2022 European Championships: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2022 EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Thursday, August 11 – Wednesday, August 17, 2022 (pool swimming)
• Rome, Italy
• Parco Del Foro Italico
• LCM (50m)
• Start Times
  • Prelims: 9:00 am local / 3:00 am ET
  • Finals: 6:00 pm local / 12:00 pm ET
• Meet Central
• Event Schedule
• Entries
• Live Results
• Live Stream

Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet

The 2nd prelims session of the 2022 European Championships features heats of the women’s 50 fly, men’s 100 free, women’s 100 breast, men’s 200 back, mixed 4×100 medley relay, and men’s 800 free. Notably, finals of the men’s 800 free will be swum during the day 3 finals session.

The women’s 50 fly will see the debut of Swedish superstar sprinter Sarah Sjostrom. One of the greatest women’s swimmers in history, Sjostrom will be beginning her campaign for her 5th LC European Championships title in the 50 fly today. She’s heavily favored coming into the meet, as she has been in this event for essentially her entire career. Sjostrom not only holds the World Record in the women’s LCM 50 fly, she also holds the 17 fastest performances in history in the event.

We’ll also see Romania’s David Popovici, the teenage superstar, make his individual debut in the men’s 100 free. Popovici has had an incredible summer, having won Gold at the World Championships in June and brought his time in the event down to an eye-popping 47.13. He comes in just 0.01 seconds off the European Record, and just 0.22 seconds off the World Record. He likely won’t be at his fastest this morning, however, all eyes will be on Popovici in semifinals and finals to see what he does.

The men’s 800 free features one of the deepest events at these Championships. #1 seed Florian Wellbrock, the Silver medalist from World Champs this summer, has pulled out, but the field remains stacked. Mykhailo Romanchuk is now the top seed in the event, after winning Bronze at Worlds in June. The field also features a handful of the fastest performers in history in the event.

Sophie Hansson comes in as the top seed in the women’s 100 breast, but she’s going to have quite the race on her hands. Hansson is one of four swimmers entered at 1:05, with another six swimmers coming in at 1:06. Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank comes in as the top seed in the men’s 200 back by a wide margin.

WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY

• World Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2014)
• European Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2014)
• European Championships Record: 24.87 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2014)
• 2020 European Champion: Ranomi Kromowidjoj0, NED – 25.30

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 25.30
2. Marie Wattel (FRA) – 25.72
3. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 25.88
4. Sara Junevik (SWE) – 25.96 (X – country limit)
5. Maaike de Waard (NED) – 26.01
6. Silvia Di Pietro (ITA) – 26.06
7. Kim Busch (NED) – 26.22
8. Paulina Peda (POL) – 26.26
9. Anna Ntountounaki (GRE) – 26.35
10. Anna Dowgiert (POL) – 26.40
11. Tessa Giele (NED) – 26.44 (X – country limit)
12. Julie Jensen (DEN) – 26.47
13. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 26.52
14. Costanza Cocconcelli (ITA) – 26.74
15. Maria Ugolkova (SUI) – 26.75
16. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) – 26.76
17. Elena Di Liddo (ITA) – 26.91 (X – country limit)
18. Lana Pudar (BIH) – 26.96
19. Elisabeth Ebbesen (DEN) – 26.99

Unsurprisingly, Sarah Sjostrom led the women’s 50 fly prelims by 0.42 seconds, roaring to a 25.30. It’s entirely possible that time would be good to win Gold tomorrow night, but it’s likely we’ll see Sjostrom lower that time tonight. In fact, her time this morning would have been good for Gold at the World Championships in June, as it took 25.31 to win Silver. At Worlds, Sjostrom won in 24.95, so we’ll be looking to see if she can dip under the 25-second mark again at these Championships.

France’s Marie Wattel, Sweden’s Louise Hansson, and fellow Swedish swimmer Sara Junevik were the only other swimmers under 26 seconds this morning. Unfortunately, only 2 swimmers per country can advance out of prelims, so Junevik will not be racing in semifinals tonight, despite finishing 4th this morning.

The country cap also struck Dutchwoman Tessa Giele, who was 11th at 26.44, as well as Italy’s Elena Di Liddo, who was 17th at 26.91.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE

• World Record: 46.91, Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 2009
• European Record: 47.12, Alain Bernard (FRA) – 2009
• European Championship Record: 47.37, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2021
• 2020 European Champion: Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2021

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. David Popovici (ROU) – 47.20
2. Alessandro Miressi (ITA) – 47.60
3. Lorenzo Zazzeri (ITA) – 48.27
4. Maxime Grousset (FRA) – 48.31
5. Nandor Nemeth (HUN) – 48.32
6. Heiko Gigler (AUT) – 48.43
7. Stan Pijnenburg (NED) – 48.57
8. Andrej Barna (SRB) – 48.59
9. Hadrien Salvan (FRA) – 48.60
10. Manuel Frigo (ITA) – 48.76 (X – country limit)
11. Thomas Dean (GBR) – 48.79
12. Kristof Milak (HUN)/Diogo Matos Ribeiro (POR) – 48.88
13. –
14. Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 48.92 (X – country limit)
15. Luis Dominguez (ESP) – 48.98
16. Bjorn Seeliger (SWE) – 49.01
17. Matthew Richards (GBR) – 49.02
18. Charles Rihoux (FRA) – 49.15 (X – country limit)
19. Karol Ostrowski (POL) – 49.22

Teenage star David Popovici didn’t waste the opportunity to throw down a fast time, tearing to victory in the final heat of prelims this morning in a sizzling 47.13. That swim marks a new Championship Record, blowing away the previous record of 47.37, which was held by Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov from last year. Popovici’s time was also just 0.07 seconds off his own personal best, which stands as the World Jr Record, and just 0.08 seconds off Alain Bernard’s European Record of 47.08.

Italian star sprinter Alessandro Miressi was also dialed in this morning, speeding to a 47.60. That swam comes in just 0.15 seconds off his lifetime best of 47.45, which also stands as the Italian Record. Both Miressi and Popovici swam wel-split race this morning, seeing Popo go out in 22.93 and come home in 24.27, while Miressi was out in 23.12 and back in 24.48.

The two-swimmer country limit struck again in these prelims. Two Italian swimmers, Manuel Frigo and Thomas Ceccon, the World Record holder in the 100 back, finished in the top 16 but are unable to advance to semifinals, because Miressi and Lorenzo Zazzeri (48.27) already qualified. France’s Charles Rihoux was also subject to the country limit.

Kristof Milak, the Hungarian star butterflier, said coming into these Championships he was focusing on his sprint freestyle races. He had a solid morning swim today, ending in a tie for 12th with Portugal’s Diogo Matos Ribeiro.

Spain’s Luis Dominguez notably broke the Spanish Record with his swim this morning. Dominguez clocked a 48.98, bringing the national record below 49 seconds for the first time.

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE

• World Record: 1:04.13, Lilly King (USA) — 2017 World Championships
• European Record: 1:04.35, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) — 2013 World Championships
• European Championship Record: 1:05.53, Yuliya Efimova (RUS) — 2018
• 2021 European Champion: Sophie Hansson (SWE), 1:05.69

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Benedetta Pilato (ITA) – 1:05.77
2. Lisa Angiolini (ITA) – 1:06.00
3. Arianna Castiglioni (ITA) – 1:06.55 (X – country limit)
4. Martina Carraro (ITA) – 1:07.04 (X – country limit)
5. Sophie Hansson (SWE) – 1:07.05
6. Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) – 1:07.22
7. Mona McSharry (IRL) – 1:07.30
8. Lisa Mamie (SUI) – 1:07.38
9. Tes Schouten (NED) – 1:07.54
10. Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 1:07.88
11. Kara Hanlon (GBR) – 1:07.91
12. Klara Thormalm (SWE) – 1:08.08
13. Niamh Coyne (IRL) – 1:08.11
14. Dominika Sztandera (POL) – 1:08.60
15. Maria Romanjuk (EST) – 1:08.74
16. Clara Rybak-Andersen (DEN) – 1:08.79
17. Thea Blomsterbergen (DEN)/Bente Fischer (GER) – 1:09.18

In a stunning display of domination on their home turf, Italy’s four swimmers posted the four fastest times of the morning. Benedetta Pilato was on top of her game, swimming a speedy morning time of 1:05.77, which puts her just 0.24 seconds off the Championship Record. Lisa Angiolini was next in, posting a 1:06.00. That swim marks a massive personal best for Angiolini, whose previous best stood at 1:06.82 from the Italian National Championships in April.

Arianna Castiglioni was 1:06.55, making her the only other swimmer in the field to dip under 1:07 this morning. Finally, Martina Carraro was 4th overall, clocking in at 1:07.04. Unfortunately, because only two swimmers per country can advance to the next phase, Castiglioni and Carraro will not be moving on to semifinals, bumping Denmark’s Thea Blomsterbergen and Germany’s Bente Fischer into the semifinals tonight.

Top-seeded Sophie Hansson was next in after the Italians this morning, swimming a somewhat relaxed looking 1:07.05. Ruta Meilutyte, the Bronze medalist from the World Championships earlier this summer, was 10th this morning in 1:07.88.

Jessica Vall out of Spain had originally swum fast enough to qualify for semifinals but upon video review of the race, she was disqualified.

MEN’s 200 BACKSTROKE

• World Record: 1:51.92, Aaron Peirsol (USA) – 2009 World Championships
• European Record: 1:53.23, Evgeny Rylov (RUS) – 2021 Russian Championships
• European Championships Record: 1:53.36, Evgeny Rylov (RUS) – 2018 European Championships
• 2020 European Champion: Evgeny Rylov (RUS) – 1:54.46

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA) – 1:56.70
2. Benedek Kovacs (HUN) – 1:56.81
3. Mewen Tomac (FRA) – 1:57.51
4. Luke Greenbank (GBR) – 1:57.81
5. Hubert Kos (HUN) – 1:58.15
6. Antoine Herlem (FRA) – 1:58.22 (X – country limit)
7. Joao Nogueira Costa (POR) – 1:58.68
8. Adam Telegdy (HUN) – 1:58.88 (X – country limit)
9. Apostolos Siskos (GRE) – 1:58.99
10. David Gerchik (ISR) – 1:49.13
11. Lorenzo Mora (ITA) – 1:59.18
12. Nicolas Garcia (ESP) – 1:59.46
13. Matteo Restivo (ITA) – 1:59.62
14. Primoz Senica (SLO) – 1:59.76
15. Brodie Williams (GBR) – 1:59.89
16. Roman Mityukov (SUI) – 2:00.29
17. Jan Cejka (CZE) – 2:00.86
18. Francisco Rogerio Santos (POR) – 2:00.88

France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard and Hungary’s Benedek Kovacs were dialed in this morning, posting the top times of the morning and finishing as the only swimmers under 1:57. Ndoye-Brouard was on top of it from the start, splitting 26.90 on the first 50 and 29.36 on the 2nd, for a 56.26 on the opening 100. He then tacked on a 30.27 and 30.17 coming home, for a 1:00.44 on the 2nd 100. Kovacs swam his race a little differently, going out in 27.51, then splitting 29.67, 30.21, and 29.42 the rest of the way.

Coincidentally, Hungary won 2 of the 3 heats in these prelims. Kovacs took the 1st heat, then teammate Hubert Kos won heat 2 in 1:58.15, qualifying as well. Hungarian teammate Adam Telegdy was 1:58.88 this morning, taking 3rd in the 2nd heat, but will not advance due to the country cap.

France had a strong showing this morning, seeing Mewen Tomac take 3rd in 1:57.51, with Ndoye-Brouard in 1st. Fellow Frenchman Antoine Herlem was 6th this morning, swimming a 1:58.22, but will not advance to semifinals due to the country cap.

Top-seeded Luke Greenbank out of Great Britain looked relaxed this morning, swimming to a 1:57.81. Greenbank showed some initial speed, going 56.86 on the opening 100, then came home in 1:00.95 on the 2nd 100.

MIXED 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY

• World Record: 3:37.58, Great Britain (Dawson, Peaty, Guy, Hopkin) – 2020 Tokyo Olympics
• European Record: 3:37.58, Great Britain (Dawson, Peaty, Guy, Hopkin) – 2020 Tokyo Olympics
• European Championships Record: 3:38.82, Great Britain (Dawson, Peaty, Guy, Hopkin) – 2020
• 2020 European Champion: Great Britain (Dawson, Peaty, Guy, Hopkin) – 3:38.82

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Netherlands – 3:46.64
2. Germany – 3:47.14
3. Poland – 3:48.08
4. Great Britain – 3:49.04
5. France – 3:49.92
6. Italy – 3:50.19
7. Greece – 3:50.59
8. Israel – 3:50.67

Netherlands tore to victory this morning in the mixed 4×100 medley relay, although they used what may have been their finals lineup to do it. Kira Toussaint led the team off in 1:00.22, and was followed by Arno Kamminga in 59.61, Nyls Korstanje in 51.63, and Tessa Giele in 55.18. While that may be the same relay they go with tonight, it does appear that all 4 of their legs have the ability to go faster, especially Toussaint and Kamminga on the front half.

Germany was 2nd this morning, thanks in part to Ole Braunschweig getting them out to a great start with a 53.78 on the backstroke leg. a 59.76 from breaststroker Lucas Matzerath put the team well into the lead at the halfway point.

Notably, Sweden finished 9th this morning, swimming a 3:51.89. Sweden seemingly could have put together a formidable relay tonight, given their speed across the sprint events.

MEN’S 800 FREE:

• World Record: 7:32.12 — Zhang Lin, China (2009)
• European Record: 7:39.27 — Gregorio Paltrinieri, Italy (2019)
• European Championships Record: 7:42.33 — Gregorio Paltrinieri, Italy (2016)
• 2020 European Champion: Mkyhailo Romanchuk, Ukraine — 7:42.61

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR) – 7:47.93
2. Lukas Martens (GER) – 7:48.38
3. Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) – 7:48.91
4. Lorenzo Galossi (ITA) – 7:49.08
5. Damien Joly (FRA) – 7:49.17
6. Sven Schwarz (GER) – 7:49.30
7. Gabriele Detti (ITA) – 7:49.93 (X – country limit)
8. Luca De Tullio (ITA) – 7:51.60 (X – country limit)
9. Joris Bouchaut (FRA) – 7:51.63
10. Victor Johansson (SWE) – 7:52.48

The pressure was on the Italians in the 800 free this morning, as the quartet of Gregorio Paltrinieri, Gabriele Detti, Lorenzo Galossi, and Luca De Tullio all came into the meet as likely finalists from a time persepctive, bit only 2 of 4 could advance to finals because of the 2-swimmer limit. Gabriele Detti pushed the pace early in heat 2, but was unable to hold it, and was quickly overtaken by Paltrinieri, as well as Sven Schwarz of Germany and Kenrik Christiansen of Norway. Detti still found a second wind, closing fast and pulling back ahead of Christiansen and up nearly even with Schwarz. In the end, Paltrinieri, Schwarz, and Detti all came in under 7:50.

In heat 3, Italian Luca De Tullio led from 50 #2 to 50#4, but then was overtaken by the leading pack in the middle of the pool. Mykhailo Romanchuk established himself as the leader by a slim margin in the middle of the race, and was able to hold on to that lead through the finish. Romanchuk posted a 7:47.93, taking the top seed for tomorrow’s final by just a tough over Germany’s Lukas Martens, who touched behind him in 7:48.38.

16-year-old Lorenzo Galossi didn’t seem like a factor early in the race, swimming 30-points on his 50s and flipping in 6th at the 400m mark in 3:55.91. He then turned it up a notch, however, roaring home in 3:53.17 on the final 400m. He was able to get into the wall 3rd at the finish, touching in 7:49.08, just ahead of Detti in the final heat. With the performance, it will be Paltrinieri and Galossi representing Italy in the final tomorrow, while Detti and De Tullio (7:51.60) are left out.

France’s Damien Joly had a nice swim this morning as well, clocking a 7>49.17 to qualify for the final. French teammate Joris Bouchaut made the cut as well, swimming a 7:51.63.