2023 European Junior Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2023 EUROPEAN JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, July 4th – Sunday, July 9th
• Sports and Recreational Center “Milan Gale Muškatirović”, Belgrade, Serbia
• Prelims at 10am local (4am EDT)/Finals at 5pm local (11am EDT)
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Entries
• SwimSwam Preview
• Live Results
• Livestream
• Day 1 Prelims Recap |Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap

The finals session for day two of the 2023 European Junior Championships is here. Hopefully, this evening’s event will go on without the technical delays that we experienced last night.

Tonight’s session is a busy one. We have finals of the girls 200 free, boys 200 free, girls 50 back, boys 50 back, girls 50 breast, boys 50 breast, boys 200 fly, girls 1500 free, and the mixed 4×100 free relay. On top of that, there will also be semifinals of the girls 100 fly, boys 200 IM, and girls 50 free. Although it’s a heavy load of events, the session is only scheduled to last a little over two hours, so that’s not too bad at all.

All eyes will be on Hungary’s Nikolett Padar in the girls 200 free tonight. Padar is the defending champion in the event, having won gold last year in 1:58.43. She neared that time in semifinals last night, clocking a 1:58.77. Through the heats and semifinals, Padar is the only swimmer in the field who has broken 2:00, so she enters tonight as the clear favorite.

Meanwhile, the boys 200 free has a much different dynamic going on. Bulgaria’s Petar Mitsin threw down a sizzling 1:47.41 in prelims yesterday morning, setting a new Bulgarian Record in the event. Mitsin then came back for semifinals last night and was only 1:49.18, so we’ll see what he has in store for tonight.

It was Italy’s Alessandro Ragaini who led semis of the boys 200 free, posting a new personal best of 1:48.64.

Like Padar in the girls 200 free, all eyes will be on Estonia’s Eneli Jefimova in the final of the girls 50 breast tonight. Jefimova is the defending champion in the event, winning with a 30.44 last year. She was 30.39 in prelims yesterday morning, so tonight we’ll see how close to getting under the :30 barrier she can get.

The girls 1500 free will feature European Junior Record holder Merve Tuncel (Turkey). Tuncel swam a 16:27.45 in prelims yesterday morning, earning the top seed for tonight’s final. She holds the European Junior Record and the European Junior Championship Record at 15:55.23, a time which she swam at this meet in 2021.

GIRLS 200 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 1:53.91, Summer McIntosh (2023)
• European Junior Record: 1:56.78
• European Record: 1:52.98, Federica Pellegrini (2009)
• Championship Record: 1:57.51, Isabel Gose (2019)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Nikolett Padar (Hungary), 1:58.43

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Nikolett Padar (Hungary) – 1:57.59
• SILVER: Lilla Minna Abraham (Hungary) – 1:59.29
• BRONZE: Fleur Verndonck (Belgium) – 1:59.30

It was Nikolett Padar‘s race from the start. The defending champion in the event’s stroke was smooth and powerful in this final, propelling her to an early lead which she would only grow throughout the race. She touched in 1:57.59, a new personal best and just off the European Junior Championship Record of 1:57.51 held by Isabel Gose.

Padar put together an excellent race, splitting 57.34 on the first 100m with splits of 27.75 and 29.69, then tacked on a 30.09 on the third lap and a 30.16 coming home. That means her 100 splits were 57.34 and 1:00.25, which is very solid splitting for an LCM 200 free.

It was a huge race for Hungary, as the other Hungarian in the field, Lilla Minna Abraham, threw down a huge performance of 1:59.29 to earn the silver medal. She just managed to touch out Belgium’s Fleur Verndonck, who had a stellar race herself out of lane 1, grabbing bronze with a 1:59.30.

BOYS 200 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Junior Record:  1:42.97, David Popovici (2022)
• European Junior Record: 1:42.97, David Popovici (2022)
• European Record: 1:42.00, Paul Biedermann (2009)
• Championship Record: 1:45.26, David Popovici (2021)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: David Popovici (Romania), 1:45.45

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Petar Mitsin (Bulgaria) – 1:46
• SILVER: Alessandro Ragaini (Italy) – 1:47.76
• BRONZE: Jarno Baeschnitt (Germany) – 1:49.10

There was a huge delay following this race due to another timing system error. Bulgarian Petar Mitsin‘s time originally popped up as a 1:48, however, that was clearly wrong, seen as he won the race by a convincing margin.

After the delay, they officials were able to sort it out and Mitsin’s official time was reported as 1:46.50. It was an incredible race from Mitsin. He looked strong and in control throughout the entire swim. The time itself was phenomenal, blowing away the Bulgarian Record of 1:47.77 Mitsin swam in prelims yesterday.

He was out in 52.32 on the first 100m, then came home in 54.18, marking a truly well-swum 200 freestyle.

Italy’s Alessandro Ragaini had a huge performance for silver, roaring to another personal best of 1:47.76. That swim marks Ragaini’s first time under 1:48 in the event, following his PB of 1:48.64 from the semis last night.

Germany’s Jarno Baeschnitt managed to grab the bronze medal tonight, swimming a 1:49.10.

GIRLS 50 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 27.49, Minna Atherton (2016)
• European Junior Record: 27.51, Daria Vaskina (2019)
• European Record: 27.10, Kira Toussaint (2021)
• Championship Record: 27.74, Mary Moluh (2022)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Mary-Ambre Moluh (France), 27.74

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Lora Fanni Komoroczy (Hungary) – 28.08
• SILVER: Blythe Kinsman (Great Britain) – 28.41
• BRONZE: Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu (Romania) – 28.46

Swimming with a very quick stroke rate, Hungary’s Lora Fanni Komoroczy led from start to finish in the girls 50 backstroke tonight. She won the race convincingly, swimming a 28.08 to touch the wall first by 0.33 seconds. With that performance, Hungary has already won three medals tonight, two of which were gold.

Great Britain picked up their first medal of the night, seeing Blythe Kinsman take second in 28.41. Meanwhile, Romanian 14-year-old Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu won bronze with a 28.46. With the performance, Silisteanu cracked the Romanian Record in the event, which she had set last night in semis with a 28.59.

BOYS 50 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 24.00, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• European Junior Record: 24.00, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• European Record: 23.80, Kliment Kolesnikov (2021)
• Championship Record: 24.52, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Ksawery Masiuk (Poland), 24.65

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Miroslav Knedla (Czechia) – 24.88
• SILVER: Oleksandr Zheltyakov (Ukraine) – 25.10
• BRONZE: Matthew Ward (Great Britain) – 25.16

Czechia’s Miroslav Knedla picked up the win in the boys 50 backstroke tonight, chipping 0.03 seconds off his semifinals performance of 24.91. His 24.88 was a very good swim tonight, coming in just off his own personal best and the Czech Record of 24.75, which Knedla swam about six weeks ago at the Monte Carlo stop of the Mare Nostrum Tour.

Ukraine managed to pick up their first medal of the night, with Oleksandr Zheltyakov taking second in 25.10. It was a strong swim for Zheltyakov, who was 25.47 in semifinals last night.

Great Britain picked up their second medal in as many events, seeing Matthew Ward rip a 25.16 for bronze.

GIRLS 100 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 56.43, Claire Curzan (2021)
• European Junior Record: 56.46
• European Record: 55.48, Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
• Championship Record: 57.39, Anastasiya Shkurdai (2019)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Roos Vanotterdijk (Belgium), 57.85

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Lana Pudar (Bosnia-Herzegovina) – 58.26
2. Martine Damborg (Denmark) – 59.33
3. Julia Ullmann (Switzerland) – 59.63
4. Lucie Delmas (France) – 59.70
5. Paola Borrelli (Italy) – 59.72
6. Tabatha Avetand (France) – 59.86
7. Emmy Hallkvist (Sweden) – 1:00.09
8. Eva-Maria Paraschiv (Romania) – 1:00.10

In the first of the semifinal heats, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Lana Pudar won handily, swimming a 58.23. She got out to the early lead, split 27.64 on the first 50m, then coming home in 30.69. Pudar has been as fast as 57.27, which she swam last summer at the European Championships.

France’s Lucie Delmas also cracked 1:00 in that first heat, swimming a 59.70. Paola Borrelli out of Italy joined the sub-1:00 club as well, swimming a 59.72 for third in the first heat.

The second heat then rolled around after another long delat due to the timing system. In the second heat, Denmark’s Martine Damborg led the way with a 59.33. That heat also saw Switzerland’s Julia Ullmann (59.63) and France’s Tabatha Avetand (59.86) crack 1:00.

In a show of strength in the event, France advanced both their swimmers to the final tomorrow night.

BOYS 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 1:56.99, Hubert Kos (2021)
• European Junior Record: 1:56.99, Hubert Kos (2021)
• European Record: 1:55.18, Laszlo Cseh (2009)
• Championship Record: 1:59.17, Tom Dean (2018)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Sanberk Yigit Oktar (Turkey), 2:00.68

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Miroslav Knedla (Czechia) – 2:00.57
2. Matthew Ward (Great Britain) – 2:02.08
3. Christian Mantegazza (Italy) – 2:02.18
4. Jacopo Barbotti (Italy) – 2:02.88
5. Franz Anhert (Germany) – 2:03.12
6. Finn Wendland (Germany) – 2:03.40
7. Julien Niederbergre (Switzerland) – 2:03.73
8. Nil Cadevall Micolau (Spain) – 2:03.76

Following his gold medal performance in the 50 back just a short while ago, Czechia’s Miroslav Knedla was back in action in semis of the 200 IM. He didn’t skip a beat, winning the first of the heats in 2:00.57. His time would end up standing through the second heat os semis as well, so Knedla will advance to tomorrow night’s final as the top seed.

Knedla was out fast, splitting 25.71 on fly and 30.67 on back, for a 56.38 on the opening 100m. With the swim, he’s set himself up well to win another gold tomorrow night and possibly dip under 2:00 as well.

The second heat was markedly slower than the first, seeing Matthew Ward win in 2:02.08.

Italy and Germany both saw both their swimmers advance to the final. For Italy, Christian Mantegazza and Jacopo Barbotti, and for Germany, Franz Anhert and Finn Wendland.

GIRLS 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• European Junior Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• European Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• Championship Record: 29.75, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Eneli Jefimova (Estonia), 30.44

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Eneli Jefimova (Estonia) – 30.33
• SILVER: Karolina Piechowicz (Poland) – 31.18
• BRONZE: Olivia Klint Ipsa (Sweden) – 31.23

Eneli Jefimova successfully defended her European Junior Championship title in the girls 50 breast tonight, roaring to a 30.33 to touch first by nearly a second. The swim was faster than what she went to win the event last year, though it was still a hair off her personal best and Estonian Record mark of 30.08, which she swam last summer at the World Championships in Budapest.

Poland’s Karolina Piechowicz earned bronze in this event last year and moved up to silver tonight, touching second in 31.18. She got the touch over Sweden’s Olivia Klint Ipsa, who won the bronze with a 31.23.

BOYS 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 26.97, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• European Junior Record: 26.97, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• European Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (2017)
• Championship Record: 27.23, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Volodymyr Lisovets (Ukraine), 27.62

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Jonas Gaur (Denmark) – 27.57
• SILVER: Uris Zivanovic (Serbia) – 28.08
• BRONZE: Emilian Hollank (Germany) – 28.14

In a phenomenal performance, Denmark’s Jonas Gaur threw down a huge new career best of 27.57 to win gold convincingly in the boys 50 breast. He blew the :28 second barrier, getting fairly close to the European Junior Championship Record mark of 27.23, which is held by Nicolo Martinenghi.

Serbia earned their first medal of the meet with Uris Zivanovic taking silver with a 28.08.

For the second time tonight, a swimmer won a medal out of lane one. Germany’s Emilian Hollank grabbed the bronze medal from lane one, swimming a 28.14.

GIRLS 50 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 24.17, Claire Curzan (2021)
• European Junior Record: 24.87, Daria Tatarinova (2021)
• European Record: 23.67, Sarah Sjostrom (2017)
• Championship Record: 24.87, Daria Tatarinova (2021)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Nina Jazy (Germany), 25.22

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Sara Curtis (Italy) – 25.22
2. Skye Carter (Great Britain) – 25.37
3. Nina Sandrine Jazy (Germany) – 25.42
4. Eva Okaro (Great Britain) – 25.46
5. Alexandra Hrncarova (Slovakia) – 25.55
6. Smilte Plytnykaite (Lithuania) – 25.57
7. Lillian Slusna (Slovakia) -25.65
8. Albane Cachot (France) – 25.67

Italy’s Sara Curtis remained the fastest swimmer through the semifinals of the girls 50 free, swimming a 25.22. That time came in exactly 0.1 seconds faster than the 25.32 she swam in prelims this morning.

Great Britain’s Skye Carter took a step forward tonight, winning the first of the semifinals heats with a 25.37 after posting a 25.69 this morning in the heats.

Germany’s Nina Sandrine Jazy was another swimmer who took a leap tonight, coming in third with a 25.42 after swimming a 25.85 in prelims.

Great Britain and Slovakia both saw both their swimmers advance to the final. For GB, Carter and Eva Okaro (25.46) both made it through, while Alexandra Hrncarova (25.55) and Lillian Slusna (25.65) both made it through for Slovakia as well.

Impressively, all eight swimmers who made it through to the final swam faster than they did in the heats this morning, which is a rare occurrence in the 50 free.

BOYS 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 1:53.79, Kristof Milak (2017)
• European Junior Record: 1:52.71, Kristof Milak (2018)
• European Record: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (2022)
• Championship Record: 1:53.79, Kristof Milak (2017)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Krzysztof Chmielewski (Poland), 1:55.49

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Andrea Camozzi (Italy) – 1:58.59
• SILVER: Vlad-Stefan Mihalache (Romania) – 1:58.84
• BRONZE: Samuel Kostal (Slovakia) – 1:59.30

In maybe the most thrilling race of the night up to this point, Italy’s Andrea Camozzi won gold in the boys 200 fly. Camozzi got out to a roaring start, splitting 55.51 on the opening 100m, which put him into the 100m turn over a second ahead of the next-closest swimmer in the field. He held on pretty well on the third 50, however, Romanian Vlad-Stefan Mihalache was gaining and closed the gap to just 0.31 seconds at the 150m turn.

It looked like Camozzi was going to lose the lead to Mihalache, but he found a second wind and was able to speed up just a little bit on the final 50m, holding on for the victory.

They were excellent performances by both swimmers, seeing them each go 1:58.

Slovakia grabbed a bronze medal with Samuel Kostal clocking a 1:59.30.

Hungary’s Levente Balogh (1:59.58) and Turkey’s Yuncer Berk Erturk (1:59.85) both went under 2:00 tonight as well.

GIRLS 1500 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 15:28.36, Katie Ledecky (2014)
• European Junior Record: 15:55.23, Merve Tuncel (2021)
• European Record: 15:38.88, Lotte Friis (2013)
• Championship Record: 15:55.23, Merve Tuncel (2021)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Merve Tuncel (Turkey), 16:13.68

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Merve Tuncel (Turkey) – 16:18.53
• SILVER: Amelie Blocksidge (Great Britain) – 16:20.19
• BRONZE: Marian Ploeger (Germany) – 16:23.69

Defending champion and European Junior Record holder Merve Tuncel was in control of the race from the start. Great Britain’s Amelie Blocksidge, just 14 years old, went out with Tuncel for the first 200m, but then fell about two seconds behind, which is where she stayed for the remainder of the race.

Tuncel’s 16:18.53 isn’t an amazing time for her, as she’s been as fast as 15:55.23 before, however, she still won and we don’t know how rested she is for this meet, so it’s a hard performance to judge. Tuncel had already also competed in the final of the girls 200 free tonight.

For Blocksidge, it was a very solid swim, coming in just off her British Age Record for 14-year-olds, which is a 16:19.67.

Germany’s Marian Ploeger broke away from the field to earn a bronze medal with a 16:23.69.

MIXED 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 3:25.92, United States (2019)
• European Junior Record: 3:27.35, Russia (2020)
• European Record: 3:21.81, Netherlands (2017)
• Championship Record: 3:28.43, Germany (2019)
• 2022 European Junior Champion: Hungary, 3:28.83

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Hungary – 3:29.75
• SILVER: Italy – 3:30.66
• BRONZE: France – 3:30.85

In a fantastic team performance, Hungary defended their title in the mixed 4×100 free relay tonight, swimming a 3:29.75 to win gold by nearly a full second. They managed to deny Italy, who had won both the girls and boys 4×100 free relays last night, the victory.

Boldizsar Magda set the tone for the Hungarians, leading off in 49.85, which put them in the lead. In fact, the only other sub-:50 on the lead-off was Romania’s Patrick-Sebastian Dinu, who swam a 49.87 to start the Romanian relay. Following Magda, Matyas Harsanyui swam a 50.45 on the second leg of the Hungarian relay. At that point, both Italy and France had inched ahead of Hungary thanks to a 49.53 from Davide Passafaro on Italy’s second leg and a blistering 49.38 from Alexandre Chalendar on the French relay.

The girls sealed the deal for Hungar, however. Dora Molnar dove in for a 54.93 split on the third leg, leading all third leg splits in the field. Coming off her victory in the 200 free to start the session, Nikolett Padar then ended the session with a bang, roaring home in 54.52 to deliver gold to Hungary.