32-Year-Old Ari-Pekka Liukkonen on Taking Euro Champ 50 Free Title: “Finally”

  7 Coleman Hodges | May 24th, 2021

2021 European Championships

10 May 2021 – 23 May 2021

2021 LEN EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Reported by James Sutherland.

MEN’S 50 FREE FINAL

  • European Record: 20.94, Frederick Bousquet (FRA), 2009
  • European Championship Record: 21.11, Ben Proud (GBR), 2018
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 22.01
  1. Ari-Pekka Liukkonen (FIN), 21.61
  2. Ben Proud (GBR), 21.69
  3. Kristian Gkolomeev (GRE), 21.73

In the tightly contested men’s 50 free final, Finland’s Ari-Pekka Liukkonen had the power over the closing meters, inching ahead of the field to win the gold medal in a time of 21.61.

Liukkonen, 32, falls .03 shy of his National Record set in 2017, and moves into third in the world this season. The Finn was the bronze medalist back in 2014.

2018 champion Ben Proud got in for silver in 21.69, his third straight medal in the event and good for fifth in the world this season.

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Riccardo
3 years ago

This man is a trailblazer!

Troll in the Dungeon
3 years ago

Proud is already 2nd in the world this season with his 21.42 from British Selection Trials.

Joris Bohnson
Reply to  Troll in the Dungeon
3 years ago

He can B.proud of his performance

Swimmer
Reply to  Joris Bohnson
3 years ago

You can B. proud of your comment

small bird
3 years ago

go check out his start. pilczuk reminiscent

jfigols
Reply to  small bird
3 years ago

Not even a single dolphin kick…

M Palota
Reply to  jfigols
3 years ago

Dammedest thing to see! I can not understand how he’s not figured out underwaters!