2021 European Championships: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2021 LEN EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Swimming: Monday, May 17th – Sunday, May 23rd, 2021
• Budapest, Hungary
• Prelims at 10:00 am local/Finals at 6:00 pm local
• Event Site
• Entry List
• Live Results
• Live Stream

Seven sessions down, seven sessions to go.

As we move through the halfway point of the swimming competition at the 2021 European Championships in Budapest, the Russians occupy the lead in the medal table with five golds – all from the men – while Italy has the most total medals with 10.

Day 4 finals will have medals on the line in the women’s 200 fly and 200 free, the men’s 100 back, 200 breast and 200 IM, and the mixed 400 medley relay – an Olympic event for this time this year.

Boglarka Kapas leads the women’s 200 fly field into the final as she looks to defend her title, while fellow Hungarian Katinka Hosszu will be looking for her third title in the event after winning back-to-back in 2010 and 2012.

Federica Pellegrini headlines the women’s 200 free, seeking a fifth gold medal in the event, as she’ll look to dethrone defending Charlotte Bonnet of France. Pellegrini won four straight from 2010 to 2016 before not competing in the event in Glasgow. Flying under the radar is top seed Barbora Seemanova of the Czech Republic.

On the men’s side, Anton Chupkov and Jeremy Desplanches have the opportunity to repeat in the 200 breast and 200 IM, respectively, while 2018 silver medalist Evgeny Rylov may be the favorite after his Russian teammate and defending champion Kliment Kolesnikov failed to qualify for the final. Kolesnikov placed 16th in the semis in 54.86 shortly after winning the 100 free on Wednesday.

Great Britain is in position to defend their title in the mixed 400 medley relay, having won all three editions of the event at the European Championships since its inception in 2014. Their prelim squad included Adam Peaty splitting a blazing 57.63 on breaststroke.

The Brits lineup in finals will feature Kathleen Dawson, Peaty, James Guy and Anna Hopkin, notably leaving off Freya Anderson who will have the 200 free final earlier in the session.

Kolesnikov will lead-off for Russia, with Yuliya Efimova getting the nod on breaststroke and Andrei Minakov and Maria Kameneva rounding out the roster that should challenge for gold.

Women’s 200 Fly Final

• European Record: 2:04.27, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2009
• European Championship Record: 2:04.79, Mireia Belmonte (ESP), 2014
• FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:08.43

1. Boglarka Kapas (HUN), 2:06.50
2. Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2:08.14
3. Svetlana Chimrova (RUS), 2:08.55

Boglarka Kapas assumed control of the women’s 200 fly final on the second 50 and cruised to victory in a time of 2:06.50, successfully defending her title from 2018.

Kapas shoots up from fourth to second in the 2020-21 world rankings, improving on her season-best of 2:06.85 set in March.

Katinka Hosszu charged home on the final 50 to snag the silver medal in 2:08.14, giving her a new season-best as the Hungarians go 1-2. This is Hungary’s third 1-2 finish in the last six championships, also doing so in 2010 and 2012 (when Hosszu won).

2018 silver medalist Svetlana Chimrova came in for the bronze in 2:08.55.

Men’s 100 Back Final

• European Record: 52.11, Camille Lacourt (FRA), 2010
• European Championship Record: 52.11, Camille Lacourt (FRA), 2010
• FINA ‘A’ Cut: 53.85

1. Robert Glinta (ROU), 52.88
2. Hugo Gonzalez (ESP), 52.90
3. Apostolos Christou (GRE) / Yohann Ndoye Brouard (FRA), 52.97

Romanian Robert Glinta charged down the last few meters to emerge victorious in a razor-thin men’s 100 backstroke final, edging Spaniard Hugo Gonzalez by .02 to win the gold medal in a time of 52.88.

Glinta’s swim lowers his Romanian National Record for the third time this week, having been 52.97 yesterday, and is also Romania’ first European champion since 2004 and their first-ever male champion

Gonzalez puts up a blistering 52.90 PB for silver, closing in a blazing 26.98 while Apostolos Christou and Yohann Ndoye Brouard tie for the bronze in 52.97.

Brouard’s French teammate Mewen Tomac was fifth in 53.00, and Italian Thomas Ceccon (53.02) rounds out an incredibly tight top six, separated by just 14 one hundredths.

Luke Greenbank successfully adds this event to his Olympic program in 53.34 for seventh, while 2018 silver medalist and one of the fastest men in history, Evgeny Rylov, fell to eighth in 53.51.

Women’s 100 Back Semi-Finals

• European Record: 58.12, Gemma Spofforth (GBR), 2009
• European Championship Record: 58.73, Mie Nielsen (DEN), 2016
• FINA ‘A’ Cut: 1:00.25

1. Kathleen Dawson (GBR), 58.44 CR
2. Kira Toussaint (NED), 58.73
3. Maria Kameneva (RUS), 59.30
4. Margherita Panziera (ITA), 59.53
5. Cassie Wild (GBR), 59.75
6. Maaike De Waard (NED), 59.76
7. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR), 59.78
8. Anastasia Fesikova (RUS), 1:00.00

Kathleen Dawson threw down a new European Championship Record in the second semi-final of the women’s 100 back, clocking 58.44 to finish just two tenths shy of her best time set last month.

Dawson breaks the previous CR of 58.73, set by Denmark’s Mie Nielsen in 2016 and matched by Kira Toussaint in the first semi.

Toussaint’s 58.73 showing is within a tenth of her Dutch National Record of 58.65, set in April, while Russia’s Maria Kameneva qualifies third overall in a solid 59.30.

Dawson (29.89) and Kameneva (29.93) were the only two swimmers sub-30 on the second 50, while Toussaint (28.43) had the most front-end speed.

Anastasia Gorbenko rebroke her Israeli Record in 59.78 for seventh.

Men’s 200 Free Semi-Finals

• European Record: 1:42.00, Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009 – WR
• European Championship Record: 1:44.89, Pieter van den Hoogenband (NED), 2002
• FINA ‘A’ Cut: 1:47.02

1. Martin Malyutin (RUS), 1:45.60
2. Duncan Scott (GBR), 1:46.15
3. Tom Dean (GBR), 1:46.17
4. Danas Rapsys (LTU), 1:46.19
5. Antonio Djakovic (SUI), 1:46.26
6. Robin Hanson (SWE), 1:46.50
7. Kristof Milak (HUN), 1:46.77
8. Velimir Stjepanovic (SRB), 1:47.08

We’ve seen it all week – Martin Malyutin coming on like a train at the end of races to get his hand on the wall first.

The 21-year-old Russian did it again in the second semi of the men’s 200 free, clocking a time of 1:45.60 to qualify first into tomorrow’s final – closing in 26.24. Malyutin established a best time of 1:45.15 leading off the 800 free relay on Wednesday.

Defending champion Duncan Scott (1:46.15) was second in the heat, and his British teammate Tom Dean (1:46.17) was third, qualifying them in the same positions for the final.

2018 silver medalist Danas Rapsys emerged out of the first semi in 1:46.19, qualifying fourth overall. Robin Hanson set a new Swedish Record in 1:46.50, and Kristof Milak charged home in 26.38 for third in the heat in 1:46.77.

It ended up being a razor-thin battle for the last few spots into the final, with Serbian Velimir Stjepanovic claiming the final spot in 1:47.08. The next four finishers were within a tenth of him.

Women’s 200 Breast Semi-Finals

• European Record: 2:19.11, Rikke Moeller Pedersen (DEN), 2013 – WR
• European Championship Record: 2:19.84, Rikke Moeller Pedersen (DEN), 2014
• FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:25.52

1. Molly Renshaw (GBR), 2:21.55
2. Abbie Wood (GBR), 2:21.86
3. Lisa Mamie (SUI), 2:23.15
4. Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS), 2:23.33
5. Yuliya Efimova (RUS), 2:23.56
6. Marina Garcia (ESP), 2:24.25
7. Jessica Vall (ESP), 2:24.50
8. Francesca Fangio (ITA), 2:24.56

The British duo of Molly Renshaw and Abbie Wood dominated the first semi of the women’s 200 breast, producing respective times of 2:21.55 and 2:21.86. The two of them ended up qualifying 1-2 for the final by a wide margin.

Renshaw sits second in the world this season at 2:20.89, the British Record, while Wood is fourth in 2:21.69.

Lisa Mamie smashed her Swiss Record by over a second in 2:23.15 to win the second semi, with Russians Evgeniia Chikunova (2:23.33) and Yuliya Efimova (2:23.56) were close behind to qualfiy fourth and fifth overall.

Men’s 50 Fly Semi-Finals

• European Record: 22.27, Andrii Govorov (UKR), 2018 – WR
• European Championship Record: 22.48, Andrii Govorov (UKR), 2018

1. Andrii Govorov (UKR), 22.97
2. Andrey Zhilkin (RUS), 23.02
3. Andrei Minakov (RUS) / Szebasztian Szabo (HUN), 23.10
4. –
5. Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 23.31
6. Nyls Korstanje (NED), 23.34
7. Piero Codia (ITA), 23.35
8. Konrad Czerniak (POL), 23.36

Two-time defending champion and world record holder Andrii Govorov was the lone man to crack 23 seconds in the 50 fly semis, coming in at 22.97 for the top seed.

Govorov is now third in the 2020-21 world rankings.

Andrey Zhilkin topped the first semi in 23.02 for second, while Andrei Minakov and Szebasztian Szabo dead-heated at 23.10 to share third overall.

Szabo is one of three men who have broken 23 this season, clocking 22.96 in December.

2014 gold medalist Florent Manaudou was among the notable names to miss the final, clocking 23.41 for 11th. There was also a tie between Maxime Grousset and Daniel Zaitsev for ninth in 23.39.

Women’s 200 Free Final

• European Record: 1:52.98, Federica Pellegrini (ITA), 2009
• European Championship Record: 1:54.95, Charlotte Bonnet (FRA), 2018
• FINA ‘A’ Cut: 1:57.28

1. Barbora Seemanova (CZE), 1:56.27
2. Federica Pellegrini (ITA), 1:56.29
3. Freya Anderson (GBR), 1:56.42

The women’s 200 free final turned out to be an unbelievable four-way battle all the way to the final touch, with Czech Republic’s Barbora Seemanova edging out the gold medal victory in a National Record time of 1:56.27.

Seemanova, who held the previous record at 1:56.96, is the first Czech women’s champion since 2012.

Seemanova and 2018 champion Charlotte Bonnet established themselves early in the race, sitting out front of the field, but Federica Pellegrini and Freya Anderson really turned on the jets down the stretch.

Pellegrini made one last charge in the closing meters, but Seemanova held her off and nipped her at the wall by .02, with the Italian taking silver in 1:56.29, marking her fifth medal in the event’s history.

Anderson snagged bronze in 1:56.42, getting by early leader Bonnet (1:56.55).

Men’s 200 Breast Final

• European Record: 2:06.12, Anton Chupkov (RUS), 2019
• European Championship Record: 2:06.80, Anton Chupkov (RUS), 2018
• FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:10.35

1. Anton Chupkov (RUS), 2:06.99
2. Arno Kamminga (NED), 2:07.35
3. Erik Persson (SWE), 2:07.66

Anton Chupkov roared through the field as he often does en route to successfully defended his title in the men’s 200 breast, turning sixth at the 100 (1:02.31) before closing in 1:04.68 (32.43/32.25) for a final time of 2:06.99.

The world record holder at 2:06.12, Chupkov has now broken the 2:07 mark five times (with two additional swims of 2:07.00). This swim ranks as the 14th-fastest of all-time. The Russian jumps up one spot, fourth to third, in the world rankings.

Arno Kamminga, who ranks #2 on that list thanks to a Dutch Record of 2:06.85 in December, moved up from fifth at the 150 to claim silver in 2:07.35, closing in a blazing 32.23.

Sweden’s Erik Persson dips under his National Record by almost two tenths in 2:07.66 for bronze, improving on his 2:07.85 that was first set in 2017 and then tied in the semi-finals.

Finland’s Matti Mattsson took charge of the race early and led through the 150 in 1:34.13, but faded coming home and ends up fourth in 2:08.48. He set a National Record of 2:08.26 in the semis.

Men’s 200 IM Final

• European Record: 1:55.18, Laszlo Cseh (HUN), 2009
• European Championship Record: 1:56.66, Laszlo Cseh (HUN), 2012
• FINA ‘A’ Cut: 1:59.67

1. Hugo Gonzalez (ESP), 1:56.76
2. Jeremy Desplanches (SUI), 1:56.95
3. Alberto Razzetti (ITA), 1:57.25

Hugo Gonzalez continues to perform unbelievably here in Budapest, closing in a scintillating 27.76 to win the men’s 200 IM in a time of 1:56.76.

Gonzalez demolishes his Spanish Record (1:58.03) by well over a second in 1:56.76, and falls just a tenth shy of the nine-year-old Championship Record. The 22-year-old now ranks fifth in the 2020-21 world rankings.

After veteran and five-time champion Laszlo Cseh took over the lead on the backstroke leg, 2018 winner Jeremy Desplanches took over the lead at the 150 with a 33.59 breast split, and Italian Alberto Razzetti was right there after splitting 32.99.

On free, Gonzalez moved up from fourth to win by two tenths, while Desplanches (1:56.95) and Razzetti (1:57.25) picked up silver and bronze.

Cseh was fourth in 1:58.04, an impressive result for the 35-year-old, and the other Hungarian, Hubert Kos, was fifth in 1:58.12 after setting a World Junior Record of 1:56.99 in the semis.

Current world #1 Duncan Scott ended up finishing sixth in 1:58.18.

Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay Final

• European Record: 3:40.18, Great Britain, 2018
• European Championship Record: 3:40.18, Great Britain, 2018

1. Great Britain, 3:38.82 ER
2. Netherlands, 3:41.28
3. Italy, 3:42.30

Great Britain remains undefeated at the European Championships in the mixed 400 medley relay, winning a fourth straight gold medal by smashing their European Record by over a second in 3:38.82.

Kathleen Dawson was right on her semi-final time on the lead-off leg for the Brits, and then Adam Peaty scorched a 57.13 breast leg. James Guy split 50.61 on fly, the fastest among men in the field, and then Anna Hopkin closed things off with a strong 52.65 free split.

The previous European, Championship and British Records were set at the 2018 Euro Championships in Glasgow in a time of 3:40.18.

Kliment Kolesnikov got Russia off to a great start with a 52.09 lead-off, his fastest swim ever and under the official European Record, but it won’t count officially because it’s a mixed relay. Evgeny Rylov has been as fast as 51.97 on a mixed relay, but the official ER is 52.11 and the Russian mark is 52.12.

Despite that hot start for the Russians, it was the Netherlands (3:41.28) and Italy (3:42.30) getting on the podium in second and third, both lowering National Records. Russia ended up fourth in 3:43.60.

Fresh off the 200 breast final, Arno Kamminga split 58.37 for the Dutch on breast, and Femke Heemskerk recorded her fastest relay split ever in 51.87 on the anchor leg.

The Italians received a blazing 58.05 breast split from Nicolo Martinenghi and a quick 47.16 anchor from Alessandro Miressi.

Switzerland placed fifth in 3:46.16, also breaking their National Record of 3:46.85 set in the heats. Noe Ponti was sub-51 on fly in 50.98.

Ilya Shymanovich had an eye-popping 58.00 split on breast for Belarus, which actually had them out in the lead at the 200. The team ended up sixth in 3:46.82.