David Popovici Looking To Defend 200 Freestyle European Title (Night 5 Preview)

2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 5 Finals Heat Sheets

Day 5 Finals Event Lineup

  • Women’s 100 fly – Final
  • Men’s 200 free – final
  • Women’s 200 breast- final
  • Women’s 100 back- Semifinals
  • Men’s 50 breast- Semifinals
  • Women’s 50 free- Semifinals
  • Men’s 200 fly- Semifinals
  • Women’s 200 IM- Semifinals
  • Men’s 50 back- Final
  • Women’s 1500 free- Final
  • Mixed 4×100 free relay – Final

A busy night in Belgrade kicks off with the women’s 100 fly. Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk will be in search of the country’s first European title as she led through semifinals with a 57.89, just off her national record time of a 57.82. The 100 fly will be her first event of her double with the 100 back semifinal. Greece’s Georgia Damastioti swam to a 58.00 in semifinals to be the #2 seed.

After winning the 100 freestyle two nights ago in the 3rd fastest performance all-time, David Popovici looks to defend his European title in the 200 free tonight. Popovici led through prelims with a 1:45.44 and was slightly slower in semifinals with a 1:46.15 in what looked like a smooth effort. Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys comes in as the #2 seed behind Popovici and had a big 1:44.90 flying start split the other night for Lithuania’s relay as they won gold.

Czech National Record holder Kristyna Horska was just off her own record (2:24.28) in semifinals with a 2:24.55 and will look to win the title tonight.  Thea Blomsterberg of Denmark made the Worlds final last summer in the event in a national record.

The first of the semifinals will be the women’s 100 back where Ireland’s Danielle Hill led through prelims. Hill won the 50 backstroke last night and will look to head into tomorrow as the top seed. Hanna Rosvall of Sweden was the only swimmer under 1:01 this morning with a 1:00.88. Vanotterdijk of Belgium will take on the 100 back just about 20 minutes after the 100 fly final.

After a few disqualifications this morning, the men’s 50 breaststroke was led by Noel De Geus of Germany took the top spot in prelims after winning his heat. Turkey’s Huseyin Emre Sakci had a big swim to outside smoke his heat and come in as the 2nd seed.

Three women got under the 25-second mark in prelims of the women’s 50 free as Greece’s Theodora Drakou swam a 24.89, Hungary’s Petra Senanszky swam a 24.96, and Germany’s Jessica Felsner swam a 24.97.

Krzysztof Chmielewski of Poland won silver in the 200 fly at the 2023 World Championships and looks to punch his ticket to finals tonight. He looks to battle Hungary’s Kristof Milak tomorrow night as Milak holds the World Record in the event and will be in the first semifinal tonight after posting the 2nd fastest time of the morning.

Israeli National Record holder Anastasia Gorbenko cruised through prelims of the 200 IM to take the top seed. Gorbenko looks to sweep the IM events after already winning the 400 IM earlier in the meet in her 2nd fastest time ever. Leah Schlosshan of Great Britain won the European Junior title in the event last summer and will look to contend for the senior title tomorrow night.

Greek National Record holder Apostolos Christou will look to take the 50 backstroke. Christou won bronze in the 100 back at the 2024 World Championships this February. Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk looks to improve upon his own national record and potentially win the country’s first gold.

Viktoria Mihalyvari Farkas of Hungary comes in as the top seed in the 1500 free (16:21.92). Great Britain’s Fleur Lewis won silver in the 800 free earlier in the meet and is the #2 seed tonight.

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About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022 and 2023 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. Currently, Anya is pursuing her B.A. in Economics and a minor in Government & Law at …

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