2025 European SC Championships: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

2025 EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• December 2-7, 2025
• Lublin, Poland
• SCM (25 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Recaps:
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3| Day 4

Day 5 Prelims Heat Sheet

Event Schedule

• Women’s 50m backstroke
• Men’s 50m backstroke
• Women’s 50m breaststroke
• Men’s 50m breaststroke
• Women’s 50m freestyle
• Men’s 50m freestyle
• Women’s 200m butterfly
• Men’s 200m butterfly
• Women’s 1500m freestyle
• Men’s 100 freestyle semi-final swim-off

The penultimate heats session here in Lublin is one for the sprinters, with 50s of back, breast and free on the schedule.

That means that we will see multiple swimmers doubling up, including 100 breast medalist Florine Gaspard (50 breast, 50 free) and double Estonian record-holder Ralf Tribuntsov (50 back, 50 free).

The men’s 50s see Thierry Bollin. (50 back), Caspar Corbeau (50 breast) and Maxime Grousset (50 free) take the top seeds. Corbeau was reportedly ill a couple of days ago before taking 200 breast silver.

The women’s events will be missing Belgian multi-event star Roos Vanotterdijk after she pulled out of the remainder of the meet. Analía Pigree (50 back), Ruta Meilutytr (50 breast) and Kasia Wasick (50 free) are the top seeds in those events.

The 200  fly will provide a contrast, where Noe Ponti will be aiming to claim a third gold medal after being on the wrong end of a close race with Maxime Grousset in the 100 fly last night.
Ponti won the 100 IM two days ago by 0.01 seconds, while Grousset won the 100 fly by the same margin. Alberto Razzetti is the top seed, however.

The women’s event sees Irish record-holder Ellen Walshe leading the field by nearly a second over Finnish Record holder Laura Lahtinen.

We will end with the women’s 1500 free, where Isabel Gose is going for a distance triple crown after winning the 400 and 800 so far, but has an in-form Simona Quadarella to contend with. The Italian, a world silver medalist this summer, broke Federica Pellegrini’s 400 free record on Day 1 and her own 800 free Italian record last night.

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• WR: 25.23 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)
• WJR: 25.95 – Mizuki Hirai, JPN (2025)
• ER: 25.60 – Kira Toussaint/Maria Kameneva, HUN /RUS (2020/2022)
• EJR: 26.03 – Sara Curtis (ITA) – 2024
• CR: 25.70 – Sanja Jovanovic, CRO (2009)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Sara Curtis (ITA) – 25.97 Q
2. Lauren Cox (GBR) – 26.15 Q
3. Analia Pigree (FRA) – 26.39 Q
4. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 26.51 Q
5. Alice Velden (SWE) – 26.59 Q
6. Hanna Rosvall (SWE) – 26.63
7. Maike de Waard (NED)/Tessa Giele (NED) – 26.64 Q
8. –
9. Lora Komoroczy (HUN) – 26.68 Q
10. Martine Damborg (DEN) – 26.88 Q
11. Fanny Teihonsalo (FIN) – 26.98 Q
12. Victoria Bierre (DEN) – 27.03 Q
13. Kalia Antoniou (CYP) – 27.04 Q
14. Julie Kepp Jensen (DEN) – 27.06
15. Angelina Patt (SUI) – 27.09 Q
16. Adela Piskorska (POL) – 27.27 Q
17. Carmen Weiler Sastre (ESP) – 27.36 Q
18. Camila Rodrigues Rebelo (POR) – 27.37 Q

Sara Curtis showed off her sprinting prowess with a brand new Italian record out of heat 3, taking her own mark under 26 seconds for the first time. She sliced 0.06 from her previous best to take the heat win by over half a second, getting out in front by 25 and storming home with the fastest second 25 of anyone.

Lauren Cox backed up her 100 back title from last night by taking the win in heat 2 in a new best of 26.15, just 0.02 away from Georgia Davies’ British record of 26.13. Cox is the long course British record holder in this event and looks well placed to take the short course record tonight.

Martine Damborg made it through in 10th after her European Junior heroics in the 100 fly last night, with 200 back champ Carmen Weiler Sastre sneaking through to the semi-finals, thanks to Hanna Rosvall and Julie Kepp Jensen missing our due to the ‘2 per nation’ rule.

MEN’s 50 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• WR: 22.11 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2022)
• WJR: 22.47  – Miron Lifintsev, RUS (2024)
• ER: 22.11 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2022)
• EJR: 22.47  – Miron Lifintsev, RUS (2024)
• CR: 22.47 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2021)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) – 22.86 Q
2. Miroslav Knedla (CZE) – 22.94 Q
3. Robert Pedersen (DEN) – 23.18 Q
4. Ollie Morgan (GBR) – 23.19 Q
5. Francesco Lazzari (ITA) – 23.21 Q
6. Ole Braunschweig (GER) – 23.27 Q
7. Lucien Vergnes (FRA) – 23.29 Q
8. Lorenzo Mora (ITA) – 23.30 Q
9. Mantas Kauspedas (LTU) – 23.31 Q
10. Mewen Tomac (FRA) – 23.34 Q
11. Aleksander Stys (POL) – 23.38 Q
12. Thierry Bollin (SUI) – 23.39 Q
13. Denis Laurean Popescu (ROU) – 23.42 Q
14. Ivan Martinez Sota (ESP) – 23.46 Q
15. Ksawery Masiuk (POL) – 23.53 Q
16. Vincent Passek (GER) – 23.64 Q

The top finisher in the men’s heats matched Curtis in the women’s and also broke their national record. Ralf Tribuntsov sliced 0.05 from the 22.91 he posted earlier this fall, eking out the heat win over Mirosla Knedla by less than a tenth.

Those were the only two swimmers to crack 23 seconds this morning, with Denmark’s Robert Pedersen sneaking under his national record by 0.02 to take third overall in 23.18. Ollie Morgan continued his great week by taking fourth in a new best of 23.19, a tenth off Chris Walker-Hebborn’s British record.

The 2023 gold medalist was down in 10th, Mewen Tomac posting 23.34, as his fellow medalists Ole Braunschweig (6th), Lorenzo Mora (8th) and Thierry Bollin (12th) also made it through.

Francesco Lazzari made it third time lucky in fifth, making his first semi-final of the meet after falling victim to the ‘2 per nation’ rule in both the 100 back and 50 fly.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• WR: 28.37 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2022)
• WJR: 28.81 – Ruta Meilutyte/Benedetta Pilato, LTU/ITA (2014/2020)
• ER: 28.37 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2022)
• EJR: 28.81 – Ruta Meilutyte/Benedetta Pilato, LTU/ITA (2014/2020)
• CR: 28.86 – Benedetta Pilato, ITA (2023)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Eneli Jefimova (EST) – 29.48 Q
2. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 29.64 Q
3. Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 29.69 Q
4. Veera Kivirinta (FIN) – 29.73 Q
5. Sophie Hansson (SWE) – 29.78 Q
6. Dominika Sztandera (POL) – 29.82 Q
7. Florine Gaspard (BEL) – 29.85 Q
8. Barbara Mazurkiewicz (POL) – 29.93 Q
9. Frida Stretere Loebersli (NOR) – 29.95 Q
10. Anna Elendt (GER) – 29.98 Q
11. Olivia Klint Ipsa (SWE)/ Egle Salu (EST) – 30.19 Q
12. –
13. Tara Vovk (SLO) – 30.21 Q
14. Irene Burato (ITA) – 30.22 Q
15. Angharad Evans (GBR) – 30.31 Q
16. Diana Petkova (BUL) – 30.35 Q

Eneli Jefimova made it two Estonian top seeds in three events this morning as she led the women’s 50 breast heats by nearly two tenths of a second. She posted 29.48 this morning, although turned in 29,54 in her Championship Record-setting 100 breast on Wednesday, so can be much faster tonight.

2021 World short course champion Anastasia Gorbenko was second in 29.64, just ahead of World Record holder Ruta Meilutyte in 29.69. Meilutyte was the slowest of the heat winners, as only four women progressed out of the final heat.

Belgian 100 breast silver medalist Florine Gaspard was 7th in 29.85, with ten women breaking 30 seconds this morning. That included 200 breast champion Anna Elendt, while Jefimova was joined by her compatriot Egle Salu in the semi-finals.

Angharad Evans snuck through after her 200 breast silver last night, the main beneficiary of the slower final heat after she added four tenths to her entry time of 29.92.

The bronze medalist from last night, Lithuania’s Kotryna Teterevkova, was a no show in heat 4.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• WR: 24.95 – Emre Sakci, TUR (2021)
• WJR: 25.66 – Chris Smith, RSA (2024)
• ER: 24.95 – Emre Sakci, TUR (2021)
• EJR: 25.85 – Simone Cerasuolo, ITA (2021)
• CR: 25.25 – Ilya Shymanovich, BLR (2021)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Simone Cerasuolo (ITA) – 25.52 Q
2. Emre Sakci (TUR)/Nicolo Martinenghi – 25.84 Q
3. –
4. Ludovico Art Viberti (ITA) – 25.89
5. Melvin Imoudu (GER) – 26.06 Q
6. Koen de Groot (NED) – 26.13
7. Carles Coll Marti (ESP) – 26.22
8. Jorgen Scheie Braathe (NOR) – 26.27
9. Jonas Gaur (DEN) – 26.32
10. Jan Malte Grafe (GER) – 26.35
11. Valentin Bayer (AUT) – 26.37
12. Daniel Kertes (SWE) – 26.38
13. Gabrile Mancini (ITA)/Andrius Sidlauskas (LTU) – 26.41 Q (Sidlauskas only)
14. –
15. Jan Kalusowski (POL) – 26.43 Q
16. Jason Van Den Berg (NED)/ Eudald Tarrats Vilaro (ESP) – 26.52 Q
17. –
18. Volodymer Lisovets (UKR) – 26.55 Q

Four Italians in the top 11 entries meant that we saw some rapid swims this morning, with Simone Cerasuolo taking no chances as the first of those four to swim. He blasted to a new best of 25.52 to win heat 5 by half a second, slicing a tenth off his previous mark and becoming the joint-11th fastest swimmer in history.

Italian Record holder Nicolo Martinenghi and Ludovico Viberti were locked in razor-thin battle in the final heat, with Olympic champ Martinenghi getting the win by just 0.05 seconds in 25.84. Viberti will be left out of the semi-finals tonight due to the ‘2 per nation’ rule despite finishing 4th in 25.89 – faster than it took to win bronze in 2023.

Emre Sakci won heat 6 in 25.84 to match Martinenghi’s time, with only the aforementioned four swimmers breaking 26 seconds this morning.

Caspar Corbeau no showed the event after taking silver in the 200 breast last night, the event in which he is the world record holder. He was reportedly ill the two nights ago, which may explain his absence here. Countryman Arno Kamminga also skipped the event after placing 8th in that 200 breast final.

Melvin Imoudu was 5th in 26.06, just ahead of 100 finalist Koen de Groot in 26.13. Carles Coll Marti broke the Spanish record for the second time this meet in 26.22, after setting the former mark of 26.28 on his 50 split in the 100 breast heats on Tuesday.

Long Course World Junior Record holder Jan Malte Grafe made it through in 10th, having been pushed out of the 100 breast and 200 breast thanks to the ‘2 per nation’ rule.

Luka Mladenovic, who has set Austrian records en route to taking bronze in both the 100 breast and 200 breast, missed out on the semi-finals this morning by just 0.03 seconds, touching in 26.58. Filip Nowacki, the European Junior record holder in the 200, was just behind in 26.59.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• WR: 22.83 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
• WJR: 23.66 – Eva Okaro, GBR (2024)
• ER: 22.93 – Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED (2017)
• EJR: 23.66 – Eva Okaro, GBR (2024)
• CR: 23.12 – Sarah Sjostroem, SWE (2021)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Sara Curtis (ITA) – 23.45 Q
2. Kasia Wasick (POL) – 23.47 Q
3. Silvia di Pietro (ITA) – 23.70 Q
4. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 23.80 Q
5. Valerie van Roon (NED) – 23.84 Q
6. Jana Pavalic (CRO) – 23.90 Q
7. Eva Okaro (GBR) – 23.96 Q
8. Florine Gaspard (BEL) – 24.05 Q
9. Kornelia Fiedkiewicz (POL) – 24.07 Q
10. Milou van Wijk (NED) – 24.10 Q
11. Neza Klancar (SLO) – 24.15 Q
12. Barbara Janickova (CZE) – 24.16 Q
13. Kalia Antoniou (CYP) – 24.18 Q
14. Petra Senanszky (HUN)/Agata Ambler (ITA) – 24.19 Q (Senanszky only)
15. –
16. Daryna Nabojcenko (CZE) – 24.28 Q
17. Lilla Minna Abraham (HUN)/Julie Kepp Jensen (DEN) – 24.29 *SWIM-OFF*

Sara Curtis took her second top seed of the session, claiming top spot in the 50 free in a huge new best of 23.45 out of the final heat. She beat out Poland’s defending champion Kasia Wasick, who was just 0.02 seconds behind in 23.47.

Curtis’ time was two tenths faster than the Italian record prior to these championships, but that mark currently belongs to 3rd-place finished Silvia di Pietro. She was 23.70 here, just off the 23.39 she posted when leading off the silver medal-winning 4×50 free relay on Day 1.

There were seven women under the 24 second mark in total, including World Junior Record holder and current Texas Longhorn Eva Okaro. There was a new Croatian record for Jana Pavalic in 6th as she clocked 23.90, while Valeri Van Roon backed up her rapid relay splits so far with a new best of 23.84.

Florine Gaspard made it into the top eight after doing so in the 50 breast heats in the event before, while USC Lilla Minna Abraham made it into a swim-off for the final spot swimming out of heat 1. She posted a new best of 24.29 to tie with Julie Kepp Jensen, although may not swim it as she has the 100 final tonight where she is the #2 seed.

*Update: Abraham scratched tonight’s semi-finals, so there will be no swim off for the final spot. Julie Kepp Jensen makes it through, with Martine Damborg now the 2nd reserve*

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• WR: 19.90 – Jordan Crooks, CAY (2024)
• WJR: 20.84 – Nikita Sheremet, UKR (2025)
• ER: 20.18 – Ben Proud, GBR (2023)
• EJR: 20.84 – Nikita Sheremet, UKR (2025)
• CR: 20.18 – Ben Proud, GBR (2023)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Leonardo Deplano (ITA) – 20.98 Q
2. Jere Hribar (CRO)/ Heiko Gigler (AUT) – 21.00 Q
3. –
4. Maxime Grousset (FRA) – 21.06 Q
5. Nikita Sheremet (UKR) – 21.08 Q
6. Szebastian Szabo (HUN) – 21.15 Q
7. Lorenzo Zazzeri (ITA) – 21.18 Q
8. Adam Jaszo (HUN) – 21.20 Q
9. Sergio de Celis Montalban (ESP)/Daniel Zaitsev (EST) – 21.21 Q
10. –
11. Luka Hoek le Guenedal (ESP)/Matej Dusa (SVK) – 21.23 Q
12. –
13. Brandon van den Berg (NED) – 21.27
14. Kenzo Simons (NED) – 21.28
15. Luka Cvetko (CRO) – 21.32
16. Piotr Ludwiczak (POL) – 21.33

A cut-throat men’s 50 free prelims saw the top 16 qualifiers separated by just 0.35 seconds, with Italy’s Leonardo Deplano leading the way in 20.98. He was the only man under 21 seconds this morning, with Croatia’s Jere Hribar and Austria’s Heiko Gigler tied for 2nd in 21.00 jsut behind.

Gigler cracked the Austrian record for the second time this week after posting a time of 21.06 leading off the 4×50 free relay, while Hribar was 20.70 also leading off that relay on Tuesday.

Top entrant Maxime Grousset was 4th in 21.06, with Ukraine’s newly-minted World Junior Record holder Nikita Sheremet posting 21.08 for his second-fastest time ever, and his third swim of 21.1-or-better this week.

Lorenzo Zazzeri was the second Italia through in 21.18, while Spain got both their swimmers through as national record holder Luka Hoek le Guenedal was 21.23 and Sergio de Celis Montalban was 21.21.

Ralf Tribuntsov was a no show after taking the top seed in the 50 back at the start of the session, a big name to be missing after he was 20.77 leading off Estonia’s 4×50 free relay in the heats. His compatriot Daniel Zaitsev did make it through here however, clocking a new best of 21.21.

The World long course champion in this event back at Doha 2024, Vladyslav Bukhov, was the biggest name to miss out as he was equal-23rd in 21.48

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• WR: 1:59.32 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• WJR: 1:59.32 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• ER: 2:01.86 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2014)
• EJR: 2:04.55 – Lana Pudar, BIH (2023)
• CR: 2:01.52 – Mireia Belmonte, ESP (2013)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Helena Rosendahl Bach (DEN) – 2:06.12
2. Emily Richards (GBR) – 2:06.26
3. Paola Borrelli (ITA) – 2:09.78
4. Sarah Dumont (BEL) – 2:10.56
5. Ellen Walshe (IRL) – 2:10.63
6. Laura Canda Ilyes (HUN) – 2:10.74
7. Anita Gastaldi (ITA) – 2:10.88
8. Laura Cabanes Garzas (ESP) – 2:11.25
9. Georgia Damasioti (GRE) – 2:11.39
10. Katja Fain (SLO) – 2:12.06
11. Tea Winblad (SWE) – 2:12.41
12. Mariana Pacheco Cunha (POR) – 2:13.40
13. Evy Rozeboom (NED) – 2:14.42
14. Laura Lahtinen (FIN) – 2:14.63
15. Kamma Rasmussen (DEN) – 2:15.03
16. Angelina Koehler (GER) – 2:15.48

This was a slightly strange pair of heats, as Panna Ugrai’s no show meant that all 16 swimmers would make it through to the semi-finals as long as they finished the race legally.

While we can take these results with a pinch of salt, with 2023 champion Angelina Kohler down in 16th after cruising to a time of 2:15.48, we had a pair of swimmers take it out hard in the second heat.

Helena Rosendahl Bach, the 2024 long course European champion, and former World Junior Champion Emily Richards (nee Large) touched in nearly identical 2:06s, more than three seconds clear of the field.

None of the other favorites showed their hand with the top two seeds, Ellen Walshe and Laura Lahtinen, clocking times eight seconds and 11 seconds, respectively, off their best times.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• WR: 1:46.85 – Tomoru Honda, JPN (2022)
• WJR: 1:49.61 – Chen Juner, CHN (2022)
• ER: 1:48.64 – Alberto Razzeti, ITA (2024)
• EJR: 1:51.84 – Krzysztof Chmielewski, POL (2021)
• CR: 1:49.00 – Laszlo Cseh, HUN (2015)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Krzysztof Chmielewski (POL) – 1:50.93 Q
2. Michal Chmielewski (POL) – 1:50.94 Q
3. Adrian Jaskiewicz (POL) – 1:51.80
4. Noe Ponti (SUI) – 1:52.34 Q
5. Miguel Martinez Novoa (ESP) – 1:52.73 Q
6. Kregor Zirk (EST) – 1:52.98 Q
7. Arbidel Gonzalez Alvarez (ESP) – 1:53.32 Q
8. Richard Marton (HUN) – 1:53.60 Q
9. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 1:53.62 Q
10. Federico Burdisso (ITA) – 1:53.91 Q
11. Denys Kesil (UKR) – 1:54.00 Q
12. Ihor Troianovskyi (UKR) – 1:54.54 Q
13. Jack Cassin (IRL) – 1:54.71 Q
14. Ondrej Gemov (CZE) – 1:54.78 Q
15. Samuel Kostal (SVK) – 1:55.27 Q
16. Luke Greenbank (GBR) – 1:55.52 Q
17. Apostolos Siskos (GRE)/Ilan Gagnebin (SUI) – 1:55.61 *SWIM-OFF*

The first of the circle-seeded heats saw a trio of home nation swimmers battling for the two available semi-final spots. Krzysztof Chmielewski, Michal Chmielewski, and Adrian Jaskiewicz were locked in a battle right to the touch, with Krzysztof Chmieleski just edging Jasiewicz through the first 150.

Krzystof’s brother Michal was over a second behind with 50 to go, but scorched home in 27.66 to touch just a hundredth behind the leader. A phenomenal last underwater allowed him to blast past Jaskiewicz, who was also forced out of the 100 fly semis after finishing as the third-fastest Polish swimmer.

Noe Ponti cruised to the win in the next heat, before Kregor Zirk, Spaniard Miguel Martinez Novoa and European Record holder Alberto Razzetti were the class of the final heat.

Poland, Ukraine, Spain and Italy each a pair of swimmers into the semi-finals tonight, and may be joined in that achievement by Switzerland. Apostolos Siskos and Ilan Gagnebin tied for 17th, but due to Jaskiewicz not being eligible for the semi-final, will swim off for the final spot.

Luke Greenbank, more often spotted swimming backstroke and the 4th-place finisher in the 200 back here in Lublin, snuck through as the 15th qualifier tonight. He hacked six seconds off his previous best to go 1:55.52, with solid 55.37/1:00.15 splits.

WOMEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE– PRELIMS

• WR: 15:08.24 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2022)
• WJR: 15:42.05 – Katie Grimes, USA (2022)
• ER: 15:18.01 – Sarah Koehler, GER (2019)
• EJR: 15:42.14 – Ksenia Misharina, RUS (2025)
• CR: 15:18.30 – Anastasia Kirpichnikova, FRA (2020)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Simona Quadarella (ITA) – 15:48.82
2. Maria de Valdes Alvarez (ESP) – 15:55.74
3. Angela Martinez Guilen (ESP) – 15:58.36
4. Ajna Kesely (HUN) – 15:59.65
5. Artemis Vasilaki (GRE) – 16:04.47
6. Bra Hovda (NOR) – 16:06.24
7. Maya Werner (GER) – 16:08.32
8. Marta Hieke van der Kamp – 16:08.41

Simona Quadarella led the way in the heats of the women’s 1500 free, cruising to a solid time of 15:48.82. That led the field by seven seconds ahead of Spain’s Maria Alvarez, and comes in 18 seconds off her best time from the World Short Course Championships last summer.

Spain went 2-3, with Alvarez joined by Angela Martinez Guillen. Ajne Kesely was the final woman under 16 minutes, while Maya Werer made it through in seventh out of the unseeded heat 1.

Werner, the 800 free bronze medalist here, had a nervous wait through the subsequent heats but qualified by just under two seconds. Lisa Pou of Monaco and Anna Kalandadze of Georgia both set national records as they finished 10th and 11th.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – SEMI-FINALS SWIM-OFF

• WR: 44.84 – Kyle Chalmers, AUS (2021)
• WJR: 45.64 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
• ER: 44.94 – Amaury Leveaux, FRA (2008)
• EJR: 45.64 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
• CR: 44.94 – Amaury Leveaux, FRA (2008)

Results:

1. Matt Richards – 46.16
2. Nandor Nemeth (HUN) – 46.30

It looed as though a second swim-off may be required, with just 0.09 seconds splitting the pair of Matt Richards and Nandor Nemeth at the halfway point. Richards ever so slightly stretched the lead as they flipped for the final length, and held on to take the win by 0.14 seconds.

He dropped a just under a tenth from his semi-final time yesterday, while Nemeth added 0.07 seconds. Both were out slightly slower tonight than they were in their semi-final swims, but closed under 24 seconds this morning.

Both Richards (45.85) and Nemeth (46.08) are their countries respective national record holders, and neither were too far away from their marks today. Richards will progress to tonight’s final, his first of the meet after being bumped from the 200 free final as the third-fastest Brit.