- April 13-17, Bellahøj Swimming Stadium
- Prelims: 10 a.m local time (4 am EST)
- Finals: 17:30 local time (11:30 EST)
- Live results
- Psych sheets
- Live scoreboard
- Olympic Qualifying Times/Selection Criteria
The Bellahøj Swimming Stadium was packed to the brim for the first event of the night. Four Olympic spots were on the line, with the men’s 4×200 relay pre-qualified on the basis of Kazan, but the swimmers on that relay yet to be determined. Still, where there was excitement there was also anxiety: could Denmark get four good swims or would someone limp their way onto the squad. Thankfully, the race delivered and the lineup for Rio is almost certainly closed.
Men’s 200 Freestyle
The Danish selection procedure designated the four fastest swimmers from Kazan, this meet and the European Championship. With Kazan over and the Euro meet also being selected here, this was really the race for the Olympic spots.
In all six men made a legitimate charge for the spots. Anders Lie, after falling apart on the final 50 of his morning swim, swam a much better paced race and was well ahead of the rest of the Danish competitors at 1:48.29. The next five all finished within a half second of each other. Daniel Skaaning, who least needed to swim fast here given that he had a fairly safe time on record from Kazan, tucked in behind Nielsen at 1:49.10. He was nearly caught on the final 50 by Soeren Dahl, who swam a 1:48.9 in the morning but was slightly slower tonight (1:49.12).
Magnus Westermann had the best swim of his senior swimming career, storming home in 26.8 to beat out young Marcus Svendsen and Anton Ipsen. He secured the final spot in 1:49.20
Paul Biedermann, largely ignored by the Danish fans, easily outpaced everyone to win in 1:47.37
Top three times:
- Paul Biedermann, Germany 1:47.37
- Anders Lie, Farum 1:48.29
- Daniel Skaaning, VAT 1:49.10
Women’s 400 Freestyle
Monique Olivier made it two foreigners in a row as she led the entire race to win in 4:15.96. She was just over her own National record for Luxembourg. Lise Duus was the top Danish finisher, in what has been a nice comeback year for her. She trailed Anina Lund halfway through but closed the race in 1:03.4 to Lund’s 1:04.3.
Top three finishers
- Monique Olivier, Luxembourg 4:15.95
- Lise Duus, SIGMA 4:18.86
- Anina Lund, SIGMA 4:20.00
Men’s 100 Butterfly
Viktor Bromer took his second fly title of the competition on the strength of a 27.9 back half. Although a couple swimmers went out with him in the field, no one could match that second lap speed. Bromer still needs a second to best Jakob Andkjaer’s national record of 52.09 from 2009.
Magnus Jakupsson, who’s underwater swimming was the best in the field, needed every inch of that advantage to hold off Magnus Poulsen for second place.
Top three finishers
- Viktor Bromer, Aalborg 53.09
- Magnus Jakupsson, Farum 54.57
- Magnus Poulsen, Herlev 54.71
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
Rikke Møller Pedersen incited some gasps when she took this race out faster than her 100 from earlier in the competition. Her 1:07.12 actually put her under her own world record pace. Pedersen struggled quite a bit coming home, and ultimately settled on 2:24.86 for a final time. That still put her nearly nine seconds ahead of her next best competitor.
Top three finishers:
- Rikke Møller Pedersen, Holbaek 2:24.86
- Anna Wermuth, Odense 2:33.26
- Sara Kristofferson, Sigma 2:33.99
Men’s 50 Breaststroke
Visiting George Bovell claimed another sprint title. Bovell used his size advantage from the very start, and swam in clean water the whole way. His winning time of 28.01 was a meet record.
Tobias Bjerg, medalist at last summer’s European Games, put up a good 28.3 for second.
Top three finishers
- George Bovell, Trinidad and Tobago 28.01
- Tobias Bjerg, Aarhus 28.30
- Christian Rasmussen, Odense 28.78
Women’s 200 Backstroke
Sarah Bro won easily but also came up well short of the Olympic qualifying time. She will now have to await possible relay selection in London or beyond.
Also performing quite well in this field was Signhild Joensen, the top Faroese junior who actually bested all her Danish junior competitors.
Top three finishers
- Sarah Bro, Gentofte 2:14.26
- Anna Nielsen, Lyngby 2:17.84
- Laura Jensen, Viborg 2:18.53
