2019 European Short Course Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2019 LEN EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, December 4th – Sunday, December 8th
• Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
• SCM
• Entry List
• Competition Schedule
• Live Results
• Results Documents
• Live Video – LEN TV

Keep refreshing this page for live, event-by-event updates of all the action from Glasgow.

WOMEN’S 50M BUTTERFLY- Semifinals

• WR          24.38    ALSHAMMAR Therese   SWE   Singapore (SGP)  22 NOV 2009
• WJ           25.14     IKEE Rikako   JPN Tokyo (JPN) 14 NOV 2017
• ER           24.38     ALSHAMMAR Therese SWE Singapore (SGP) 22 NOV 2009
• EJ            25.52     STANDARD TIME
• CR           24.58     SJOESTROEM Sarah SWE Netanya (ISR)  03 DEC 2015

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Henique (FRA) – 24.85
2. Ottesen (DEN) – 25.23
3. Beckmann (DEN) – 25.24
4. Gastaldello (FRA) – 25.31
5. Shkurdai (BLR) – 25.34
6. Surkova (RUS) – 25.42
7. Ntoutnounaki (GRE) – 25.60
8. Schmidtke (GER) – 25.69

It’s a pair of French swimmers and a pair of Danish swimmers heading the field into the final later tonight. Melanie Henique continues her run at the #1 spot after qualifying there in prelims. She was 24.85 and leads by half a second. That time is only four one-hundredths off the French record held by Beryl Gastaldello, who qualified 4th while finishing second to Henique in the second semi.

Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen bested her teammate Emilie Beckmann to win the first semi, and they sit third and fourth. Ottesen is still half a second off her national record from way back in 2014. Beckmann, almost a decade younger than the 31-year-old Ottesen, went 25.25 – that’s about a tenth off her career-best. Beckmann was the silver medalist in this race at Short Course Euros in 2017, and Ottesen won silver the two editions prior.

In fifth, Anastasiya Shkurdai breaks the Belarusian record in 25.34. She gets another shot to lower the mark later tonight. That time is also a European Junior record, bettering the benchmark time by two tenths.

MEN’S 200M FREESTYLE  – Final

• WR  1:39.37    BIEDERMANN Paul  GER Berlin (GER) 15 NOV 2009
• WJ   1:41.75   KOLESNIKOV Kliment RUS Saint Petersburg (RUS)  23 DEC 2017
• ER   1:39.37   BIEDERMANN Paul GER Berlin (GER) 15 NOV 2009
• EJ    1:40.08   STANDARD TIME
• CR   1:39.81   BIEDERMANN Paul GER Istanbul (TUR) 13 DEC 2009

Medalists:

• GOLD: Rapsys (LTU) – 1:41.12
• SILVER: Scott (GBR) – 1:41.42
• BRONZE: Vekovishchev (RUS) – 1:41.52

Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys used a huge final 50 to repeat as Short Course Euros champ in the 200 free. Rapsys was sitting 4th with 50 meters to go, but blasted a 25.35 for the final split – no other swimmer in the field was better than 26.2 on that leg. That vaulted him into the win at 1:41.12, besting Great Britain’s Duncan Scott (the leader for the entire race through 150-meters) by three tenths.

Rapsys and Scott were both a tick off their own national records, but win repeat medals after taking gold (Rapsys) and bronze (Scott) in 2017.

Bronze this time around was Mikhail Vekovishchev of Russia, who was 1:41.52.

Scott maintains the world’s fastest time this season with his 1:40.92 from prelims, and Rapsys should move to #2 and Vekovishchev #3, besting all times from ISL season.

MEN’S 200M BREASTSTROKE – Final

• WR         2:00.16  PRIGODA Kirill RUS Hangzhou (CHN) 13 DEC 2018
• WJ          2:03.23  STANDARD TIME
• ER          2:00.16  PRIGODA Kirill RUS Hangzhou (CHN) 13 DEC 2018
• EJ           2:03.76  STANDARD TIME
• CR          2:00.53  KOCH Marco GER Netanya (ISR) 03 DEC 2015

Medalists:

• GOLD: Kamminga (NED) – 2:02.36
• SILVER: Persson (SWE) – 2:02.80
• BRONZE: Koch (GER) – 2:02.87

Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands broke through for the win, the first Dutch gold in men’s breaststroke since Robbie van Aggele in 2010. Kamminga’s 2:02.36 is the fastest time in the world this season and breaks his own Dutch record. It’s also the second medal in as many days for Kamminga, who took bronze in the 50 breast.

Sweden’s Erik Persson took silver, breaking the national record for the second time today. Persson was 2:02.80, surging from 5th to the lead over the third 50, but watching Kamminga swim by him late.

The battle for the final medal was spirited. Germany’s Marco Koch was just 6th with 50 to go, but crushed his final split to earn bronze in 2:02.87 – he ran down Iceland’s Anton McKee, touching out McKee by seven one-hundredths.

WOMEN’S 100M FREESTYLE – Semifinals

• WR         50.25   CAMPBELL Cate  AUS  Adelaide (AUS) 26 OCT 2017
• WJ          51.45   SANCHEZ Kayla Noelle CAN Sheffield (GBR) 14 DEC 2018
• ER          50.58   SJOESTROEM Sarah SWE Eindhoven (NED) 11 AUG 2017
• EJ           52.60   STANDARD TIME
• CR          50.95   KROMOWIDJOJO Ranomi NED Copenhagen (DEN) 15 DEC 2017

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Anderson (GBR) – 51.95
2. Blume (DEN) – 52.18
3. Heemskerk (NED) – 52.22
4. Hopkin (GBR) – 52.24
5. Pellegrini (ITA) – 52.58
6. Wasick (POL) – 52.81
7. Gastaldello (FRA) – 52.95
8. Ustinova (RUS) – 52.96

British 18-year-old Freya Anderson once again leads the 100 free field. The upstart freestyler continued a stellar season, going 51.95 for the fastest textile time in British history. (The national record remains a 51.19 from Francesca Halsall in 2009). It’s also Anderson’s first time under 52 seconds, as she was 52.1 in ISL season.

The only returning medalist from last year is Denmark’s Pernille Blume, who took bronze. She’s the second qualifier here at 52.18. Dutch freestyler Femke Heemskerk was a silver medalist in this race way back in 2010, and she’s also into the top three heading into the final.

Anna Hopkin joins Anderson as the second Brit into the final. She was 52.24 but has been 52.0 as recently as last winter.

Kasia Wasick set a Polish record back in sixth place, and behind her, France’s Beryl Gastaldello snuck into the final in a brutal event quadruple: she swam the 50 fly semis about 20 minutes prior, qualified here and will swim the 50 fly final in another 90-or-so minutes. Then, 15 minutes later, she’s on the start lists for France’s mixed 4×50 free relay.

MEN’S 400M IM – Final

• WR       3:55.50  LOCHTE Ryan USA Dubai (UAE) 16 DEC 2010
• WJ        3:59.15  STANDARD TIME
• ER        3:57.27  CSEH Laszlo HUN Istanbul (TUR) 11 DEC 2009
• EJ         4:04.10  STANDARD TIME
• CR        3:57.27  CSEH Laszlo HUN Istanbul (TUR) 11 DEC 2009

Medalists:

• GOLD: Litchfield (GBR) – 4:01.36
• SILVER: Borodin (RUS) – 4:03.65
• BRONZE: Pasynkov (RUS) – 4:04.98

Great Britain is on the board with its first gold medal of the meet so far, and it’s been a pretty strong night for the Brits so far. Max Litchfield‘s 4:01.36 was off his own national record, but should be the #2 swim in the world so far this season. Great Britain now has four total medals so far this meet, good for third overall.

Russia sits second in total medals, thanks in large part to a silver/bronze push here from Ilia Borodin and Daniil Pasynkov. Borodin’s 4:03.65 is a new Russian record and should also better the benchmark time for the European Junior record. Borodon is still 16 and has another two years of eligibility to go after that record again.

Hungary’s Balazs Hollo was fourth in 4:05.13, two tenths out of medal contention.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – Final

• WR 54.89 ATHERTON Minna AUS Budapest (HUN) 27 OCT 2019
• WJ 55.99 STANDARD TIME
• ER 55.03 HOSSZU Katinka HUN Doha (QAT) 04 DEC 2014
• EJ 55.99 STANDARD TIME
• CR 55.17 TOUSSAINT Kira NED Glasgow (GBR) 04 DEC 2019

Medalists:

• GOLD: Toussaint (NED) – 55.71
• SILVER: Kameneva (RUS) – 56.10
• BRONZE: Davies (GBR) – 56.73

Kira Toussaint couldn’t match her meet-record 55.17 from yesterday, but still won the 100 back gold handily, going 55.71 as the only swimmer under 56. Toussaint will have to wait for another chance to go after the 55.03 European record. She does move up from a silver medal in 2017 and gives the Netherlands its first women’s backstroke gold medal ever at short course Euros.

Russia’s Maria Kameneva was the bronze medalist in 2017, and she follows Toussaint’s rise for silver this time around. Her 56.10 breaks the Russian record that had stood since 2009. Great Britain’s Georgia Davies took bronze in 56.73, besting Daryna Zevina of Ukraine by two tenths.

MEN’S 100M BACKSTROKE – Semifinal

• WR          48.88    XU Jiayu  CHN    Tokyo (JPN) 11 NOV 2018
• WJ           48.90    KOLESNIKOV Kliment RUS Saint Petersburg (RUS)  22 DEC 2017
• ER           48.90    KOLESNIKOV Kliment  RUS Saint Petersburg (RUS)  22 DEC 2017
• EJ            48.90    KOLESNIKOV Kliment  RUS Saint Petersburg (RUS)  22 DEC 2017
• CR           48.97    DONETS Stanislav  RUS  Istanbul (TUR) 13 DEC 2009
• CR           48.97    VYATCHANIN Arkady RUS  Istanbul (TUR) 13 DEC 2009

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Kolesnikov (RUS) – 49.57
2. Diener (GER) – 50.08
3. Glinta (ROU) – 50.13
4. Ryan (IRL) – 50.48
5. Greenbank (GBR) – 50.50
6. Christou (GRE) / Mora (ITA) – 50.58
7. —
8. Bohus (HUN) – 50.65

Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov is the world junior record-holder from 2017, and he moves to #2 in the world this season with a 49.57 semifinal swim. Kolesnikov was only 50.1 during ISL season, and now only trails ISL standout Guilherme Guido in the world ranks for the season. Kolesnikov will look for a repeat gold here after winning in 2017.

Germany’s Christian Diener is the top threat, just off the 50-second barrier. The German record is a 49.94 from the super-suit era, and Diener has a shot at that in tomorrow’s final.

Romania’s Robert Glinta was the bronze medalist in 2017, and he qualifies third here, not too far off his own national record. Ireland’s Shane Ryan could be a factor, though – he was 50.48 here after going 50.45 in heats for an Irish record.

WOMEN’S 100M IM – Semifinals

• WR          56.51    HOSSZU Katinka HUN Berlin (GER) 07 AUG 2017
• WJ          57.75      IKEE Rikako JPN Tokyo (JPN) 15 NOV 2017
• ER           56.51     HOSSZU Katinka HUN Berlin (GER) 07 AUG 2017
• EJ            57.68    STANDARD TIME
• CR           56.67    HOSSZU Katinka HUN Netanya (ISR) 04 DEC 2015

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Hosszu (HUN) – 58.35
2. O’Connor (GBR) – 58.53
3. Kameneva (RUS) – 58.84
4. Laukkanen (FIN) – 58.88
5. Tchorz (POL) – 59.01
6. Ugolkova (SUI) – 59.29
7. Cocconcelli (ITA) – 59.46
8. Kreundl (AUT) – 59.72

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu has swept the IMs at three consecutive short course Euros. She’s in line to do it again this year, with 400 IM gold already in hand and the top qualifying spot into the final of the 100 IM. Hosszu was well off her world record, but 58.35 was the top time this morning by two tenths.

Siobhan-Marie O’Connor out of Great Britain was the silver medalist back in 2015. She was 58.53 tonight, but holds a career-best 57.59 that could challenge Hosszu’s run. The field is very close coming out of semis. Russia’s Maria Kameneva came right off her 100 back silver to make the final here, and earlier this year, she was 58.14 for the Russian record. Finland’s Jenna Laukkanen was also under 59 seconds, though two tenths from her national record.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – Final

• WR  48.08 LE CLOS Chad RSA Windsor (CAN) 08 DEC 2016
• WJ   49.53 LI Zhuhao  CHN Singapore (SGP) 19 NOV 2017
• ER   48.48 KOROTYSHKIN Evgeny RUS Berlin (GER) 15 NOV 2009
• EJ    50.13 MINAKOV Andrei RUS Saint Petersburg (RUS) 22 DEC 2018
• CR   48.93 KOROTYSHKIN Evgeny RUS Istanbul (TUR) 11 DEC 2009

Medalists:

• GOLD: Kusch (GER) – 49.06
• SILVER: Vekovishchev (RUS) – 49.53
• BRONZE: Cieslak (POL) – 49.75

Germany has now won three medals tonight, one of each color. Marius Kusch adds the elusive gold here, going 49.06 for a new German record. The old mark was set with the super-suits in 2009.

Kusch won by a good half-second over Russia’s Mikhail Vekovishchev, collecting his second medal of the night. Russia now leads all nations with 7 medals and two golds so far this meet. They also won the medal table in 2017.

Marcin Cieslak of Poland was a tenth off the national record, but still took bronze in 49.75. That’s Poland’s second medal of the meet so far, bringing them to within one medal of their total for all of 2017 Euros.

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – Final

• WR  7:59.34 BELMONTE GARCIA Mireia ESP Berlin (GER) 10 AUG 2013
• WJ 7:59.44 WANG Jianjiahe CHN Budapest (HUN) 06 OCT 2018
• ER 7:59.34 BELMONTE GARCIA Mireia  ESP Berlin (GER) 10 AUG 2013
• EJ  8:11.99 STANDARD TIME
• CR 8:04.53 FILIPPI Alessia ITA Rijeka (CRO) 12 DEC 2008

Medalists:

• GOLD: Quadarella (ITA) – 8:10.30
• SILVER: Kesely (HUN) – 8:11.77
• BRONZE: Caramignoli (ITA) – 8:12.36

Italian distance comes through again with a pair of medals to move Italy ahead of Russia for the overall medal total, 8-to-7. Simona Quadarella crushed an 8:10.30 to win by a second and a half, picking up Italy’s second gold so far. In just three women’s medal races so far this week, Italy has two golds and four total medals. Martina Caramignoli was third in 8:12.36.

Hungary’s Ajna Kesely finished in between with silver. Hungary has now won women’s 800 free silver at three straight short course Euros, though Boglarka Kapas won those medals in 2015 and 2017.

Russia’s Anastasia Kirpichnikova missed the medals by a second and a half, though her Russian record swim from November would have earned silver.

WOMEN’S 50M BUTTERFLY- Final

• WR          24.38    ALSHAMMAR Therese   SWE   Singapore (SGP)  22 NOV 2009
• WJ           25.14     IKEE Rikako   JPN Tokyo (JPN) 14 NOV 2017
• ER           24.38     ALSHAMMAR Therese SWE Singapore (SGP) 22 NOV 2009
• EJ            25.52     STANDARD TIME
• CR           24.58     SJOESTROEM Sarah SWE Netanya (ISR)  03 DEC 2015

Medalists:

• GOLD: Henique (FRA) – 24.56
• SILVER: Gastaldello (FRA) – 24.78
• BRONZE: Beckmann (DEN) / Ottesen (DEN) – 25.15

It’s a 1-2 for France, with Melanie Henique leading all three rounds of the women’s 50 fly. Henique went 24.56 in the final, sneaking under Sarah Sjostrom’s meet record from 2015. France hadn’t medaled in this event since 2008, but ruled the pool tonight with Beryl Gastaldello second. Henique breaks Gastaldello’s national record, but Gastaldello also betters that time (24.81) in her third of four swims tonight.

Denmark’s Emilie Beckmann and Jeanette Ottesen tied for bronze in 25.15. That’s Beckmann’s second-straight short course Euros with a medal in this event, as she won silver in 2017. Prior to that year, Ottesen had four straight meets with a medal, winning gold in 2011 and 2012 and silver in 2013 and 2015.

In fifth, Anastasiya Shkurdai of Belarus broke the European Junior record again, going 25.28 after putting up a 25.34 in semis. She’s now just a tenth off of Rikako Ikee’s world junior record.

MIXED 4X50M MEDLEY – Final

• WR         1:36.40   USA      UNITED STATES Hangzhou (CHN) 13 DEC 2018
• WJ          1:42.42   STANDARD TIME
• ER           1:37.05   NED      NETHERLANDS  Hangzhou (CHN) 13 DEC 2018
• EJ            1:43.93   STANDARD TIME
• CR           1:37.71    NED      NETHERLANDS  Copenhagen (DEN) 14 DEC 2017

Medalists:

• GOLD: Russia – 1:36.22 WR
• SILVER: Netherlands – 1:37.12
• BRONZE: Denmark – 1:38.02

Russia broke the first world record of the meet, going 1:36.22 to chop two tenths off of Team USA’s time from 2018 Short Course Worlds. The difference for Russia was conforming to the dominant strategy of putting two men on the opening two legs, where the U.S. relay led off with a female backstroker to anchor with Caeleb Dressel.

Russia got out to a massive lead on a 22.67 leadoff from Kliment Kolesnikov – that’s within four tenths of the world record for the 50 back, though mixed relay leadoffs typically don’t count for official individual world records. Kolesnikov wasn’t far removed from his top-qualifying 100 back earlier tonight. 50 breast European record-breaker Vladimir Morozov was 25.40 on his leg, with Arina Surkova going 24.94 on fly and Maria Kameneva 23.21 on free. That’s Kameneva’s third swim tonight – she also won silver in the 100 back and qualified for the final of the 100 IM.

The defending champs from the Netherlands were second in 1:37.12, a half-second faster than what they went in winning this race two years ago. They had the fastest women’s backstroke swimmer in Kira Toussaint (25.87), and she was only two tenths off the world record there.

Denmark took bronze in 1:38.02, with anchor Pernille Blume splitting 23.4 to run down Belarus. Denmark beat Belarus by just .07 seconds for the final medal. France wasn’t far out either, with Melanie Henique and Beryl Gastaldello coming right off of their 1-2 in the 50 fly to swim the final two legs of this relay.