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 4 Finals Heat Sheet
On day four of the 2022 European Championships, the finals of the men’s 100 fly, women’s 50 back, men’s 200 breast, women’s 200 free, and the men’s 4×100 free relay will be contested. Kristof Milak will be enduring an extremely tough schedule today, starting off with the finals of the 100 fly, and then having to race the 200 free semi-finals minutes later. Then, he will end his day by swimming on Hungary’s 4×100 free relay. He is the top seed headed both into the 100 fly final and the 200 free semis.
Italy’s Silvia Scalia is fresh off a national record in the semi-finals, and is the top seed in the women’s 50 back final. Her biggest challenges to the throne seems to be European record holder Kira Toussaint, Commonwealth medalist Medi Harris, and Worlds bronze medalist Analia Pigree.
In the women’s 200 free final, top seed Marrit Steenbergen looks to complete the 100/200 free sweep. However, she will have to fend off Isabel Gose, who was just 0.3 seconds off of her in semi-finals. That race will proceed following the men’s 200 breast final, where top seed Matti Mattson will try to win Finland’s first men’s 200 breast medal since 1931.
There will also be semifinal action in the men’s 200 free, women’s 100 fly, men’s 50 back, and women’s 200 breast. Most notably, we will get a preview of what’s to come from David Popovici, who just broke the world record in the 100 free, in the 200 free.
MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – FINALS
- World Record: 49.45, Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 2021
- European Record: 49.68, Kristof Milak (HUN) – 2021
- European Championship Record: 50.18, Kristof Milak (HUN) – 2021
- 2020 European Champion: Kristof Milak (HUN), 50.18
Top 8:
- Kristof Milak (HUN) — 50.33
- Noe Ponti (SUI) — 50.87
- Jakub Majerski (POL) — 51.22
- Hubert Kos (HUN) — 51.33
- Simon Bucher (AUT) — 51.44
- Matteo Rivolta (ITA) — 51.68
- Nyls Korstanje (NED) — 51.79
- Diogo Matos Ribiero (POL) — 52.28
Nyls Korstanje went out extremely hard in the front half of his race, opening in 23.29 ahead of European record pace. However, he paid for it in the back half, closing in 28.50. Milak clocked a 23.47 first 50 and trailed behind Korstanje at first, but then came home in 26.86 to win the race. He was the only man in the field to clock a sub-27 back half.
Milak’s time 0f 50.33 is just off his season-best of 50.14, which he set to win the 100 fly at the World Championships this year. However, he does have two more races to compete in tonight, so it makes sense for hm to conserve his energy.
Noe Ponti took second in a season-best time of 50.87, an improvement from the 51.51 he swam to finish 8th in the 100 fly final at Worlds. He was near his personal best time of 50.74, which he swam to win bronze at the Olympics last year. Taking third was Jakub Majerski, who won Poland’s first medal of the meet.
WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – FINALS
- World Record: 26.98 – Liu Xiang, CHN (2018)
- European Record: 27.10 – Kira Toussaint, NED (2021)
- European Championships Record: 27.19 – Kathleen Dawnson, GBR (2021)
- 2020 European Champion: Kira Toussaint, NED – 27.36
Top 8:
- Analia Pigree (FRA) — 27.27
- Silvia Scalia (ITA) — 27.53
- Maaike De Waard (NED) — 27.54
- Kira Toussaint (NED) — 27.73
- Medi Harris (GBR) — 27.90
- Mary-Ambre Moluh (FRA) — 27.95
- Theodora Drakou (GRE) — 28.11
- Julie Jensen (DEN) — 28.55
Worlds bronze medalist Analia Pigree clipped 0.02 seconds off her French record to win this final in a new best time of 27.27, winning this race by 0.26 seconds. Finishing behind her was Silvia Scalia, who was just a few tenths off her Italian record time of 27.39 from the semifinals, but still put up a strong swim for second.
The Netherlands had a strong showing in this race, with Maaike De Waard and Kira Toussaint taking third and fourth. De Waard took 0.15 seconds off her previous best time of 27.69 to win bronze.
MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
- European Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
- European Championship Record: 1:44.79 – Martin Malyutin, RUS (2021)
- 2020 European Champion: Martin Malyutin, RUS – 1:44.79
Top 8 qualifiers:
- David Popovici (ROU) — 1:44.91
- Antonio Djakovic (SUI) — 1:45.32
- Marco De Tullio (ITA) — 1:45.70
- Lukas Martens (GER) — 1:46.29
- Stefano De Cola (ITA) — 1:46.41
- Felix Auboeck (AUT) — 1:46.60
- Danas Raspys (LIT) — 1:46.77
- Dimitrios Markos (GRE) — 1:47.12
David Popovici cruised the first semi-final in the men’s 200 free, clocking a time of 1:44.91 that was just outside the championship record of 1:44.91. He split 23.98/26.52/27.74/26.67, and his final 50 split being over a second faster than his third 50 indicates that he has much more in the tank come time for tomorrow’s final. Finishing second in this semi was Antonio Djakovic, who improved upon his personal best of 1:45.77 to go 1:45.32.
Kristof Milak was out to an early lead in the second semi-final, but was overtaken later on and ended up fading to fourth. His time of 1:47.37 was not enough to make it through to the finals, as he finished tenth overall in the semis. He was over a second faster in prelims, clocking a 1:46.26, which highlights the fatigue of swimming two events in a short period of time.
The second semi was relatively slower than the first one, with Lukas Märtens winning in a time of 1:46.29. However, had he swam this time in the first semi, he would have been fourth.
WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: 55.48 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2016)
- European Record: 55.48 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2016)
- European Championships Record: 55.89 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2016)
- 2020 European Champion: Anna Ntountounaki, GRE/Marie Wattel, FRA – 57.37
Top 8 qualifiers:
- Marie Wattel (FRA) — 56.99
- Louise Hansson (SWE) — 57.54
- Angelina Koehler (GER) — 58.03
- Lana Pudar (BSH) — 58.06
- Ilaria Bianchi (ITA) — 58.21
- Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) — 58.42
- Anna Ntountounaki (GRE) — 58.48
- Keanna Macinnes (GBR) — 58.55
Marie Wattel dominated the first 100 fly semifinal from start to finish, splitting 26.68/30.31 to clock a time of 56.99. She won her race by a whopping 1.04 seconds. She should be the favorite to win tomorrow, as nobody else in the semifinals broke 57 seconds.
The second semi-final was relatively slower, with Anna Ntountounaki opening in 26.57 and taking out an early lead, but Louise Hansson splitting 27.00/30.54 and overtaking her on the back end of the race. Hansson ended up winning the race in a time of 57.54, and was one of the two women in the field that went under 58 seconds.
MEN’S 50 BACK – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: 23.71, Hunter Armstrong (USA) – 2022 U.S. International Team Trials
- European Record: 23.80, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) – 2020 European Championships
- European Championships Record: 23.80, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) – 2020 European Championships
- 2020 European Champion: Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) – 23.80
Top 8 qualifiers:
- Apostolos Christou (GRE) — 24.48
- Thomas Ceccon (ITA) — 24.65
- Michael Leytovskey (ISR) — 24.74
- Ole Braunschweig (GER) — 24.75
- Michele Lamberti (ITA) — 24.82
- Yohann Ndoye Brouard (FRA) — 24.96
- Kacper Stokowski (POL) — 24.98
- Tomasz Polewka (POL) — 25.04
In the first semi-final of the men’s 50 back, Apostolos Christou won with a time of 24.48, less than a tenth off his best time of 24.39 set at Worlds this year.
Thomas Ceccon took the second semi in 24.65, with Ole Braunschweig and Kacper Stokowski following. For Stokowski, his swim was a massive personal best, clocking a 24.98 to break 25 seconds for the first time. He came into the meet with a best time of 25.22.
Bjorn Seeliger, who broke the Nordic record in a time of 24.74 in the prelims, was a little off that time and put up a 25.09. He finished ninth overall and will miss the finals.
WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: 2:18.95, Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA) — 2021 Olympics
- European Record: 2:19.11, Rikke Moeller Pedersen (DEN) — 2013 World Championships
- European Championship Record: 2:19.84, Rikke Moeller Pedersen (DEN) — 2014
- 2021 European Champion: Molly Renshaw (GBR), 2:21.34
Top 8 qualifiers:
- Martina Carraro (ITA) — 2:23.73
- Lisa Mamie (SUI) — 2:24.04
- Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) — 2:25.01
- Mona McSharry (IRL) — 2:25.24
- Thea Blomsterberg (DEN) — 2:25.44
- Francesca Fangio (ITA) — 2:25.55
- Kristyna Horska (CZE) — 2:25.71
- Jessica Vall Montero (ESP) — 2:26.64
Martina Carraro had an incredible showing in the second semi-final, flipping in fourth at the 150 meter mark and coming home in a lighting-quick 36.58. In fact, she was the only woman in the field to have a final 50 split under 38 seconds. Her time of 2:23.73 is just a few tenths off the Italian record time of 2:23.06.
Carraro’s best time headed into the meet was a 2:24.74, and she took over a second off of that today.
The second and third-fastest times overall came from the second semi-final as well, as Lisa Mamie and Kotryna Terekova finished behind Carraro.
Winning the first semi-finals was Thea Blomsterberg, who came back on Francesca Fangio and just out-touched her by 0.01 seconds.
MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS
- World Record: 2:05.95, Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS) – 2022 Australian Trials
- European Record: 2:06.12, Anton Chupkov (RUS) – 2019 World Championships
- European Championships Record: 2:06.80, Anton Chupkov (RUS) – 2018
- 2020 European Champion: Anton Chupkov (RUS) – 2:06.99
Top 8:
- James Wilby (GBR) — 2:08.96
- Matti Mattson (FIN) — 2:09.40
- Luca Pizzini (ITA) — 2:09.97
- David Wiekiera (POL) — 2:10.27
- Andrius Sidlaukas (LTU) — 2:10.45
- Anton McKee (ISL) — 2:10.96
- Matej Zabojnik (CZE) — 2;12.27
In a thrilling race, James Wilby came from behind to win this race out of lane 8, clocking a time of 2:08.95. That’s his second-fastest time of the season, just behind the 2:08.59 he swam at the Commonwealth Games. He closed in a 33.63 final 50 to overtake Matti Mattson on the home stretch. Mattson took second in 2:09.40, earning Finland’s first medal in the men’s 200 breast since 1931.
Luca Pizzini won yet another medal for Italy, taking third in 2:09.97. He swam his fastest time since August 2018.
Lithuanian swimmer Andrius Sidlaukas clocked a 1:01.48 first 100, the fastest in the field. However, he faded in the back half of the race and ended up finishing fifth.
WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – FINALS
- World Record: 1:52.98, Federica Pellegrini (ITA) – 2009 World Championships
- European Record: 1:52.98, Federica Pellegrini (ITA) – 2009 World Championships
- European Championship Record: 1:54.95, Charlotte Bonnet (FRA) – 2018
- 2020 European Champion: Barbora Seemanova (CZE), 1:56.27
Top 8:
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) — 1:56.36
- Freya Anderson (GBR) — 1:56.52
- Isabel Gose (GER) — 1:57.09
- Janja Segel (SLO) — 1:57.51
- Katja Fain (SLO) — 1:57.68
- Aleksandra Polanska (POL) — 1:58.40
- Charlotte Bonnet (FRA) — 1:58.77
- Nikoletta Padar (HUN) — 1:58.87
Marrit Steenbergen successfully completed the 100/200 free sweep, putting up a time of 1:56.36. She shaves nearly a second off her previous best time of 1;57.28, which she set over five years ago in April 2017. However, she was challenged by Freya Anderson, who closed the gap between her and Steenbergen from 0.54 seconds with 150 meters left to just 0.16 on the finish.
Anderson’s final 50 was a 29.42 compared to Steenbergen’s 29.80, and she ended up having a final time of 1:56.52.
Isabel Gose swam a time of 1:57.09 to take bronze, picking up her second medal of this meet.
MEN’S 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINALS
- World Record: 3:08.24, United States – 2008 Olympic Games
- European Record: 3:08.32, France – 2008 Olympic Games
- European Championship Record: 3:10.41, Russia – 2021
- 2020 European Champion: Russia, 3:10.41
Top 8:
- Italy — 3:10.50
- Hungary — 3:12.43
- Great Britain — 3:12.70
- Spain — 3:13.73
- Netherlands — 3:13.75
- Ukraine — 2:15.94
- Poland — 3:15.97
- France — DQ
The Italian men dominated this race from start to finish, with leadoff Alessandro Miressi clocking a 47.60 to get things started before Thomas Ceccon (47.88), Lorenzo Zazzeri (47.60), and Manuel Frigo (47.26) followed. They combined for a time of 3:10.50, which was faster than the 3:10.95 they went at the World Championships.
The battle for second and third were a little more competitive, as a 47.74 leg from Tom Dean put Great Britain into second place position at the 300 mark following strong starts by leadoff Jacob Whittle (47.72) and Matt Richards (47.88).
However, Hungary leadoff Nandor Nemeth (47.86), Szebasztian Szabo (48.42) and Daniel Meszaros (48.91) made sure that Hungary was not far behind the Brits, and a 47.24 anchor (the fastest split in the field) by Kristof Milak secured silver for Hungary and overtook British anchor Edward Mildred (48.36). This was a bounceback swim for Milak, who failed to make the 200 free final earlier this session.
Finishing fourth was Sergi De Celis (48.41), Luis Dominguez (47.89), Mario Molla (49.30), and Carles Colle Marti (48.13) of Spain. They clocked a time of 3:13.73, smashing their national record time of 3:15.24 from prelims.
How about a compromise and do what CGs does: No semis for the 200s. FINA already recognises that semis for 400s are too much. Dropping semis for 200s but keeping them for 50s and 100s would still mean the most popular and competitive events have semis, but make it more realistic for swimmers to swim multiple 200s.
Sad that Milak didn’t get through, but all things (e.g his relay splits) considered, his 100free is probably better than his 200free.
If he wanted to swim freestyle in Paris, ithe 100free would also be better than the 200free considering placement on the schedule. Even then, the question he has to ask himself is would he rather get 2 golds (and beat Dressel in the 100fly) or 1 gold and swim for 2 silvers? I think most of us would rather him go for 2 golds.
I think his 2 fr would be better than his 1 fr if he had a proper chance to swim it. Sorta in a Syndey McLaughlin 400mh/400 way, a good 2 flyer can generally have a good 2fr. Carson Foster, T. Julian, Gabriel Jett, Luca Urlando come to mind.
I agree. Susie O’Neill who was more known for 200 fly, won 200 free Olympics gold.
I am surprised you don’t go for the most obvious example, Michael Phelps. Or, going back, Michael Gross.
OT. The Islamic Solidarity Games are currently ongoing in Konya, Turkey. Where the Turkish swimmers able to say where they would swim ? (Some of them, like Tuncel in the 800), do participate in both.
What’s going on with spanish 100 free swimmers here?
There NR was like 3:18 in 4×100 before the meet and over 49 seconds in 100 free.
Well, Coach Sergio and VT is what’s happening. I believe Dominguez and Colle Marti train at VT.
Not only those two. VT almost win a bronze medal at Euros…
Milak’s 100 free was sweet comeback for the 200, 2 medals a day is pretty epic
He can two golds on Tuesday, if Mr. Sós doesnt mess up with the 4*200 free mixed relay.
I would rather see him drop some times in 200 fly to be honest, instead of doubling it up with another Mickey mouse relay.
This is not what he wants the most. He said he is impatient and has a lot of goals in multiple interviews. He doesn’t just want to be the best 200 flyer. He wants to be the best swimmer overall.
I mean even Popo wants to try butterfly and clash with Milak. Let them swim:)
Just a few years ago I thought Rapsys was the “it” man for the 200free
Swimming hard mode :
1) Being a female australian sprint freestyler
2) italian female breastroker
3) American male backstroker
American FEMALE backstroker. Even harder.
Lol what about American female backstroker that’s probably the hardest
17 year olds swimming the 100m freestyle against grown men
Not that hard if you have the talent.
Extremely hard if your talent is meh
It’s still extremely hard even with the talent.
Hungarian 200flyer
Really surprised Slovenia didn’t enter a women’s 800 free relay. They won the event at the Mediterranean Games this year and put two girls into the 200 final here.