2021 European Championships: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

2021 LEN EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 5 is upon us at the 2021 European Championships and with another set of racing comes another set of burning questions.

Who will rise to the occasion and move towards gold in women’s 100 freestyle to make the most of defending champion and world record-holder Sarah Sjostrom‘s absence? Can Katinka Hosszu bounce back from her silver medal performance in the 200 fly to take gold in the 200 IM? After a tight battle in the 1500 freestyle, will defending champ and this year 1500 free victor Mykhaylo Romanchuk prevail, or will Gregorio Paltrinieri take the win?

While we will need to wait for answers on the 100 free and 200 IM until the finals of the events later on this week, the morning swims will certainly be an indicator of where everybody stands. Follow along with our live recap as racing gets underway in Budapest.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

  • European Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 2017
  • European Championships Record: 52.67 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 2014
  • 2018 European Champion: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 52.93

Olympic champion in the 50 freestyle Ranomi Kromowidjojo got things going here in heat 5 with a 54.05. That swim for Kromo leads the way so far but is still a bit over her current PB in the event which she set back in 2012 at a 52.75. Marie Wattel for France followed in the heat with a 54.07 which will also certainly be enough to advance to the semis. Signe Bro and Kasia Wasick tied for 3rd in the heat, each with a 54.31. That’s just a touch away from the Polish record of 54.22 for Wasick.

Kromowidjojo’s fellow Dutch sprinter Femke Heemskerk answered back by bringing the field under 54 for the first time with a 53.84. That’s a very solid swim for Heemskerk for this prelim and will give her some good momentum towards taking the crown later in the meet in defending champion Sjostrom’s absence.

Heemskerk will however need to fend off the only other sub-54 so far Anna Hopkin of Great Britain who was a 53.94 in the last heat. That’s within a second of Hopkin’s PB in the event of 53.21 from the 2019 World Championships.

Also getting their names towards the top of the start lists for semis was Andi Murez in a 54.19 to tie the Israeli record, Great Britain’s Freya Anderson with a 54.25, and 2021 200 freestyle champion Barbora Seemanova of the Czech Republic with a 54.26.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

  • European Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty (GBR) 2017
  • European Championships Record: 26.09 – Adam Peaty (GBR) 2018
  • 2018 European Champion: Adam Peaty (GBR) – 26.09

It was a national record-threatening prelims round during the men’s 50 breaststroke as all 4 of the 5 top finishers got close to their respective national records and 1 of those top 5 successfully beating the NR in the form of Jan Kozakiewicz.

Nicolo’ Martinenghi, Ilya Shymanovich, and Jan Kozakiewicz all threw down solid 26s during the 50 breaststroke heats. Martinenghi was a 26.54 during heat 5 which gets him within a touch of his own Italian record from earlier this year of 26.39. Also nearly setting a national record, Shymanovich was a 26.72, compared to his 26.46 NR from the 2021 Belarussian National Champs.

Kozakiewicz, however, did manage to become Poland’s fastest-ever man once again by getting under his own national record of 27.11. His 26.82 makes him the first Polish man to ever crack 27 in the event.

While those 3 men put up solid swims, no one could beat world record-holder Adam Peaty in the event. Swimming in the last heat, Peaty posted a 26.34 to take top seed, getting within a half of a second of his PB and world record from 2017 which sits at a 25.95. Racing next to Peaty, Russia’s Kirill Prigoda also dipped under the 27-second barrier with a 26.93, just over his national record of 26.72.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – PRELIMS

Cyrielle Duhamel put up a decent best time in the 200 IM with a 2:12.35, improving upon her 2018 swim of 2:12.68. That swim allowed her to get the heat win for France, ahead of Italy’s Ilaria Cusinato. Cusinato’s swim was a little bit further away from her fastest-ever swim which is currently a 2:10.25 Italian record from this meet in 2018.

Germany’s Kathrin Demler managed a 2:13.38 to come in behind Duhamel and Cusinato for third place in heat 3.

Next up, Abbie Wood delivered a 2:11.07 to take over Duhamel’s leading position. Wood recently swam a 2:09.23 in the event at 2021 British Swimming Trials which was good enough to earn herself a spot on her country’s Olympic roster in the event.

Italy’s Sara Franceschi, Spain’s Africa Zamorano Sanz, and Turkey’s Viktoria Gunes all swam well alongside Wood, hitting 2:11.78, 2:12.85, and 2:12.93, letting them advance to the semis. Notably, this was Gunes’ return to the pool after having swum the 100 breaststroke and subsequently scratching the 200 breast on day 3.

In the final heat, world record holder Katinka Hosszu tried to overtake Wood’s lead but fell just short, hitting a 2:11.57 to Wood’s 2:11.07. Hosszu is the fastest swimmer in history in the event with her 2:06.12 and is the defending European champion, having won with a 2:10.17 back in 2018. She will look to add another 2021 medal to her 400 IM gold and 200 fly silver during the finals of this event.

Fellow Hungarian Dalma Sebestyen was a 2:11.87, right behind Hosszu, which is an improvement from her 2:12.33 PB.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

Robert Glinta wasted no time during the 2nd of 5 heats of the 200 backstroke, posting a 1:59.74 which was nearly enough to qualify for the semis but was ultimately just short of the 1:59.23 it took to advance. The swim also gets him closer to the 200 backstroke Romanian record of 1:56.45 from Răzvan Florea in 2008. Glinta already holds the 50 and 100 national records.

Next up, the French duo of Antoine Herlem and Yohann Ndoye Brouard both swam in the second heat, hitting a 1:56.42 and 1:57.70, respectively. That got Herlem within striking distance of Ndoye Brouard’s 1:56.10 French national record. Swimming in the same heat as the two French men, Grigory Tarasevich of Russia was a 1:57.41 for second place in the heat while Poland’s Radoslaw Kawecki swam a 1:57.79 for fourth.

Luke Greenbank came into the 4th heat of the event flying, splitting a 55.63 at the 100-meter mark to give himself more than a 1 second lead over the field. Greenbank brought it back strong and managed to clip his own British record of 1:55.34 with a 1:54.67. Jan Cejka was second in the heat with a Czech record of 1:56.66, getting under his previous mark of 1:57.51 while Adam Telegdy came in with a 1:57.22 for third.

1:53.23 European record-holder Evgeny Rylov won the last heat but couldn’t quite beat Greenbank’s swim, hitting a 1:55.74. Rylov will move onto the semi-finals and will be looking to defend his 2018 title in the event which he snagged in a 1:53.36. Polish swimmer Jakub Skierka and Italy’s Lorenzo Mora rounded out the final heat with their swims of 1:58.15 and 1:58.48, respectively.

WOMEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMS

  • European Record: 7:45.51 – Great Britain (2009)
  • European Championships Record: 7:50.53 – Italy (2014)
  • 2018 European Champion: Great Britain – 7:51.65

Italian all-star Federica Pellegrini delivered a 1:57.74 anchor leg on her nation’s 4×200 freestyle prelim to help towards a first-place finish in the heats. She was joined by Stefania Pirozzi (2:00.01), Sara Gailli (2:00.90), and Lisa Angiolini (2:01.18) and the women together put down a 7:59.83.

Next up, Israel’s squad established a brand new national record of 8:00.51, improving upon the country’s previous fastest-ever mark of 8:06.91. That former record was set earlier this year at the 2021 Swim Open in Stockholm by the same 4 women who raced today:

2021 European Championships 2021 Swim Open Stockholm
Lea Polonsky 2:02.67 Andi Murez 1:57.97
Andi Murez 1:57.31 Anastasia Gorbenko 2:01.84
Daria Golovaty 2:01.76 Lea Polonsky 2:04.18
Anastasia Gorbenko 1:58.77 Daria Golovaty 2:02.92
8:00.51 8:06.91

Denmark’s team in the prelims were able to post the third-fastest time in the field and were right behind Israel with an 8:01.65. That swim came from Marina Heller Hansen, Helena Rosendahl Bach, Amalie Soeby Mortensen, and Maj Howardsen. Those 4 women got close to the 7:55.56 national record from 2009.

The other 5 teams that made it to the final were Great Britain (8:01.68), Belgium (8:01.73), Hungary (8:02.50), Poland (8:03.28), and France (8:03.36).

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

  • European Record: 7:39.27 – Gregoria Paltrinieri (ITA) 2019
  • European Championships Record: 7:42.33 – Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) 2016
  • 2018 European Champion: Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR) – 7:42.96

Swimming in heat 3 of the men’s 800 freestyle, France’s Joris Bouchaut hit a 7:53.07 to improve slightly upon his entry time of 7:54.19. Tigit Aslan was next in the heat with a 7:55.99 to get within 1.22 seconds 7:54.77 of Mert Kilavuz’s Turkish record.

In the next heat, Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Romanchuk and Henrik Christiansen had a solid race against each other with Romanchuk ultimately touching first in a 7:48.31 with Christiansen hitting a 7:50.11. That swim for Romanchuk is only a few seconds off his winning time in the event back at 2018 Euros of 7:42.96. Aleksandr Egorov and Damien Joly were also present in the heat and tried to catch the leading duo but wound up placing 3rd with a 7:53.32 and 4th with a 7:54.23, respectively.

Swimming in the final heat, Italian teammates Gabriele Detti and Gregorio Paltrinieri swam pretty much the whole race together and ended up touching less than a second apart at the finish. Detti took first place with a 7:50.61 while Paltrinieri followed in a 7:51.33. Paltrinieri should be the favorite to win during the finals considering that he is the European record holder with his 2019 swim of 7:39.27. His second-place finish in the 1500, however, indicates that he may be at less than his best during the pool swimming portion following his triple gold medal haul last week during the open water events.

Sergiy Frolov was third in the final heat with a 7:51.73 which will allow him to join Ukrainian teammate Mykhaylo Romanchuk in the final. Along with those previously mentioned, Anton Ipsen from Denmark and Jose Paulo Lopes will be racing during the 800 free final, having touched with a 7:52.37 for 6th and 7:52.81 for 7th during the prelim.

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maxswimmer
2 years ago

Malytin the beast

Stirlo
2 years ago

Tough double for Abbie Wood tonight – 200 breast final and the IM semi 18 mins later. If she were really serious she’d go for the hattrick and swim the 4×2 8 mins later. Some wonderful scheduling there from the organisers.

Swimmer
Reply to  Stirlo
2 years ago

Gorbenko will do 100 back final, 200 IM semi and then 200 free in the 4*200

Thomas Selig
Reply to  Stirlo
2 years ago

To be fair, 200 breast and 200 free is not a common double (can’t be many swimmers in history with 2:21 and 1:57 in the two). The 200IM by it’s nature will always clash with something.

But yeah, nasty schedule for Wood. At least she’s in the second IM semi, so will get a few minutes extra rest.

Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Shocker of the day was Israel putting up a 2nd place in the 800 free relay. Where do those 1:57-58 women train?

Hannah
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Team Elite with David Marsh. He’s actually in Budapest with them right now.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Hannah
2 years ago

Thanks. I knew he was advising the Israeli team, but beating your national record by 6 seconds is terrific.

Sam B
Reply to  Hannah
2 years ago

who is “them”?

Hannah
Reply to  Sam B
2 years ago

Them is Murez and Gorbenko. Based on the Israeli swimming instagram Marsh is with the Israeli team right now.

nuotofan
2 years ago

Nearly the dream (nigthmare for the swimmers) to see another tie in the 200 back swim-off.. A great morning session for Portugal: the excitement of Lopes (huge PB at 7.52.81 and finalist in the 800 free from heats 2) and his team was really nice.

Rafael
Reply to  nuotofan
2 years ago

Firsr portugal finalist here.

And israel wildcard 2 now but as their 2 RO swimmers does not have B cut on 200 they cannot send the relay

Last edited 2 years ago by Rafael
ooo
Reply to  Rafael
2 years ago

Curious, is this from FINA or from the Israeli fed. ?

Rafael
Reply to  ooo
2 years ago

Fina
All RO swimmers must have B cut on The event

ooo
Reply to  Rafael
2 years ago

Thanks. I was totally unaware of this. Mind games are certainly possible to explore the consequences of this. Let’s assume a country with 2 Peaty like swimmers…

Rafael
Reply to  ooo
2 years ago

This rule affect a lot of countries who were even top 12 at world specially women side
Hong Kong poland korea alonga others

Rafael
Reply to  ooo
2 years ago

This was the situation before european

Fina rule:
Each NOC may enter additional athletes for relays only (“Relay-Only Athletes”), provided that they have achieved at least the OST / “B” Time for the corresponding stroke and distance of the relay in which they are entered.

Cases that the country might not be able to fill in all relays.

Hong Kong: Qualified in 400/800, have up to 4 relay only spots
A Standard: Haughey
400 free situation: 2 athletes with B Standard only
800 Free situation: Only 1 with B.
They have an A standard on back. at best they can have 1 relay if the use the backstroker
If they qualify the medley… Read more »

Tuga
Reply to  Rafael
2 years ago

Second Portuguese finalist
1st was Tamila Holub yesterday at the 1500L

😁😉

Admin
Reply to  Rafael
2 years ago

Polonsky has a “B” cut in the 400 IM, so she wouldn’t necessarily have to be a relay only swimmer.

Golovati then remains the issue…

Rafael
Reply to  Braden Keith
2 years ago

Braden the B Cut must be on the stroke/distance

Each NOC may enter additional athletes for relays only (“Relay-Only Athletes”), provided that they have achieved at least the OST / “B” Time for the corresponding stroke and distance of the relay in which they are entered.

And the dates does not allow for swimmers qualified later to be included as RO.

31st May 2021 End of period to achieve qualification time standards for relay events
4th June 2021 FINA to inform NOCs/NFs of qualified relay teams and relay-only athletes after qualification period
11th June 2021 NOCs to confirm the participation of their relay teams to FINA
14th June 2021 FINA to reallocate unused relay teams’ quotas
… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Rafael
Admin
Reply to  Rafael
2 years ago

The B cut must only be on the stroke/distance if they are ‘relay only.’

If they’re already on the team in another event, then it doesn’t matter what their time is for the event in the relay.

So if they enter Polonsky in the 400 IM, then she’s no longer ‘relay only’ and that clause doesn’t matter. I can almost promise you that the timing of the FINA issue won’t be adhered to as strictly as it seems like it will be. If she’s invited as a “B” cut in the 400 IM after the relays are confirmed, the relay will be allowed to swim.

Rafael
Reply to  Braden Keith
2 years ago

Not meeting the dates will probably give a lot of space for many countries who are OUT to complain.

And on top of that Polonsky is after Hufnagl, Kaminskaya and Bardach on the B list (And I am nou counting the German girls with B Cut cause I think they won´t send someone with B only but Argentina and Portugal will send for sure, not 100% sure about Austria)

Last edited 2 years ago by Rafael
Dan
Reply to  Rafael
2 years ago

Then the question is what FINA is considering ADDITIONAL ATHLETES for relays only, is this for any swimmer on any relay or the way I read it in the past, that if you want to bring a 5th or 6th swimmer, they need to have B-cuts?

Each NOC may enter additional athletes for relays only (“Relay-Only Athletes”), provided that they have achieved at least the OST / “B” Time for the corresponding stroke and distance of the relay in which they are entered. The following formula shall apply:
• One (1) Relay – two (2) additional athletes
• Two (2) Relays – four (4) additional athletes
• Three (3) Relays – six (6) additional athletes
… Read more »

Rafael
Reply to  Dan
2 years ago

Actually the Additional Athetles are all the relay only swimmers.

The rules states the following:
“If an NOC enters Relay-Only Athletes, these athletes must swim either in the heat or final of at least one relay event. Should a Relay-Only Athlete not compete, this will lead to the disqualification of the last relay team for which he/she was eligible to compete. This is not applicable in case of a medical injury or emergency after confirmation from the FINA Sports Medicine Committee.”

Athletes on relays which does not have qualified for an individual event will count as Relay only.

Take for Instance a country where their 4×200 relay have 2 A cut 200 freestylers, 1A cut 400 Free and like… Read more »

Dan
Reply to  Rafael
2 years ago

I have read the text several times today (the English version as I do not understand French enough to try to interpret a legal document), the way I interpret the text “Relay-Only Athletes” refers to additional athletes for relays only. Then the question is if the preceding text is a preceding sentence or preceding paragraph.

Rafael
Reply to  Dan
2 years ago

Fina created a rule and if they do not adhere it will put them in a position where many countries will complain.

If affects countries which are OUT of relay
Affects swimmers with a B Cut who could qualify

Open the questions that “would be allowed a swimmer who may have a shot at actually being called on B Cut to not be considered RO Swimmer before the defined deadline”?

If they accept that, if the swimmer does not actually get called individually, what will happen? They will request the first OUT team after the Deadline?

Dan
Reply to  Rafael
2 years ago

When we read the text from FINA it says additional athletes for relays only …… “B” Time …..
Since FINA is putting such a focus on Top 12 from World Champs, I do not believe that they will prevent any of the 16 relays per event from bringing 4 swimmers for those relays, but they might prevent countries from bringing alternates unless they have B cuts.
If I am wrong with regards to my interpretation of what FINA means with additional athletes for relays there might be a few countries not being able to fulfill their Olympic relay selection, then FINA will invite the next fastest team based on the FINA World Ranking for the timeframe March 1st… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Dan
Hannah
Reply to  Rafael
2 years ago

Polonsky is also about .1 away from the A cut in the 200 IM and Israel apparently has other qualifying opportunities in June. If she qualifies there she definitely won’t be a relay only swimmer anymore. I’m assuming she didn’t swim the event here because this is the last chance of qualifying the relay and they wanted to focus on that.

Rafael
Reply to  Hannah
2 years ago

Then they need to have Golovati hit B cut on 200 free..

Dan
Reply to  nuotofan
2 years ago

Considering that several European swimmers are training through this meet or not even there still impressive that 17 swimmers went 7.57 or faster in prelims, 10 of them were under the FINA A cut.
Looking at results and rankings I think the 2 events that will have the most A cuts for the Olympics will be men’s 800 Free and women’s 1500 Free.

Rafael
Reply to  Dan
2 years ago

Men side – Between 800 Free and 200IM (200 IM had 35 A Cut already, Canada only had 1 listed) and we still have the Mare Nostrum/Sette Colli also. And some countries have a swimmer with A Cut but they are not listed (Lanza did not hit A cut on 100 fly on Trials but he has the A Cut and is in due to 200 medley, so he can swim the 100fly)
Women side – 1500 free by far, might actually be the overall event with more swimmers qualified

seetheworldswim
2 years ago

Imagine losing a 200 backstroke swim off by 0.03

Eric the eel > Phelps
Reply to  seetheworldswim
2 years ago

Aaaand being a bronze medalist 3 years ago on the same event

seetheworldswim
2 years ago

200 backstroke is a swim off that I would not like to do … at alll

Sapnu puas
Reply to  seetheworldswim
2 years ago

Only 0.03 in it too haha

seetheworldswim
2 years ago

Bruh the Lopes guy gained a massive new fan the commentator
He is so happy that he made the final !

Verram
2 years ago

That’s a massive swim from Greenbank