2019 LEN EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, December 4th – Sunday, December 8th
- Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
- SCM
- Entry List
The 2019 LEN European Short Course Championships are almost upon us, with the 5-day meet kicking off on Wednesday, December 4th. Some of the world’s fastest short course swimmers are set to descend upon the storied Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow, with 3-time Olympian Hannah Miley designated as the event’s ambassador.
Last time around in Copenhagen, the nation of Russia came away with the top medal count, reaping 18 medals in all, including 9 golds. Hungary was next in line, with 13 medals, including 8 golds, while Italy rounded out the top 3 nations in the overall swimming medal table with 17 medals in all.
We’ve reported how Swedish big guns Sarah Sjostrom and Michelle Coleman have opted out of the competition, as has Great Britain’s World Record holder Adam Peaty.
However, Hungary’s Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu will be competing in full force, following up her 2017 haul of 6 individual gold medals with 5 entries this time around. Hosszu is entered in all 3 IM events, as well as the 100m and 200m fly, but is interestingly absent from the backstroke races.
In Copenhagen, Hosszu swept the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke events, so her missing name relinquishes the opportunity for back-to-back-to-back golds. Hosszu not only swept the 3 races in 2017, but also in 2015 in Netanya, Israel. Of note, Hosszu stated after this summer’s World Championships that her backstroke events were the ones in which she was most disappointed in her performances.
Instead, on-fire Dutch swimmer Kira Toussaint looks primed to make a charge at the 50m/100m backstrokes, with Italy’s Margherita Panziera and Russia’s Daria K. Ustinova ready to rumble in the 200m back.
On the men’s side, first off it’s eye-catching to see Scottish swimmer Duncan Scott entered in the men’s 400m IM. The 22-year-old dynamic Olympian is still set to swim his bread-and-butter 200m free, as well as the 100m free, 100m IM and 200m IM, but the longer IM is unique to this program and appears to be an alternative to his swimming the 200m fly.
We’ll continue to review key swimmers’ entries and publish follow-up posts with notable races and any surprises.
Preview Index
| Women | Men |
| Freestyles | Freestyles |
| Backstrokes | Backstrokes |
| Breaststrokes | Breaststrokes |
| Butterflys | Butterflys |
| IMs | IMs |
Hosszu would still have a medal chance in the SC backsrtokes. I wonder if she aims, instead, at taking a shot at the 400 IM which was taken away by Belmonte 2 yeras ago. This may be a matter of personal pride for her.
All Katinka needs to do is win the 200m IM and the 400m IM. These two are the most prestigious swimming events and Katinka proves her GOAT status if she can get back-to-back gold in these events.
IM is like the Grand Slams in tennis.
Klochkova already did that 2000/2004.
She’s clearly focusing on the gold medal opportunities. 200 fly wide open and is probably looking at time to win World Champs this year and seeing it is a missed opportunity. Back events out of reach with Smith. Suspect will take either Belmonte back to full fitness or a surprise Chinese quantity for Tokyo winning time to be a 2:04. And even then Hosszu has been that time before.
Why not Regan Smith?
I like this 100IM SC event. Probably the second one by its stupidity after competition of who makes a greater bubble in the water.
I think Peter Mankoc disagrees
wut
Excited to see Tom Dean swim a 400 free. His turns aren’t the best, so may be limiter SCM, but he looked really natural in the event at Mare Nostrum. I see him winning Olympic Trials in the event if he shows up.
Oh s*** you guys got a Dean too?
Think Peaty and them are holding off for isl championship? 👀
This sets Katinka up to focus solely on the IMs next summer, back is way too packed nowadays and the 200 fly could easily be a 6th place which would add 600 meters of work for nothing. She hasn’t lost an IM race at a major championship since 2012, hope she goes all in on that to pick up the double back to back Olympic golds, officially becoming the greatest all-rounded female swimmer of all time(if the 2013-2019 run hasn’t been enough for you). Hope in a decade or so she can take over FINA and empty house
200 fly could easily be gold. Unfortunately, the Olympic schedule excludes that option.
If it could be easily she would be jumping immediately into it. When it is hard she withdraws immediately. What would you expect from the swimmer who shows exceptional form at the first day of competition showing unimaginable 4:26. Everything, but not dropping 200 fly.
She has a much better shot at both the IMs (obviously). And she is capable of winning the 200 fly but the problem there is that there are a lot of other women who have a shot at winning. Also, there is some good depth in Hungarian 200 fly with Szilagyi, Jakabos and Kapas so she may not even qualify.
I am not saying that she doesn’t have a chance. BTW her historically best rank in individual stroke is exactly in 200 fly – #5 all time. But it is getting hard now. Then forget it. Iron Lady image is more important to save than some uncertain attempt against competitive field.
She could do a 2:05 mid or low. If Belmonte is not in shape, then there she goes. The problem is that the semi is half an hour ahead of the 200IM final.
It’s still Black Freud Day. Grab your 50% off for your medication kid.
Yeah, she’s constantly dropping those easy 400 IMs. The 400 IM is so easy that Phelps (the current WR holder) dropped it when he was 3 years younger than Hosszu is now. And we all know what a wuss he was. Another strong argument, as usual.
You must have very thick skin to continue to express opinions that constantly draw the disapproval of everyone on the forum.
@STEVE: if you think that this forum consist of a few dozens readers then you are very mistaken. Most of those who are visiting this website don’t care what I or you are posting. But, yes, as a good observer you noticed that there is indeed some group of people who are ready to object even when I haven’t said yet anything.
If you are going to discuss reasonably the achievements, plans, chances of some thirty years old swimmer then I am with you.
If you are demanding me to get excited about this money driven “iron” and this “lady” bs then, I’m sorry, you will hear from me facts only that are telling completely different story. In… Read more »
Do the other FINA sports get to vote for this pre ordained aquatic leader ?
Did you forget that Yana Klochkova has already doubled up in the IMs at the Olympics?
Makes sense for Hosszu to drop backstroke. It is so competitive now. She has been nowhere near the pace she’d need to be to challenge in Tokyo whereas she is still number one in IMs and the 200 Fly is a bit more open than the backstrokes so she may feel she has a chance of a medal.
I dont think she will give up back whatsoever, she doesnt have this mentality… for me she is just trying to improve that on her training in order to compete again (focusing on tokyo)