5 Storylines, All the Links You Need for the 2016 European Champs

2016 European Championships

  • Monday, May 16th – Sunday, May 22nd
  • Prelims: 10:00 AM (London Time) / 5:00 AM (Eastern Time)
  • Finals: 6:00 PM (London Time) / 1:00 PM (Eastern Time)
  • London Aquatics Center, London, UK
  • Meet Central
  • Psych Sheet
  • Live Results
  • Live Stream

Schedule

Monday

  • Men’s 400 Free Final
  • Women’s 50 Fly Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 100 Back Semi-Finals
  • Women’s 400 IM Final
  • Men’s 100 Breast Semi-Finals
  • Women’s 200 Back Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 50 Fly Semi-Finals
  • Women & Men’s 4×100 Free Relay Final

Tuesday

  • Men’s 50 Fly Final
  • Women’s 100 Free Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 100 Back Final
  • Women’s 50 Fly Final
  • Men’s 100 Breast Final
  • Women’s 100 Breast Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 200 IM Semi-Finals
  • Women’s 200 Back Final
  • Men’s 200 Free Semi-Finals
  • Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay Final

Wednesday

  • Men’s 1500 Free Final
  • Men’s 200 Breast Semi-Finals
  • Women’s 200 IM Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 200 Free Final
  • Women’s 100 Breast Final
  • Men’s 200 Fly Semi-Finals
  • Women’s 100 Free Final
  • Men’s 200 IM Final
  • Women’s 100 Back Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 50 Back Semi-Finals

Thursday

  • Women’s 800 Free Final
  • Women’s 200 IM Final
  • Men’s 100 Free Semi-Finals
  • Women’s 100 Fly Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 200 Breast Final
  • Women’s 100 Back Final
  • Men’s 200 Fly Final
  • Women’s 200 Breast Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 50 Back Final
  • Women’s 4×200 Free Relay Final

Friday

  • Men’s 800 Free Final
  • Women’s 200 Free Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 100 Fly Semi-Finals
  • Women’s 200 Breast Final
  • Men’s 100 Free Final
  • Women’s 50 Back Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 200 Back Semi-Finals
  • Women’s 100 Fly Final
  • Men’s 50 Breast Semi-Finals
  • Mixed 4×100 Free Relay Final

Saturday

  • Women’s 1500 Free Final
  • Women’s 50 Breast Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 100 Fly Final
  • Women’s 200 Free Final
  • Men’s 50 Free Semi-Finals
  • Women’s 50 Back Final
  • Men’s 200 Back Final
  • Women’s 200 Fly Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 50 Breast Final
  • Women’s 50 Free Semi-Finals
  • Men’s 4×200 Free Relay Final

Sunday

  • Women’s 50 Free Final
  • Men’s 50 Free Final
  • Women’s 50 Breast Final
  • Women’s 200 Fly Final
  • Men’s 400 IM Final
  • Women’s 400 Free Final
  • Women & Men’s 4×100 Medley Relay Final

The European Championships will serve as London’s biggest swimming competition since the Olympic Games in 2012, and will feature many of Europe’s best swimmers as they prepare for the Olympic Games beginning in August.

5 Storylines to Watch

1. Katinka Hosszu entered in six events: Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu has entered just six events at this meet, a reduced amount compared to what we have seen from her in the past, but look for her to be a contender for the win in most of her races. She seems to always swim fast no matter what time of year it is, and with the Olympics on the horizon she’ll no doubt be in top form. Hosszu comes in as the favorite in the 100/200 back and the 200/400 IM, and will also swim the 100 free and 100 fly. This meet also marks Hosszu’s return to the pool where she crushingly finished 4th in the 400 IM at the Olympics, ultimately sparking her ascent to the top of the swimming world.

2. James Guy warns his competitors “Watch out!”: Reigning 200 freestyle world champion James Guy has come forward and said he expects to be on top form at the European Championships and that he’ll be trying out some new race tactics. “The European Championships is really important to me because it is a process meet before Rio. I will try a few things and tactics there and I hope to be on form there ahead of the big one in Rio. I want to race hard and it is a step towards Rio and I am going to try new things so watch out!”. He also notes his love for the London Aquatics Center as it is the pool he competed in at the 2012 London Olympic Trials. Guy will compete in all three of his Olympic events: the 200 free, 400 free, and 100 fly. Read the full article on Guy here.

3. Past champions return to the pool where they found glory: A trio of European swimmers won individual gold at the Olympics four years ago in London, and it elevated them to the top of the sport. Florent Manaudou and Ruta Meilutyte each pulled off surprise wins in their respective events at the Olympics, with Manaudou claiming the 50 free over Cesar Cielo and Meilutyte the 100 breast over Rebecca Soni. Both return to the pool where their careers got ignited. Also winning gold there was Ranomi Kromowidjojo, who won both the 50 and 100 free Olympic titles. She had already won international medals heading to London, but these were her first major individual victories. She’ll compete in the 50 free, 100 free, and 50 fly.

4. Belmonte faces off against international competition for first time since injury: Since enduring an injury that kept her out of the 2015 World Championships, Mireia Belmonte Garcia will test herself in her biggest international competition since the injury at the European Championships. Belmonte has competed in six competitions since her injury, her biggest being the Spanish Olympic Trials, where she qualified in five events. This will serve as a good indicator as to where she is heading into the Olympics where she’ll be a medal contender in multiple events. She won silver in the 800 free and 200 fly at the last Olympics. She’s entered in three events: the 400 free, 1500 free, and 200 fly, avoiding a clash with rival Katinka Hosszu. That might have to wait until Rio.

5. Last chance for relay teams to qualify for Rio: With the final date for relays to qualify for the Olympics looming at the end of the month, teams competing here will take their last shot at qualifying. The top four teams (behind the top-12 finishers at the World Championships) will qualify for the Olympics in each respective relay. Take a look at the rankings as of April 28th on the men’s side and the women’s side.

 

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About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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