2022 European Championships: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

2022 EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Thursday, August 11 – Wednesday, August 17, 2022 (pool swimming)
• Rome, Italy
• Parco Del Foro Italico
• LCM (50m)
• Start Times
  • Prelims: 9:00 am local / 3:00 am ET
  • Finals: 6:00 pm local / 12:00 pm ET
• Meet Central
• Event Schedule
• Entries
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Day 5 Prelims Heat Sheet

DAY 5 PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

Day 5 prelims of the 2022 European Championships in Rome features heats of the women’s 50 freestyle, men’s 50 breaststroke, women’s 100 backstroke, men’s 200 butterfly, women’s 200 IM, 4×100 mixed freestyle relay, and men’s 1500 freestyle. Notably, the final of the men’s 1500 free will be held tomorrow night (day 6).

The women’s 50 free should be a fun event, seeing Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom go up against Poland’s Katarzyna Wasick. At least as far as entry times are concerned, the race should come down to Sjostrom and Wasick, with Sjostrom having the slight edge. Sjostrom is the World Record holder in the event and is fresh off winning the World Championships in June with a 23.98. Wasick swam her lifetime best of 24.11 in semifinals of World Champs, then won Silver in finals with a 24.18.

100 breast champion Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy comes into the men’s 50 breast today as the heavy favorite. With no Adam Peaty or Arno Kamminga in the field, Martinenghi’s path to Gold in this event is as clear as it ever could be.

Netherlands’ Kira Toussaint leads the entrants in the women’s 100 back, but after a fairly down performance in the 50 back earlier in the meet, her status as the top 100 backstroker in the field may be in jeopardy. Toussaint is the only swimmer in the field seeded under 59 seconds, but Italy’s Margherita Panziera, the 200 back champion, is seeded at 59.01. Panziera provides a very real threat, as does France’s Analia Pigree, who won the 50 back last night in a new French Record of 27.27.

There’s not too much to be said about the men’s 200 fly, where Hungary’s Kristof Milak is as close to a Gold medal guarantee as we have in the sport. Milak has had a very busy schedule in Rome, however, he’s the fastest 200 flyer in this field by nearly 4 seconds, and has been swimming quite well for the most part this week.

After missing finals in the 400 IM in a disappointing performance, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu will look to rebound in the women’s 200 IM. The World Record holder in this event as well, Hosszu enters the meet as one of two swimmers seeded under 2:10, with the other being Israel’s Anastasia Gorbenko (2:09.99). Hosszu shouldn’t have an issue advancing this time around, as she didn’t make it through in the 400 IM because she was the 3rd-fastest Hungarian in prelims, but there’s only one other Hungarian entered in the 200 IM.

Only 13 swimmers are entered in the men’s 1500 free today, meaning just 5 swimmers will miss out on qualifying for finals. We know one of those swimmers will be Italian, since there are 3 Italians competing in the event and only 2 swimmers per country are allowed to advance. After a Championship Record performance in the 800 free earlier in the meet, Gregorio Paltrinieri comes in as the favorite. Paltrinieri’s 800 came on the back of his stunning performance at the World Championships earlier this summer, where it seemed he could possibly break the World Record.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE

• World Record: 23.67, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2017 World Championships
• European Record: 23.67, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2017 World Championships
• European Championship Record: 23.74, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2018
• 2020 European Champion: Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 23.97

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 24.50
2. Katarzyna Wasick (POL) – 24.61
3. Valerie Van Roon (NED) – 24.86
4. Silvia Di Pietro (ITA) – 24.87
5. Anna Hopkin (GBR) – 25.00
6. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 25.11 (Tie)
7. Julie Jensen (DEN) – 25.11 (Tie)
8. Tessa Giele (NED) – 25.14
9. Kim Busch (NED) – 25.22 (X – country limit)
10. Petra Senanszky (HUN) – 25.26
11. Chiara Tarantino (ITA) – 25.28
12. Theodora Drakou (GRE) – 25.29
13. Lidon Munoz (ESP) – 25.31
14. Costanza Cocconcelli (ITA) – 25.37 (Tie) (X – country limit)
15. Sam Van Nunen (NED) – 25.37 (Tie) (X – country limit)
16. Sasha Touretski (SUI) – 25.51
17. Anna Hadjiloizou (CYP) – 25.55
18. Elisabeth Ebbesen (DEN) – 25.57
19. Sara Junevik (SWE) – 25.63

World Record holder Sarah Sjostrom led the field this morning in a relaxed looking 24.50. She came in just a tick faster than Poland’s Katarzyna Wasick, who was 24.61. Netherlands’ Valerie Van Roon and Italy’s Silvia Di Pietro were both under 25 seconds this morning as well.

The race will likely come down to Sjostrom and Wasick as we advance through the phases, just as it did at the World Championships in June. Sjostrom won Gold in 23.98, while Wasick took Silver in 24.18, but swam a lifetime best of 24.11 in semifinals.

The final heat of the women’s 50 free saw 3 swimmers DNS (Din Not Swim) this morning. Great Britain’s Lucy Hope, Switzerland’s Nina Kost, and France’s Marie Wattel each opted not to race this morning. Wattel’s absence is notable, as she was certainly a medal contender in this event. Wattel will be racing in the women’s 100 fly final tonight, where she is the top seed.

Great Britain’s Bella Hindley was set to race in heat 4 of 5, but also didn’t swim this morning.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE

• World Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2017 World Championships
• European Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2017 World Championships
• European Championships Record: 26.09, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2018
• 2020 European Champion: Adam Peaty (GBR) – 26.21

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 26.71
2. Simone Cerasuolo (ITA) – 26.85
3. Fabio Scozzoli (ITA) – 26.89 (X – country limit)
4. Federico Poggio (ITA) – 27.07 (X – country limit)
5. Lucas Matzerath (GER) – 27.10
6. Jan Kozakiewicz (POL) – 27.32
7. Peter Stevens (SLO) – 27.38
8. Volodymyr Lisovets (UKR) – 27.41
9. Bernhard Reitshammer (AUT) – 27.42
10. Olli Kokko (FIN) – 27.46
11. Kristian Pitshugin (ISR) – 27.48
12. Andrius Sidlauskas (LTU) – 27.52
13. Valentin Bayer (AUT) – 27.57
14. Tonislav Sabev (BUL) – 27.58
15. Arkadios-Geor Aspougalis (GRE) – 27.62
16. Carl Aitkaci (FRA) – 27.75
17. Bartosz Skora (POL) – 27.81
18. Antoine Viquerat (FRA) – 27.87

As expected, Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi, the 100 breast champion, led prelims this morning with a 26.71. What wasn’t expected was that Italy managed a 1-2-3-4 finish this morning, just as they did in the women’s 100 breast prelims a few days ago. Not only did Italy have the top 4 swimmers in the field this morning, 3 of them, Martinenghi, Simone Cerasuolo, and Fabio Scozzoli, were under 27 seconds, which speaks to the incredible depth Italy has developed in the stroke. Unfortunately for Scozzoli and Federico Poggio (27.07), the limit of 2 swimmers per country advancing out of prelims means that neither of them will be returning for semifinals.

Germany’s Lucas Matzerath had a nice swim, finishing 5th with a 27.10.

Notably, 200 breast champion James Wilby was 19th overall this morning, finishing one spot out of qualifying for semifinals. He stands as the first alternate for semifinals tonight, so if there’s a scratch he’ll be in.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE

• World Record: 57.45 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2021)
• European Record: 58.08 – Kathleen Dawnson, GBR (2021)
• European Championships Record: 58.44 – Kathleen Dawson, GBR (2021)
• 2020 European Champion: Kathleen Dawson, GBR – 58.49

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Kira Toussaint (NED) – 59.59
2. Medi Harris (GBR) – 1:00.15
3. Silvia Scalia (ITA) – 1:00.28
4. Margherita Panziera (ITA) – 1:00.33
5. Emma Terebo (FRA) – 1:00.52
6. Pauline Mahieu (FRA) – 1:00.53
7. Simon Kubova (CZE) – 1:00.66
8. Camila Rebelo (POR) – 1:00.94
9. Maaike de Waard (NED) – 1:01.14
10. Analia Pigree (FRA) – 1:01.24 (X – Country limit)
11. Federica Toma (ITA) – 1:01.32 (X – Country limit)
12. Mary-Ambre Moluh (FRA) – (X – Country limit)
13. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) – 1:01.39
14. Hanna Rosvall (SWE) – 1:01.47
15. Paulina Peda (POL) – 1:01.60
16. Dora Molnar (HUN) – 1:01.62
17. Rafaela Azevedo (POR) – 1:01.78
18. Ingeborg Loeyning (NOR) – 1:01.84
19. Laura Bernat (POL) – 1:02.03

Kira Toussaint got out to a much different start in the 100 back today than she did in the 50 back earlier in the week. Typically seen as more of a drop-dead sprinter, Toussaint looked much more in control swimming the 100 this morning, speeding to a 59.59. That time isn’t necessarily anything special for Toussaint, however, she was the fastest in the field by a wide margin, coming in as the only swimmer under 1:00.

200 backstroke champion Margherita Panziera swam a 1:00.33 to qualify for semifinals. Panziera is perhaps the biggest threat to Toussaint in this event as we progress. Great Britain’s Medi Harris also presents an interesting challenge to Toussaint.

50 back champion from last night Analia Pigree out of France has failed to advance to semifinals in the 100 back tonight. After swimming a 27.27 to win Gold in the 50 back last night and set a new French Record, Pigree swam a 1:01.24 this morning, finishing 10th overall. That would have been fine, except that she was the 3rd-fastest Frenchwoman in the field, as teammates Emma Terebo (1:00.52) and Pauline Mahieu (1:00.53) finished ahead of her. Due to the limit of 2 swimmers per countyr being allowed to advance beyond prelims, Pigree is ineligible to race in semifinals tonight.

There were 2 notable scratches in heat 3 of the women’s 100 back this morning. Sweden’s Louise Hansson and Greece’s Theodora Drakou both didn’t race this morning. Hansson is set to battle Marie Wattel for Gold in the women’s 100 fly final tonight, which is likely why she’s pulled out of this race.

Camila Rebelo broke her own Portuguese Record in the 100 back this morning, swimming a 1:00.94 to finish 8th.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record: 1:50.34 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2022)
• European Record: 1:50.34 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2022)
• European Championships Record: 1:51.10 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2021)
• 2020 European Champion: Kristof Milak, HUN – 1:51.10

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Kristof Milak (HUN) – 1:54.97
2. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 1:55.44
3. Richard Marton (HUN) – 1:55.49
4. Giacomo Carini (ITA) – 1:55.57
5. Federico Burdisso (ITA) – 1:56.10 (X – country limit)
6. Krzysztof Chmielewski (POL) – 1:56.19
7. Ondrej Gemov (CZE) – 1:57.32
8. Claudio Farci (ITA) – 1:57.54 (X – country limit)
9. David Verraszto (HUN) – 1:57.65 (X – country limit)
10. Kregor Zirk (EST) – 1:57.91
11. Denys Kesil (UKR) – 1:57.97
12. Arbidel Gonzalez (ESP) – 1:58.08
13. Noe Ponti (SUI) – 1:58.09
14. Michal Chmielewski (POL) – 1:58.11
15. Jan Zubik (POL) – 1:58.32 (X – country limit)
16. Antani Ivanov (BUL) – 1:58.87
17. Adrian Jaskiewicz (POL) – 1:58.96 (X – country limit)
18. Marius Toscan (SUI) – 1:59.11
19. Petar Mitsin (BUL) – 1:59.40
20. Mason Wilby (GBR) – 1:59.85
21. Joan Lluis Pons Ramon (ESP) – 1:59.97

World Record holder Kristof Milak swam a comfortable looking 1:54.97 this morning, cruising to the top seed for semifinals. Milak still had the fastest first 50 split in the field this morning, swimming a 24.89.

Italy’s Alberto Razzetti had a very strong performance this morning, swimming a 1:55.44 to finish 2nd overall. Razzetti was just 1.16 seconds off the Italian Record this morning, which will be something to watch out for tonight. Speaking of the Italian Record, the holder of that record, Federico Burdisso, has failed to advance to semifinals tonight. Burdisso swam a 1:56.10 this morning, which was a solid morning swim for him, however, both Razzetti and fellow Italian Giacomo Carini finished ahead of him. Carini was 1:55.57 this morning.

Hungary’s Richard Marton also had a really nice swim this morning, taking 3rd with a 1:55.57.

WOMEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY

• World Record: 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2015 World Championships
• European Record: 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2015 World Championships
• European Championship Record: 2:07.30, Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2016
• 2020 European Champion: Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR), 2:09.99

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 2:13.12
2. Sara Franceschi (ITA) – 2:13.58
3. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2:13.79
4. Kristyna Horska (CZE) – 2:14.36
5. Maria Ugolkova (SUI) – 2:14.39
6. Katie Shanahan (GBR) – 2:14.51
7. Lena Kreundl (AUT) – 2:14.97
8. Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 2:15.05
9. Zoe Vogelmann (GER) – 2:15.08
10. Dalma Sebestyen (HUN) – 2:15.11
11. Mireia Belmonte (ESP) – 2:15.91
12. Lisa Nystrand (SWE) – 2:16.46
13. Zinke Delcommune (BEL) – 2:16.56
14. Freya Colbert (GBR) – 2:16.77
15. Francesca Fresia (ITA) – 2:16.84
16. Alba Vazquez (ESP) – 2:16.89

Israel’s Anastasia Gorbenko took control of heat 2, speeding to victory in 2:13.12. She led prelims as well with her time. Gorbenko was particularly strong in the middle of her race this morning, splitting 33.54 on back and 38.30 on breast for a 1:11.84 on the middle 100.

Italy’s Sara Franceschi and Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu battled in heat 3, seeing Franceschi touch first in 2:13.58. Franceschi was out fast, splitting 28.42 on fly and 33.07 on back for a 1:01.49 on the opening 100. She had built a huge lead over Hosszu through the first 150 meters, but Hosszu came roaring home in 30.99 on freestyle, moving from 5th to 2nd.

France’s Charlotte Bonnet pulled out of the race, not swimming this morning.

MIXED 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY

• World Record: 3:19.38, Australia (Cartwright, Chalmers, Wilson, O’Callaghan) – 2022 World Championships
• European Record: 3:21.81, Netherlands (Schwietert, Stolk, Heemskerk, Kromowidjojo) – 2017 World Championships
• European Championships Record: 3:22.07, France/Great Britain – 2017/2021
• 2020 European Champion: Great Britain (Scott, Dean, Hopkin, Anderson) – 3:22.07

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. France – 3:26.19
2. Great Britain – 3:26.79
3. Italy – 3:27.03
4. Hungary – 3:28.34
5. Netherlands – 3:28.38
6. Sweden – 3:28.39
7. Spain – 3:28.87
8. Poland – 3:29.16

In a preview of what it may come down to tonight, France, Great Britain, and Italy battled it out in the first heat of the mixed 4×100 free relay this morning, seeing France get the job done. They got out to a strong start with Hadrien Salvan (48.89) and Charles Rihoux (48.19) putting them in good position. Lucile Tessariol split 55.15 on the 3rd leg, but Beryl Gastaldello came through with a big anchor leg, splitting 53.96 to put the team firmly in the lead at the finish.

We know France can be faster tonight, because at the very least they’ll throw Maxime Grousset into one of their men’s positions, and Charlotte Bonnet into a women’s spot. Marie Wattel also has a strong case to be put on the relay, as she’s a 53.12 lifetime best in the individual 100 free.

Great Britain was helped mightily by Jacob Whittle’s split on the 2nd leg. The 17-year-old threw down a 47.95 to keep his team in the race. Lucy Hope and Freya Anderson were both 54-point splits on the end, doing enough to put GBR into the wall 2nd overall.

Italy got out to a roaring start in the het, with Alessandro Bori splitting 48.85 and Manuel Frigo splitting 48.20. The strength of this Italian team tonight is again going to be in their two men’s sprinters on the front end. That being said, Sofia Morini’s 54.66 split on the 3rd leg this morning is promising.

Spain broke yet another national record with their swim this morning, taking 7th in 3:28.87.

MEN’S 1500 FREE:

• World Record: 14:31.02 — Sun Yang, China (2011)
• European Record: 14:32.80 — Gregorio Paltrinieri (2022)
• European Championships Record: 14:34.04 — Gregorio Paltrinieri (2016)
• 2020 European Champion: Mkyhailo Romanchuk, Ukraine — 14:39.89

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR) – 14:58.20
2. Damien Joly (FRA) – 15:01.44
3. Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) – 15:01.74
4. Domenico Acerenza (ITA) – 15:04.52
5. Florian Wellbrock (GER) – 15:06.18
6. Luca De Tullio (ITA) – 15:06.87 (X – country limit)
7. Henrik Christiansen (NOR) – 15:08.14
8. Carlos Garach (ESP) – 15:08.78
9. Oliver Klemet (GER) – 15:10.05

Ukrainian Mykhaiolo Romanchuk led prelims this morning with a 14:58.20, clocking the only sub-15:00 time in the field. Although it was a relaxed swim for Romanchuk, he did a really nice job of building his way into the race, splitting 5:03.22 on the first 500m, 4:58.54 on the 2nd 500m, and 4:57.44 on the final 500m.

Damien Joly was next in at 15:01.44. After breaking the Championship Record in the 800 free earlier in the meet, Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri looked at ease this morning, cruising to a 15:01.74. We know he’ll be much faster in finals, as he went 14:32 in finals at the World Championships in June.

Italian teammate Domenico Acerenza was next in at 15:04.52. That leaves Luca De Tullio as the 3rd Italian swimmer in the field, meaning he will not be advancing to finals.

Germany’s Florian Wellbrock sort of flew under the radar this morning, but he’s a swimmer who definitely can’t be ignored. One of the fastest 1500 swimmers in history, Wellbrock should be battling with Paltrinieri and Romanchuk for Gold tomorrow night.