed his European Record of 26.11 in winning the men’s 50 breaststroke finishing in a time of 26.18.
The race could of easily been won by one of four men Scozzoli (26.18), Norway’s Aleksander Hetland (26.20), Slovenia’s Damir Dugonjic (26.24) and France’s Florent Manaudou (26.29) with only 11 one-hundredths of a second separating the four men.
“Two years ago I only won the 50m breast, last year only the 100m and this year I eventually managed to win both breaststroke sprint events,” said Scozzoli.
Hetland with very excited about the result, “This is what I live and train for! Winning a medal is the best feeling ever.”
Dugonjic was relieved that he finally performed to his capabilities, “Finally I performed well here. I even set a national record. I wasn’t at all satisfied with my performance in the 100 metres, when I was suffering from a cold.”
Mixed 4 x 50 Freestyle Relay
Winning the mixed freestyle relay in a time of 1:29.64 was the French team made up of Frederick Bousquet (20.97), Florent Manaudou (20.35), Camille Muffat (24.39) and Anna Santamans (23.93)
Finishing in second were the Russians in a time of 1:30.41 and coming in third was Finland in a time of 1:31.74.
Although many in the swimming world feel that mixed relays are a joke, the swimmers seem to be having fun with it.
“I’m a middle-distance swimmer, that’s why I feel really honoured to have the chance to swim next to pure sprinters and to win the first ever European mixed freestyle relay title. That’s the icing on the cake,” commented Camille Muffat.
“It is fun to compete together with the girls. It was our aim to beat the French, but they were too strong today in home water,” said Andrey Grechin of Russia.
Jeremy Stravius is turning into a very versatile swimmer. We already know he can split 1:45 long course for the 200 free and has a world championship title in the 100 back, but he’s also a good 100 freestyler, 50 freestyler, and 200 IMmer. He’s going to be someone to watch in the years to come.
I saw earlier this week that Katie Hoff got accepted to the University of Miami. I think if she moved to Nice and trained with Muffat and Friis and Pellerin, he would be the coach who could bring her back to international prominence in the freestyles if she wanted to try again.
Jérémy Stravius is by far the best French IM swimmer on the men’s side but it’s not difficult. The IM events are a disaster in my country for a long time. Yes he has shown some improvements but it’s in short course and it helps him very much. He is so good on his underwaters and turns. I don’t think it would be the same thing in long course. He will stay as a great 100 back specialist and a big relay contributor. However, I don’t understand why he doesn’t swim seriously the 200 back. He could be dangerous in that race.
And about Katie Hoff, one of my favorite swimmers, thanks to you I learn she goes to the… Read more »
It’s funny how Florent Manadou is still in the shadow of his sister, despite already securing 4 Golds in the SC Euro before the final day of competition (Just for comparison – the mighty Katinka has only 3). The French relays are scarily good. The Australians will have more headaches in Istanbul.
You’re right bout the Manaudou family but there are reasons for that. Florent Manaudou already has 4 gold medals but 3 of them are from the relays and there are many relays, perhaps too many relays in these championships. Laure Manaudou is an icon here in France. Swimming was almost nothing before her in France. In 2004 she became the first French olympic champion on swimming since Jean Boiteux in 1952. Florent Manaudou will dominate the 50 free and perhaps the 100 free in the future but his sister will always be seen as the French little princess of the pool.
I don’t understand your concerns about the Australians in Istanbul. I don’t know whether you are Australian but if… Read more »
And 1,2 and 4 for the French swimmers in the women’s 200 free prelims this Sunday morning with Camille Muffat in 1.53.92 who will play the world record, the young Charlotte Bonnet in 1.54.59 who will play the second place and Coralie Balmy in 1.56.10 who will not be allowed to swim in final because there are only 2 qualified swimmers per nation.
Yannick Agnel is qualified for the final of the men’s 200 free with the second time in 1.43.97. He will play the world record too.
Frédérick Bousquet is first after the prelims in the 50 fly like Alexianne Castel in the 200 back who will have a big competition with Daryna Zevina.
There are… Read more »
OOOHH . A personal attack on anyone who voted Republican? One Party States are so much more fun .
You vote for who you want. I remember you it’s a swimming website.
Then why did you use a swimming site to attack the 59 million people who voted Republican?
The only big swim state to go D big was California . Florida was only .05% & Texas Arizona Alabama Georgia Tennessee all NCAA powerhouses went overwhelmingly R.
Your attacks make no swimming sense.
That you again Pelikan? Tired of not getting much attention for your political rants on Collegeswimming.com? Moving on to this site now? Your rants and posts are REALLY getting old. Isn’t there a blog on Fox you can join? Most of us here are more interested in swimming, not your continued political diatribes, and you wanting to turn everything into some political forum to further your own agenda. Bobo, just do what we all do on the other swim sites he’s hijacked – IGNORE THE TROLL and hopefully he’ll go away.
Never been to that site .
You really need to get out more & meet people . We are not all the sae out here.
I didn’t know Tennessee was a swimming “powerhouse”. How about Michigan? I can’t remember who won there…
Anyway, enough politicking. I can go to cnn.com for that. You’re ruining this for a lot of us, so please stop.
Dasher. This is not political . But no way any NCAA swimming masks the devolution & destruction in Detroit.
But I will take your advice . II am off to marvel at the stupidity of American diplomats via Cairo Embassy Twitter.
You guys are geniuses compared with them
Ignore him Bobo
You’re right. Thank you for your advice. I will follow it. I just wanted to understand what he did on a swimming website because he almost never talks about swimming.
Well I hope their is no big Euro rewards for her & that it is just good old fashioned Socialist Sporting Success.
Otherwise they will have tp pay 75% tax rate.
Gerard Depardieu has departee -d .
Gerard has moved to Belgium along with the Rich Class . So far so good. The food is French & the beer is tres bon.
I got a soft spot or Gerard & think I should send him a pair of Funky Trunks to cheer him up.
You have the right to write about what you want but do you know here it’s a swimming website? Because when I read you it’s very often about politics. I think I have understood you were the king of the provocation and a big fan of the pathetic Donald Trump with his old-fashioned economic methods and it’s your right.
Just a detail for the economic specialist you are, the 75% tax here in France will be temporary and will be for the annually incomes above 1 million euros. You first million will not be concerned by this tax but you will pay 75% from the income above 1 million. I don’t know whether you are American but I remember… Read more »
Au contraire , you were the one politicizing The Golden Goggles. Donald Trump is a legend of TV & NY . I don’t think “old fashioned ‘ money is ever pathetic. Besides I like him & I like Gerard.
So what you are saying is that Camille is safe if she does not earn one million Euros. Oh my…. Who wants to be a French millionaire?
As for WW2 – 1960s American tax rates , are you forgetting a few things eg that they had to rescue you specifically & prop up Western Europe . In fact that they are still defending Europe is a reason for their own deficits.
Anyhow it must hurt France to have Gerard flee.… Read more »
1. You have the right to call him a legend. It’s very funny. But in a period in which Justin Bieber is also called a legend, nothing surprises me anymore. I just think that a man who asks to a president his birth certicate and calls to a revolution after a democratic election because the result isn’t what he wanted, is at least pathetic. It’s just my opinion.
2. I have criticized his presence at the Golden Goggle Awards. Michael Phelps deserved better for his final Golden Goggle Award.
3. I think you live very well with 1 millon euros per year and I remember you that it’s temporary, I believe during the next 2 years.
4.… Read more »
As for the politics- I could talk about The Tour de France ? What do you think of Lance ?
It’s better with “a man who asks a president…”. My english continues to improve.
Whoever is Vlad’s coach at the moment he is swimming fantastic and should stay with that coach!
Fabio scozzoli didn’t win the 100 meter breaststroke at last year Euorpean championships Alexander Dale Oen did in 57.05 Scozzoli had 57.29
Acctually he was third in 57.30… Damir Dugonjic of Slovakia was second in 57.29
Sondre – my guess is that Scozzoli was referring to the long course championships earlier this year.
Oh my bad! I was thinking short course…
Congrats to the French team! Imagine that 10 years ago there were no many swimmers to play the medals in the international competitions.
The French swimmers have very well prepared these championships at home. And the best is perhaps to come. Tomorrow can be a firework for the french team. The 200 free world records are not easy to beat (much easier than in long course) but it’s possible.