2024 European Championships: Day 6 Prelims Live Recap

2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• June 17-23, 2024
• LCM (50 meters)
• Belgrade, Serbia
• Prelims: 9:30 am local time
• Finals: 6:30 pm local time
• Psych Sheets 
• Men’s Storylines
• Women’s Storylines
• Live Results
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Live Recap | Day 3 Finals Live Recap
• Day 4 Prelims Live Recap | Day 4 Finals Live Recap
• Day 5 Prelims Live Recap | Day 5 Finals Live Recap

Day 6 Prelims Heat Sheets

DAY 6 PRELIMS EVENT LINEUP

• Men’s 50 free
• Women’s 200 fly
• Men’s 100 back
• Women’s 50 breast
• Men’s 200 IM
• Mixed 4×200 free relay

The penultimate day of the 2024 European Championships will feature the men’s 50 free, women’s 200 fly, men’s 100 back, women’s 50 breast, men’s 200 IM, and the mixed 4×200 free relay. This will be the shortest prelims session of the meet so far, set to clock in at approximately 1 hour.

We’ll start out with 9 heats of the men’s 50 free, where Ukraine’s Vladyslav Bukhov is entered as the top seed with a 21.38. He’s the top seed by a considerable margin, as Bjorn Seeliger is seeded 2nd at 21.67.

The women’s 200 fly will see Lana Pudar entered as the top seed in the event. She comes in with a 2:06.26, just ahead of Denmark’s Helena Bach, who is 2nd with a 2:06.93. Of note, there are only 20 swimmers entered in the women’s 200 fly, so we may not see terribly fast times out of the heats this morning.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo, Brazil (2009)
• European Record: 20.94 – Frederick Bousquet, France (2009)
• Championship Record: 21.11 – Ben Proud, Great Britain (2018)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Shane Ryan (Ireland) – 21.82
2. Kristian Gkolomeev (Greece) – 21.95
3. Huseyin Sakci (Turkey) – 22.09
4. Andrej Barna (Serbia) – 22.10
5. Calum Bain (Ireland) – 22.11 (TIE)
6. Piotr Ludwiczak (Poland) – 22.11 (TIE)
7. Heiko Gigler (Austria) – 22.12
8. Martin Kartavi (Israel) – 22.19
9. Pawel Juraszek (Poland) – 22.21 (TIE)
10. Szebasztian Szabo (Hungary) – 22.21 (TIE)
11. Jere Hrbibar (Croatia) – 22.22 (TIE)
12. Vladyslav Bukhov (Ukraine) – 22.22 (TIE)
13. Remi Fabiani (Luxembourg) – 22.22 (TIE)
14. Bjorn Seeliger (Sweden) – 22.25
15. Stergios Bilas (Greece) – 22.26
16. Matej Dusa (Slovakia) – 22.27

In a men’s 50 free prelims that was rife with ties, Ireland’s Shane Ryan clocked the top time of the morning, touching the wall in 21.82. That was a very solid swim for Ryan, as he wasn’t even entered with a time. He swam in heat 1, and ended up as 1 of 2 swimmers to go under 22 seconds this morning. The other was Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev, who was 2nd overall in 21.95.

There was a tie for 5th this morning between Ireland’s Calum Bain and Poland’s Piotr Ludwiczak, both of whom swam 22.11. There was also a tie for 9th and a 3-way tie for 11th this morning, as well as a tie for 17th, the first alternate position for semifinals.

Top seed Vladyslav Bukhov (Ukraine) came in 12th this morning, swimming a 22.22. Similarly, 2nd seed Bjorn Seeliger (Sweden) was 14th this morning, clocking a 22.25.

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record: 2:01.81 – Zige Liu, China (2009)
• European Record: 2:04.27 – Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (2009)
• Championship Record: 2:04.79 – Mireia Belmonte, Spain (2014)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Zsuzsanna Jakabos (Hungary) – 2:08.53
2. Helena Bach (Denmark) – 2:09.39
3. Boglarka Kapas (Hungary) – 2:09.51
4. Dalma Sebestyen (Hungary) – 2:10.15*
5. Dori Hathazi (Hungary) – 2:11.91*
6. Anja Crevar (Serbia) – 2:12.10
7. Georgia Damasioti (Greece) – 2:12.64
8. Lana Pudar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – 2:13.00
9. Laura Lahtinen (Finland) – 2:13.70
10. Lucy Grieve (Great Britain) – 2:13.73
11. Katja Fain (Slovenia) – 2:14.91
12. Kajtaz Amina (Croatia) – 2:14.96
13. Aleksandra Knop (Poland) – 2:14.99
14. Fabienne Pavlik (Austria) – 2:15.37
15. Aliisa Soini (Finland) – 2:16.10
16. Iman Avdic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – 2:16.14
17. Hana Sekuti (Slovenia) – 2:16.48
18. Fanny Borer (Switzerland) – 2:17.29

There ended up only being 19 women to swim the 200 fly prelims this morning, and Hungary managed to put 4 swimmers in the top 5. Zsuzsanna Jakobos led the way, swimming a 2:08.53 to clock the top time of prelims by nearly a second. Boglarka Kapas was 3rd, swimming a 2:09.51, while fellow Hungarians Dalma Sebestyen and Dori Hathazi were 2:10.15 and 2:11.91 respectively for 4th and 5th. Of course, as the 3rd and 4th fastest Hungarians this morning, neither Sebestyen or Hathazi will advance to semifinals tonight.

Coming in 2nd this morning was Denmark’s Helena Bach, who also entered the morning as the 2nd seed. Bach clocked a 2:09.39, a little over 2 seconds off her seed time.

Top seed Lana Pudar appears to have taken advantage 0f the thinner field this morning, swimming a relaxed 2:13.00 to finish 8th overall this morning, though she’ll be the 6th seed for tonight’s semifinals due to the surplus of Hungarian swimmers.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, Italy (2022)
• European Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, Italy (2022)
• Championship Record: 52.11 – Camille LaCourt, France (2010)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Kacper Stokowski (Poland) – 54.04
2. Ksawery Masiuk (Poland) – 54.28
3. Adam Jaszo (Hungary) – 54.49
4. Matthew Ward (Great Britain) – 54.56
5. Oleksandr Zheltiakov (Ukraine) – 54.60
6. Conor Ferguson (Ireland) – 54.74
7. Jakub Majerski (Poland) – 54.86 (TIE)*
8. Apostolos Christou (Greece) – 54.86 (TIE)
9. Michael Laitarovsky (Israel) – 54.94
10. Thierry Bollin (Switzerland) – 54.96
11. Evangelos Makrygiannis (Greece) – 55.09
12. Jack Skerry (Great Britain) – 55.11 (TIE)
13. Cornelius Jahn (Germany) – 55.11 (TIE)
14. Adam Maraana (Israel) – 55.18
15. Denis Popescu (Romania) – 55.65
16. Tomer Shuster (Israel) – 55.67*
17. Inbar Danziger (Israel) – 55.74*
18. Noah Verreth (Belgium) – 55.79
19. Markus Lie (Norway) – 55.97

Poland showed up big in the men’s 100 back heats this morning, seeing Kacper Stokowski post the top time of the morning with a 54.04. Ksawery Masiuk came in 2nd this morning with a 54.28, while Jakub Majerski came in 7th with a 54.86. Though they had 3 men go 54-point this morning, Majerski is the 3rd-fastest Polish swimmer this morning, and therefore won’t compete in semifinals tonight.

Masiuk posted the fastest first 50m split in the field this morning, going 25.99 on the opening 50. Meanwhile, Stokowski clocked the fastest 2nd 50m split in the field this morning, coming home in 27.59.

Hungarian Adam Jaszo was very strong this morning, taking 3rd overall with a 54.49.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: 29.16 – Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2023)
• European Record: 29.16 – Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2023)
• Championship Record: 29.30 – Benedetta Pilato, Italy (2021)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Veera Kivirinta (Finland) – 30.58
2. Ana Rodrigues (Portugal) – 30.90
3. Teya Nikolova (Bulgaria) – 31.17
4. Ida Hulkko (Finland) – 31.20
5. Dominika Sztandera (Poland) – 31.21
6. Olivia Klint (Sweden) – 31.23
7. Maria Drasidou (Greece) – 31.33
8. Kiia Metsakonkola (Finland) – 31.46*
9. Tina Celik (Slovenia) – 31.49
10. Meri Mataja (Croatia) – 31.55
11. Maria Romanjuk (Estonia) – 31.58
12. Schastine Tabor (Denmark) – 31.69
13. Emelie Fast (Sweden) – 31.70
14. SR Slyngstadli (Norway) – 31.71
15. Chara Angelaki (Greece) – 31.80
16. Klara Thormalm (Sweden) – 31.83*
17. Tara Vovk (Slovenia) – 31.84
18. Diana Petkov (Bulgaria) – 31.94 (Swim-Off Required)
19. Kristyna Horska (Czech Republic) – 31.94 (Swim-Off Required)

Swim-Off Results:

1. Diana Petkova (Bulgaria) – 31.78
2. Kristyna Horska (Czech Republic) – 31.97

The women’s 50 breast was Finland’s time to shine, as they had 3 swimmers in the top 8 this morning. Veera Kivirinta posted the top time of prelims with a 30.58. She was 0.39 seconds off the Finnish Record in the event, which is held by Ida Hulkko at 30.19. Hulkko came in 4th this morning with a 31.20. Finland also saw Kiia Metsakonkola take 8th this morning with a 31.46, though she isn’t eligible to advance to semifinals.

Portugal’s Ana Rodrigues was the only swimmer other than Kivirinta to go under 31 seconds this morning, taking 2nd in 30.90.

Of note, there was a tie for the final spot in tonight’s semifinals between Bulgaria’s Diana Petkova and Czech Republic’s Kristyna Horska, so that will be settled via swim-off at the end of the session.

Update: Petkova won the swim-off, clocking a 31.78, and will be advancing to semifinals tonight.

MEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – HEATS

• World Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte, USA (2011)
• European Record: 1:54.82 – Leon Marchand, France (2023)
• Championship Record: 1:56.66 – Laszlo Cseh, Hungary (2012)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Hubert Kos (Hungary) – 1:58.75
2. Dominik Torok (Hungary) – 1:59.11
3. Gabor Zombori (Hungary) – 1:59.52*
4. Ron Polonsky (Israel) – 1:59.57
5. Balazs Hollo (Hungary) – 1:59.76*
6. Vadym Naumenko (Ukraine) – 2:00.97
7. Daniil Giourtzidis (Greece) – 2:01.01
8. Jeremy Desplanches (Switzerland) – 2:01.32
9. Yakov Toumarkin (Israel) – 2:01.33
10. Andreas Vazaios (Greece) – 2:01.39
11. Eitan Ben-Shitrit (Israel) – 2:01.41*
12. Berke Saka (Turkey) – 2:01.50
13. Gabriel Lopes (Portugal) – 2:01.51
14. Gian-Luca Gartmann (Switzerland) – 2:01.58
15. Anze Fers (Slovenia) – 2:01.95
16. Sebastian Lunak (Czech Republic) – 2:02.26
17. Marius Zobel (Germany) – 2:03.17
18. Finn Wendland (Germany) – 2:03.24
19. Juraj Barcot (Croatia) – 2:03.39

Hungarian Hubert Kos led the field in the men’s 200 IM this morning, putting up a very solid prelims swim of 1:58.75. Kos, one of the fastest yards 200 IM’ers in history, holds a career best of 1:56.99, meaning he was less than 2 seconds off his PB this morning. He was out fast this morning, splitting 25.25 on fly and a very fast 29.32 back split, for a 54.57 on the opening 100m. He then clocked a 35.08 breast split and came home in 29.10 on free.

Dominik Torok (Hungary) came in 2nd this morning with a 1:59.11, clocking the fastest breast and free splits in the field with splits of 34.14 and 28.16 respectively.

Hungary also had Gabor Zombori came in 3rd with a 1:59.52 and Balazs Hollo took 5th with a 1:59.76. Hungary had 4 men under 2:00 this morning, however, Zombori and Hollo won’t be advancing to the semifinals tonight.

Israel’s Ron Polonsky was the 4th-fastest swimmer this morning, clocking a 1:59.57.

MIXED 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – HEATS

• Championship Record: 7:26.67 – Great Britain (2021)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Hungary – 7:49.97
2. Poland – 7:55.61
3. Germany – 7:56.43
4. Serbia – 7:58.07
5. Slovenia – 7:58.98

Only 5 teams ended up competing in the mixed 4×200 free relay this morning, so, of course, all 5 teams will be in tonight’s final. Hungary led the way by a significant margin, putting up a 7:49.97. Attila Kovacs (1:50.83), Boldizsar Magda (1:51.63), Dora Molnar (2:00.18), and Nikolett Padar (2:07.33) combined to earn the top seed for tonight. Padar’s split is particularly notable, as she holds a career best of 1:56.17, which means she swam very relaxed this morning, since Hungary was already in such a large lead.

Poland took 2nd overall with a 7:55.61. Bartosz Piszczorowicz (1:50.40), Dominik Dudys (1:51.27), Wiktoria Gusc (2:02.62), and Aleksandra Knop (2:11.32) teamed up for Poland this morning.