2024 European Junior Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2024 EUROPEAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, July 2nd – Sunday, July 7th
• Lazdynai Pool, Vilnius, Lithuania
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Entries
• Day 1 Prelims Recap/Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap
• Live Results
• Livestream ($)

GIRLS 200 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 1:53.65, Summer McIntosh (2023)
• European Junior Record: 1:56.17, Nikolett Padar (HUN), 2023
• European Record: 1:52.98, Federica Pellegrini (2009)
• Championship Record: 1:57.51, Isabel Gose (2019)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Nikolett Padar (Hungary) – 1:57.59

GOLD – Minna Abraham (HUN), 1:57.52
SILVER – Rebecca-Aimee Diaconescu (ROU), 1:58.97
BRONZE – Dora Molnar (HUN), 1:59.45

It was a 1-2 Hungarian punch in this women’s 200m freestyle, as Minna Abraham and teammate Dora Molnar claimed respective gold and bronze.

Abraham ripped a winning effort of 1:57.52, just .01 off the longstanding championships record of 1:57.51 Germany’s Isabel Gose put on the books in 2019.

Molnar got to the wall in 1:59.45 while Romanian Rebecca-Aimee Diaconescu split the pair in a result of 1:58.97.

Diaconescu’s effort represents a big personal best, erasing the 1:59.36 posted at April’s Romanian Championships.

Abraham was the silver medalist in this event last year in Belgrade, posting a time of 1:59.29. However, more recently, while competing at the senior European Championships just last month, Abraham nailed a lifetime best of 1:57.22 to capture the silver medal.

BOYS 200 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Junior Record:  1:42.97, David Popovici (2022)
• European Junior Record: 1:42.97, David Popovici (2022)
• European Record: 1:42.00, Paul Biedermann (2009)
• Championship Record: 1:45.26, David Popovici (2021)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Petar Mitsin (Bulgaria) – 1:46.50

GOLD – Kristupas Trepocka (LTU), 1:47.74
SILVER – Ahmet Burak Isik (TUR), 1:48.04
BRONZE – Nicholas Castella (DEN), 1:48.41

The host nation got a boost in the form of Kristupas Trepocka sealing up the gold in this boys’ 200m freestyle final.

The 18-year-old cleared the field with a solid time of 1:47.74, erasing the 1:48.59 top-seeded personal best he logged during last night’s semi-final.

Trepocka split 25.23/27.38 (52.61)/27.74/27.39 as the sole competitor to dip under the 1:48 threshold.

Trepocka’s best entering this competition rested at the 1:49.13 put up during the prelims at last month’s senior European Championships.

Turkey’s Ahmet Burak Isik upgraded from the 3rd seed last night to grab the silver this evening, turning in an outing of 1:48.04. Danish rising star Nicholas Castella rounded out the podium in 1:48.41.

Both Isik and Castella also clocked their swiftest-ever swims, with the former previously owning a PB of 1:50.05 and the latter possessing a PB of 1:48.48 in this event.

GIRLS 50 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 27.49, Minna Atherton (2016)
• European Junior Record: 27.51, Daria Vaskina (2019)
• European Record: 27.10, Kira Toussaint (2021)
• Championship Record: 27.74, Mary Moluh (2022)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Lora Fanni Komoroczy (Hungary) – 28.08

GOLD – Sara Cutis (ITA), 27.94
SILVER – Martine Damborg (DEN), 28.27
BRONZE – Blythe Kinsman (GBR), 28.29

17-year-old Sara Curtis got Italy on the board, turning in a time of 27.94 as tonight’s gold medalist in the girls’ 50m backstroke.

Curtis, who owns the Italian national record in the 50m free, soared to the top of the podium after sitting 4th from last night’s semi-finals with a time of 28.50. The teen will be contesting the semi-finals of the 50m free later on in this session.

Denmark’s Martine Damborg held on for the silver medal, posting 28.27 while British swimmer Blythe Kinsman was just .02 behind in 28.29. Kinsman was last year’s silver medalist in a mark of 28.41 so she was quicker this time around.

BOYS 50 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 24.00, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• European Junior Record: 24.00, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• European Record: 23.80, Kliment Kolesnikov (2021)
• Championship Record: 24.52, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Miroslav Knedla (Czechia) – 24.88

GOLD – Mantas Kauspedas (LTU), 24.68
SILVER – Daniele del Signore (ITA), 25.34
BRONZE – Jakub Jan Krischke (CZE), 25.53

Lithuania secured its 2nd gold of the evening, as 16-year-old Mantas Kauspedas fired off a new national record en route to topping the boys’ 50m back. podium.

Kauspedas crushed an outing of 24.68 to beat the field by over half a second, destroying his previous Lithuanian standard of 24.95 established in yesterday’s heats. His time this evening came within striking distance of European record holder Kliment Kolesnikov‘s championship record of 24.52 posted in 2018.

Italy’s Daniele del Signore was the next-quickest swimmer in 25.34 while Jakub Jan Krischke of the Czech Republic touched in 25.53 to reap bronze.

GIRLS 100 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 56.43, Claire Curzan (2021)
• European Junior Record: 56.46
• European Record: 55.48, Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
• Championship Record: 56.95, Lana Pudar (BIH), 2023
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Lana Pudar (BIH) – 56.95

Top 8:

1. Martine Damborg (DEN), 59.42
2. Caterina Santambrogio (ITA), 59.47
3. Aliisa Soini (FIN), 59.50
4. Hollie Widdows (GBR), 59.65
5. Emmy Hallkvist (SWE), 59.87
6. Flawia Kamzol (POL), 59.92
7. Sarah Dumont (BEL), 59.94
8. Denisa-Maria Bacalu (ROU), 1:00.03

Shortly after earning silver in the 50m back, Danish athlete Martine Damborg was back in action in the girls’ 100m fly.

17-year-old Damborg produced the most rapid time of the field, landing lane 4 in a time of 59.42. That was off the 58.94 she clocked in this morning’s heats but respectable with this evening’s double.

Last year Damborg grabbed silver in a time of 58.35 behind winner Lana Pudar of Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Italy’s Caterina Santambrogio is in the hunt after producing a semi swim of 59.47 while Finland’s Aliisa Soini will also be among the medal contenders with a mark of 59.50. The densely packed top 6 were only separated by half a second.

BOYS 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 1:56.99, Hubert Kos (2021)
• European Junior Record: 1:56.99, Hubert Kos (2021)
• European Record: 1:55.18, Laszlo Cseh (2009)
• Championship Record: 1:59.17, Tom Dean (2018)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Miroslav Knedla (CZE), 2:00.26

Top 8:

1. Nil Cadevall Micolau (ESP) – 2:01.19
2. Robert-Andrei Badea (ROU) – 2:01.69
3. Finn Hammer (GER), 2:02.44
4. Jacopo Barbotti (ITA) – 2:02.47
5. Emanuele Potenza (ITA) – 2:02.70
6. Darius-Stefan Coman (ROU) – 2:02.77
7. David Annis (GBR) – 2:02.90
8. Franz Ahnert (GER) – 2:02.95

There weren’t any major fireworks in the boys’ 200m IM semi-finals as no competitor cleared the 2:01 barrier.

Spain’s Nil Cadevall claimed the top spot in 2:01.19 with Romania’s Robert-Andri Badea also in the 2:01 zone with 2:01.69.

The top seed out of the morning, Finn Hammer of Germany, dropped .05 to earn the 3rd seed in 2:02.44.

Last year saw Miroslav Knedla of the Czech Republic get it done for gold, but the nation is void of any competitors in the final this year Instead we’ll see 2 Germans and 2 Italians make a run at the podium tomorrow evening.

GIRLS 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• European Junior Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• European Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• Championship Record: 29.75, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Eneli Jefimova (Estonia) – 30.33

GOLD – Smilte Plytnykaite (LTU), 31.27
SILVER – Jasmine Carter (GBR), 31.39
BRONZE – Nayara Pineda Lopez (ESP), 31.46

Lithuania is on-fire, reaping its 3rd gold medal of the night.

While reigning European Junior Championships gold medalist Eneli Jefimova of Estonia has opted out of this event this time around, Smilte Plytnykaite took full advantage, clocking 31.27 as the top performer.

17-year-old Plytnykaite held off a charging field, one which included British swimmer Jasmine Carter and Spanish athlete Nayara Pineda Lopez. The former settled for silver in 31.39 while the latter bagged bronze in 31.46.

Plytnykaite’s lifetime best entering these championships rested at the 32.49 established this past April so the teen managed to hack over a second off to top the podium this evening.

BOYS 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 26.97, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• European Junior Record: 26.97, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• European Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (2017)
• Championship Record: 27.23, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Jonas Gaur (Denmark) – 27.57

GOLD – Nusrat Allahverdi (TUR), 27.60
SILVER – Subajr Biltaev (GER), 27.78
BRONZE – Maksim Manolov (BUL), 27.89

Turkey grabbed its first gold of these championships, courtesy of Nusrat Allahverdi in this boys’ 50m breast.

16-year-old Allahverdi stopped the clock at 27.60 to get to the wall first, with Germany’s Subajr Biltaev relegated to runner-up status in 27.78.

Bulgaria got on the board with Maksim Manolov reaping bronze in 27.89.

Allahverdi’s quickest performance came out of the heats, where he hit 27.58 before posting 27.59 in last night’s semi-finals. Biltaev was also swifter in the morning yesterday, producing 27.61.

GIRLS 50 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 24.17, Claire Curzan (2021)
• European Junior Record: 24.56, Sara Curtis (ITA), 2024
• European Record: 23.67, Sarah Sjostrom (2017)
• Championship Record: 24.67, Sara Curtis (ITA), 2024
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Sara Curtis (ITA), 25.14

Top 8:

1. Sara Curtis (ITA), 24.73
2. Jana Pavalic (CRO), 24.78
3. Skye Carter (GBR), 25.31
4. Theodora Taylor (GBR), 25.33
5. Julianna Dora Bocska (GER), 25.33
6. Patricija Kondraskaite (LTU), 25.58
7. Albane Cachot (FRA), 25.58
8. Megan Jonkman (NED), 25.65

Once again 17-year-old Sara Curtis of Italy claimed the top spot of the field in this girls’ 50m free.

After dominating the heats in a time of 24.67 to establish a new Championships Record, the Italian added a hair to check in with 24.73 for the lane 4 swimmer in tomorrow night’s main event.

Croatia’s Jana Pavalic won’t back down, however, ripping a huge performance of 24.78 as the only other sub-25-second competitor.

Pavalic has been as rapid as 24.67 in her career, the new national record she established at last month’s senior European Championships.

Great Britain’s Skye Carter (25.31) and Theodora Taylor (25.33) are still in the mix, as is Germany’s Julianna Dora Bocska (25.33).

BOYS 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 1:53.79, Kristof Milak (2017)
• European Junior Record: 1:52.71, Kristof Milak (2018)
• European Record: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (2022)
• Championship Record: 1:53.79, Kristof Milak (2017)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Andrea Camozzi (Italy) – 1:58.59

GOLD – Vlad-Stefan Mihalache (ROU), 1:57.42
SILVER – Samuel Kostal (SVK), 1:57.62
BRONZE – David Antal (HUN), 1:57.67

The top 3 finishers in this boys’ 200m butterfly final all beat the top time of 1:58.59 which grabbed the gold last year in Belgrade.

Romania’s Vlad-Stefan Mihalache was 3rd out of the semi-finals but busted out a time of 1:57.42 to get to the wall first in this battle to the finish.

Slovakian Samuel Kostal gave his nation its first medal of these championships, due to his 1:57.62 silver medal-worthy swim.

Then, Hungary claimed bronze by way of David Antal‘s result of 1:57.67. That bumped him up from 6th out of the semi’s.

Mihalache snagged silver at the 2023 edition of these European Junior Championships, putting up a 1:58.84 last year in Belgrade. He blew that performance to bits with this new 1:57.42 lifetime best.

GIRLS 1500 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 15:28.36, Katie Ledecky (2014)
• European Junior Record: 15:55.23, Merve Tuncel (2021)
• European Record: 15:38.88, Lotte Friis (2013)
• Championship Record: 15:55.23, Merve Tuncel (2021)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Merve Tuncel (Turkey) – 16:18.53

GOLD – Amelie Blocksidge (GBR), 16:10.23
SILVER – Emma Giannelli (ITA), 16:17.19
BRONZE – Vivien Jackl (HUN), 16:19.22

15-year-old Amelie Blocksidge, the reigning British national champion, produced a time of 16:10.23 to handily defeat the field en route to gold.

Blocksidge got to the wall about 7 seconds ahead of Emma Giannelli of Italy who snagged silver in 16:17.19.

Hungary’s 400m IM champion here, Vivien Jackl, rounded out the podium in 16:19.22.

Blocksidge is her nation’s 3-best performer in history, owning a career-quickest mark of 16:10.04 from February of this year. Tonight’s effort represents her 2nd-best performance.

MIXED 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 3:25.92, United States (2019)
• European Junior Record: 3:27.35, Russia (2020)
• European Record: 3:21.81, Netherlands (2017)
• Championship Record: 3:28.43, Germany (2019)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Hungary – 3:29.75

GOLD – Italy, 3:28.34
SILVER – Germany, 3:28.83
BRONZE – France, 3:29.11

Italy kept its relay winning streak alive, crushing a time of 3:28.34 to establish a new championship record in the mixed 4x100m free relay.

Carlos D’Ambrosio led off in 49.12 before teammate Lorenzo Ballarati fired off a 2nd leg of 48.96.

Cristiana Stevanato kept the momentum going in 55.52 before 50m free national record holder Sara Curtis sealed the deal in 54.74.

The foursome held off a charging German squad who touched just under half a second behind in 3:28.83 while France also landed on the podium in 3:29.11 as the 3rd place finishers.