2022 European Championships: Day 1 Prelims Live Recap

2022 EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Thursday, August 11 – Wednesday, August 17, 2022 (pool swimming)
• Rome, Italy
• Parco Del Foro Italico
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Event Schedule
• Entries
• Live Results

The first session of the 2022 European Championships in Rome is here! This morning, we’ll see prelims heats of the men’s 50 fly, women’s 100 free, men’s 400 IM, women’s 200 back, men’s 100 breast, women’s 4×200 free relay, men’s 4×200 free relay, and women’s 800 free. Finals of the men’s 400 IM and the relays will be swum tonight, while semifinals of the rest of the events will be swum tonight as well. Notably, the women’s 800 free final will take place tomorrow night (day 2).

Ben Proud has pulled out of the men’s 50 fly this morning, leaving Italian star Thomas Ceccon as the top seed. The World Record holder in the men’s 100 back, Ceccon also has blistering fly speed as well, and without Proud in the field, his path to Gold is a little clearer. Hungary’s Szebasztian Szabo, as well as Ukraine’s Andriy Govorov, has also been under 23 seconds before and could push Ceccon, however, none of the three should have any issues advancing to semifinals this morning.

The women’s 100 free was already missing Sarah Sjostrom, the World Record holder in the event, and Great Britain’s Anna Hopkin, has scratched out of the race as well. That leaves Netherlands’ Marrit Steenbergen as the top seed at 53.41. This is one of the most wide open events at these Championships, and could be a golden opportunity for someone to break through in the race.

The men’s 400 IM may prove to be a bit of a stale affair this morning. There are only 18 entrants in the event, and 8 of them will advance to finals tonight. Similarly, there are 24 women in the 200 back this morning, 16 of whom will advance to semifinals. The 200 back and men’s 400 IM are both fairly open events as well, so we might see some new stars emerge.

The men’s 100 breast field doesn’t feature British superstar Adam Peaty, leaving Dutchman Arno Kamminga as far and away the favorite for Gold. Kamminga is the #2 performer all-time in the event, behind only Peaty.

MEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record: 22.27, Andrii Govorov (UKR) – 2018
• European Record: 22.27, Andrii Govorov(UKR) – 2018
• European Championship Record: 22.48, Andrii Govorov (UKR) – 2018
• 2020 European Champion: Szebszatian Szabo (HUN), 23.00

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Nyls Korstanje (NED) – 22.90
2. Maxime Grousset (FRA) – 23.20
3. Diogo Matos RiAugustbeiro (POR) – 23.24
4. Piero Codia (ITA) – 23.28
5. Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 23.38
6. Andrii Govorov (UKR) – 23.41
7. Josif Miladinov (BUL) – 23.46
8. Simon Bucher (AUT) – 23.47
9. Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) – 23.49
10. Nicholas Lia (NOR) – 23.52
11. Mario Molla (ESP) – 23.54
12. Konrad Czerniak (POL) – 23.55
13. Karol Ostrowski (POL) – 23.57
14. Max McCusker (IRL) – 23.61
15. Alberto Lozano (ESP)/Thomas Piron (FRA) – 23.62
16. –

Things got off to a quick start at these European Championships, seeing Dutchman Nyls Korstanje post a lifetime best en route to securing the top time of the morning in the men’s 50 fly. Korstanje roared ahead in heat 4, swimming a blistering 22.90. That swim was Korstanje’s first time under 23 seconds in the event, bringing the Dutch Record under 23 seconds as well.

Maxime Grousset of France had a solid swim this morning, posting the 2nd fastest time of the prelims with a 23.20. That swim came in just 0.13 seconds off his seed time and was more than enough to get him into a middle lane for semifinals tonight.

Portugal’s Diogo Matos Ribeiro clipped his lifetime best of 23.26, clocking a 23.24 for 3rd place this morning. That swim also marks a new Portuguese Record.

The Italian duo of Piero Codia and Thomas Ceccon were next in, swimming 23.28 and 23.38 respectively. Both will be swimming in the middle of the pool tonight in semifinals as they attempt to advance to the final.

World Record holder Andrii Govorov was a bit sluggish this morning, though he more than did what he needed to advance to semifinals. Govorov was 23.41 this morning, well off his World Record of 22.27.

Taking 7th this morning Josif Miladinov‘s 23.46 set a new Bulgarian Record as well.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2017 World Championships
• European Record: 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2017 World Championships
• European Championship Record: 52.67, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2014/2018
• 2020 European Champion: Femke Heemskerk (NED), 53.05

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Charlotte BONNET (FRA) 53.92
2. Marrit STEENBERGEN (NED) 54.22
3. Jana SEGEL (SLO) 54.40
4. Silvia DI PIETRO (ITA) 54.54
5. Beryl GASTALDELLO (FRA) 54.64
6. Freya ANDERSON (GBR) 54.73
7. Chiara TARANTINO (ITA) 54.94
8. Maria UGOLKOVA (SUI) 55.09
9. Valentine DUMONT (BEL) 55.18
10. Lucy HOPE (GBR) 55.57
11. Nikoletta PADAR (HUN) 55.66
12. Lidon MUNOZ DEL CAMPO (ESP) 55.69
13. Sofia ASTEDT (SWE) 55.76
14. Tjasa PINTAR (SLO) 55.84
15. Sara JUVENIK (SWE) 55.87
16. Lena KREUDL (AUT) 55.94

France’s Charlotte Bonnet was the lone swimmer under 54 seconds this morning, speeding to the top seed for semifinals with a 53.92. Marrit Steenbergen, the top seed coming into the day, came in 2nd this morning at 54.22.

Janja Segel was just off her own Slovenian Record of 54.22, swimming a 54.40 for 3rd this morning.

Bonnet has a chance to run away with this race as we progress through the phases. Her lifetime best of 52.74 is very fast, and although it was set back in 2018, it still makes her stand out among this field. Steenbergen has been as fast as 53.41, a time which she swam at the World Championships this summer, so we may see some faster racing out of her as well as the event progresses.

MEN’S 400 IM – HEATS

• World Record: 4:03.84, Michael Phelps (USA) – 2008 Olympic Games
• European Record: 4:04.28, Léon Marchand (FRA) – 2022 World Championships
• European Championship Record: 4:09.59, Lásló Cseh (HUN) – 2008
• 2020 European Champion: Ilya Borodin (RUS), 4:10.02

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. David Verraszto (HUN) – 4:15.52
2. Joan Lluis Pons Ramon (ESP) – 4:16.17
3. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 4:17.21
4. Hubert Kos (HUN) – 4:17.22
5. Pier Andrea Matteazzi (ITA) – 4:17.36
6. Thomas Jansen (NED) – 4:18.43
7. Emilien Mattenet (FRA) – 4:19.20
8. Richard Nagy (SVK) – 4:19.75

In a small prelims field this morning, it took under 4:20 to advance to tonight’s final, which will also be the first final of these European Championships. Soon-to-be 34-year-old David Verraszto led this field this morning, swimming a 4:15.52. It was a great performance from the veteran, who led the race from the start. Verraszto split 57.80 on the fly leg of the race, which he then backed up with a 1:05.89 backstroke split. Arguably his best split of the race, verraszto swam a 1:11.22 on breast, then came home in a solid 1:00.61.

Joan Lluis Pons Ramon will be in the middle of the pool with Verraszto tonight, giving Spain a chance at winning a medal early in the Championships. He was a tick faster than Verraszto in the middle of his race this morning, splitting 1:05.53 on backstroke and 1:11.08 on breaststroke.

Alberto Razzetti, who, along with Verraszto, has been under 4:10 in the event before, was 3rd this morning.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: 2:03.35 – Regan Smith, USA (2018)
• European Record: 2:04.94 – Anastasia Fesikova, RUS (2009)
• European Championships Record: 2:06.08 – Margherita Panziera, ITA (2021)
• 2020 European Champion: Margherita Panziera, ITA – 2:06.08

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Margherita Panziera (ITA) – 2:09.27
2. Dora Molnar (HUN) – 2:09.53
3. Eszter Szabo-Feltothy (HUN) – 2:10.17
4. Katie Shanahan (GBR) – 2:10.93
5. Pauline Mahieu (FRA) – 2:11.36
6. Camila Rodrigues Rebelo (POR) – 2:12.10
7. Africa Zamorano (ESP) – 2:12.22
8. Reka Nyiradi (HUN) – 2:12.42
9. Carmen Weiler (ESP) – 2:12.44
10. Gabriela Georgieva (BUL) – 2:12.46
11. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 2:12.94
12. Aviv Barzelay (ISR) – 2:12.95
13. Lena Grabowski (AUT) – 2:13.00
14. Federica Toma (ITA) – 2:13.13
15. Sonnele Oeztuerk (GER) – 2:13.18
16. Laura Bernat (POL) – 2:13.30

The final heat of prelims was by far the fastest, seeing Italian backstroke star Magherita Panziera post the top time of the morning – 2:09.27. The favorite by a wide margin coming into the meet, Panziera swam a nice race this morning, splitting 30.37, 32.57, 33.62, and 32.71 respectively by 50. She still has a ways to come down to get to her European Championships Record of 2:06.08, which she set last year.

The final heat also saw Hungary’s Eszter Szabo-Feltothy and British youngster Katie Shanahan shine as well, with both women clocking 2:10s. Szabo-Feltothy had great closing speed this morning, swimming a 32.65 on the final 50, pulling away from Shanahan to clock a 2:10.17. Shanahan, an 18-year-old, was out with Szabo-Feltothy on the first 100, but didn’t have quite the same closing speeding, taking 3rd in the heat at 2:10.93.

Hungary’s Dora Molnar didn’t waste an opportunity to put up a good time, swimming a 2:09.53 in the first heat to set the tone for the event. Molnar was out quick, splitting 1:03.19, then coming home in 1:06.34 on the 2nd 100.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: 56.88, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2019 World Championships
• European Record: 56.88, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2019 World Championships
• European Championships Record: 57.10, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2018
• 2020 European Champion: Adam Peaty (GBR) – 57.66

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 59.08
2. Arno Kamminga (NED) – 59.32
3. Federico Poggio (ITA) – 59.49
4. Valentin Bayer (AUT) – 59.76
5. Andrius Sidlauskas (LTU) – 1:00.17
6. James Wilby (GBR) – 1:00.62
7. Matti Mattsson (FIN) – 1:00.68
8. Darragh Greene (IRL) – 1:00.75
9. Lucas Matzerath (GER) – 1:00.83
10. Bernhard Reitshammer (AUT) – 1:00.86
11. Volodymyr Lisovets (UKR) – 1:00.88
12. Antoine Viquerat (FRA) – 1:00.90
13. Dawid Wiekiera (POL) – 1:01.09
14. Gregory Butler (GBR) – 1:01.11
15. Lyobomir Epitropov (BUL) – 1:01.11
16. Kristian Pitshugin (ISR)/Matej Zabojnik (CZE) – 1:01.34

**The swim-off for 16th has now concluded. Matej Zabojnik beat out Kristian Pitshugin, swimming a 1:00.63. That swim was significantly faster than the time from prelims, and Zabojnik will be advancing to the semifinals tonight. Pitshugin had a great swim as well, touching in 1:00.99.**

Federica Poggio out of Italy had a solid race in heat 3, swimming a 59.49. The swim comes in just off his lifetime best of 59.33, which he set last summer at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He swam a well-split race, going out in 28.05 and coming home in 31.44.

Italy had a strong team performance in the event this morning, speaking to the depth they have developed in men’s breaststroke. Nicolo Martinenghi took heat 4 in 59.08, swimming a 27.90 on the first 50, then coming home in 31.18. His time stood as the fastest swim of the morning. Simone Cerasuolo (19) swam a 1:00.51 this morning, while Andrea Castello was 1:00.72. Unfortunately, only 2 swimmers per country can advance out of prelims, so Cerasuolo and Castello will not be returning for semifinals.

Arno Kamminga (NED) took the final heat this morning, clocking a 59.32. It was a relaxed swim for Kamminga, who is the #2 performer all-time in the event with his personal best of 57.80. Kamminga has been chasing Adam Peaty of lat,e but with no Peaty in the race this time around, Kamminga has a relatively clear path to a Gold medal, save for the threat of Martineghi.

Austria’s Valentin Bayer was also under 1:00 this morning, swimming a 59.76 to post the #4 time of the morning. With the performance, Bayer broke the Austrian Record, which had stood at 59.93.

There was a tie for the final qualifying spot for semifinals, between Israel’s Krsitian Pitshugin and Bulgaria’s Matej Zabojnik, both of whom swam 1:01.34 this morning. That swim-off is set to be competed after prelims of the women’s 800 freestyle.

WOMEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – HEATS

• World Record: 7:39.29, Australia – 2022 Commonwealth Games
• European Record: 7:45.51, Great Britain – 2009 World Championships
• European Championship Record: 7:50.53, Italy – 2014
• 2020 European Champion: Great Britain, 7:53.15

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Hungary – 8:01.05
2. Netherlands – 8:01.15
3. Italy – 8:05.29
4. Poland – 8:06.02
5. France – 8:07.16
6. Germany – 8:09.67
7. Great Britain – 8:10.52
8. Sweden – 8:14.62

Only 8 teams ended up competing in prelims of the women’s 4×200 free relay this morning, meaning all 8 advanced to finals. Hungary established the top time of the morning narrowly of Netherlands, thanks in large part to Ajna Kesely‘s 1:59.60 on the 3rd leg. She out-split Dutch 3rd leg Lotte Hosper (2:01.74) by 2.14 seconds, giving Hungary the lead they needed to hold off Dutch anchor Silke Holkenborg, who swam a 1:59.36.

The fastest split in the field this morning came from Poland’s Aleksandra Polanska, who anchored the Polish relay in 1:58.52.

MEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – HEATS

• World Record: 6:58.55, United States – 2009 World Championships
• European Record: 6:58.58, Great Britain – 2021 Olympic Games
• European Championship Record: 7:03.48, Russia – 2021
• 2020 European Champion: Russia, 7:03.48

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Italy – 7:09.03
2. France – 7:09.59
3. Germany – 7:14.27
4. Switzerland – 7:14.73
5. Israel – 7:15.71
6. Hungary – 7:15.91
7. Sweden – 7:18.48
8. Great Britain – 7:18.61

10 teams competed in prelims of the men’s 4×200 free relay, seeing Bulgaria (7:18.83) and Lithuania (7:21.04) miss out on advancing to finals. Great Britain had quite a scare this morning, grabbing the 8th spot for finals by just 0.22 seconds over Bulgaria. We know that GBR can put together a much faster relay tonight, but they’ll be operating out of an outside lane. Kieran Bird was a bright spot on the British relay this morning, splitting 1:48.05 on the 3rd leg.

Italy and France had a really exciting race this morning, getting out to nearly identical starts on the first leg. France’s Wissam-Amazigh Yebba then took the lead, throwing down a 1:46.15 on the 2nd leg, beating Italy’s Matteo Ciampi (1:47.20) handily. It was then Italy’s turn, as distance star Gabriele Detti clocked a quick 1:46.57 on the 3rd leg, pulling Italy withing 0.10 seconds of France heading into the final leg. Italian anchor Lorenzo Galossi got the job done, splitting 1:47.00 to French anchor Roman Fuchs’ 1:47.65.

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: 8:04.79 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2016)
• European Record: 8:14.10 – Rebecca Adlington, GBR (2008)
• European Championships Record: 8:15.54 – Jazmin Carlin, GBR (2014)
• 2020 European Champion: Simona Quadarella, ITA – 8:20.23

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Simona Quadarella (ITA) – 8:23.46
2. Isabel Gose (GER) – 8:30.01
3. Merve Tuncel (TUR) – 8:31.12
4. Martina Rita Caramignoli (ITA) – 8:33.25
5. Tamila Holub (POR) – 8:34.25
6. Paula Otero (ESP) – 8:35.60
7. Deniz Ertan (TUR) – 8:36.27
8. Leonie Beck (GER) – 8:36.43

Italian distance star Simona Quadarella was dominant in prelims of the women’s 800 free this morning, swimming to an 8:23.46. It’s not a particularly fast performance for Quadarella, who has been 8:14.99 before and has already been 8:16 this year, but it was more than enough for this morning, earning her the top seed for finals by well over 6 seconds. She was 4:09.59 on the first 400, but fell off that pace just a little bit on the 2nd half of the race.

Germany’s Isabel Gose was having a good swim this morning, flipping at the 400m mark in 4:12.62. She wasn’t able to hold that pace on the back half of the race, however, and ended up at 8:30.01 for her final time. That swim was still enough for her to win the 2nd heat and take the #2 spot for finals tomorrow night.

Turkish youngsters Merve Tuncel and Deniz Ertan both made it back for finals as well. Tuncel, 15, swam an 8:31.12, taking the #3 seed for finals. Ertan was 8:36.27, taking the 7th spot for finals.

Italian veteran Martina Rita Caramignoli, 31, made it into the final as well, swimming an 8:33.25.