2021 Helsinki Swim Meet
- Apr. 22-23, 2021
- Helsinki, FIN
- FINA Olympic Qualifying Standards
- Live Results
- Day 1 Prelims/Day 1 Finals/Day 2 Prelims
After becoming the No. 15 European performer all-time in the 200 breast on Thursday, Finland’s Matti Mattsson broke his second national record in the 100 breast to close out the 2021 Helsinki Swim Meet. Mattson shaved just 0.11s off his former record of 1:00.57 from late March in Jyväskylä, Finland. Mattsson defeated German Marco Koch (1:01.16) and Austrian Christopher Rothbauer (1:01.23) in the process of his lifetime best performance. Mattsson now ranks among the all-time top 80 European performers list.
Also winning a breaststroke event for Finland was Ida Hulkko, who won the women’s 50 breast final at 30.80 after setting a season best of 30.73 in prelims. Hulkko’s former season best was 30.77 from the December 2020 Kuopio Invitational. She now ranks within the top-15 times in the world this season. Separated by two one-hundredths behind Hulkko were country-mates Jenna Laukkanen (31.59) and Veera Kivirinta (31.61).
Hungary’s Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu was also in action with her three finals swims on Friday evening. Hosszu first walked away with two wins in her signature 400 IM event (4:45.59) and the 200 fly (2:12.60). Currently, Hosszu ranks 11th in the world in both events for the 2020-2021 season. Earlier this month in Stockholm, Hosszu swam 4:38.85 in the 400 IM while her 2:08.45 fly season best took the 2021 Hungarian national title in late March.
Then, Hosszu faced Finland’s Mimosa Jallow in the 50 fly after 600 meters of finals racing. After winning the 100 back at 1:00.61, it was Jallow who won the 50 fly final by a 1.1s margin at 26.57. Hosszu just touched out Finland’s Susanne Hirovonen for second place by 0.06s, 27.67 to 27.73.
Hosszu’s Post-Session Interview
Hungarians David Verraszto and Peter Bernek closed out the session with their 800 free timed final. Verraszto took the win at 8:17.02 followed by Bernek’s runner-up swim of 8:24.69. Previously in the session, Verraszto won the 200 IM at 2:00.23 while Bernek won the 200 back at 2:01.43.
More Day Two Winners:
- Women’s 100 Free: Michelle Coleman (SWE), 54.53
- Men’s 200 Free: Balasz Hollo (HUN), 1:50.07
- Men’s 100 Fly: Niko Makela (FIN), 54.62
- Men’s 50 Back: Richard Bohus (HUN), 25.36
- Women’s 400 Free: Evelin Verraszto (HUN), 4:23.94
- Men’s 50 Free: Ari-Pekka Likkonen (FIN), 21.92
- Women’s 200 Breast: Eszter Bekesi (HUN), 2:27.54
