2023 European Short Course Championships: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2023 European Short Course Swimming Championships

• December 5-10, 2023
• Otopeni Olympic Swimming Complex, Bucharest, Romania
• Short Course Meters (25 meters)
• Prelims 2:30am (ET), Finals 11am (ET)
• Entries Book
• Live Results (Omega)
• Live Results (Microplus Timing)
• Eurovision Sport Livestream

The third morning session of the 2023 European Short Course Championships will feature eight events. See the session schedule below:

Session Schedule:

• Women’s 100 Freestyle Heats
• Men’s 200 IM Heats
• Women’s 200 Breaststroke Heats
• Men’s 100 Backstroke Heats
• Women’s 50 Backstroke Heats
• Men’s 200 Butterfly Heats
• Women’s 4×50 Medley Relay Heats
• Women’s 1500 Freestyle Heats

Beryl Gastaldello of France enters the 100 freestyle as the top seeded entrant (51.67). Gastaldello has had a busy schedule through the first two days of the competition, earning a silver medal last night in the 50 freestyle and qualifying 2nd for the 100 IM final shortly thereafter. She will have the 100 freestyle semi-finals (assuming she qualifies safely) just about 10 minutes prior to the 100 IM final later today.

Thomas Ceccon will feature in today’s 200 IM heats, as he comes in as the 2nd seed. His seed time of 1:51.90 was recorded just three weeks ago at the Nico Sapio Trophy.

Teammate Alberto Razzetti enters the event with the top entry time (1:51.73), and he is coming off some impressive performances just a week ago. At the Italian Long Course Championships in Riccione, he posted new Italian records in the 200 (1:56.21) and 400 (4:09.29) long course IMs. You can read more about his record breaking swims here.

Razzetti will have double duty this morning, as he is seeded 2nd in the men’s 200 butterfly in addition to the 200 IM. Noe Ponti enters the event as the top seed, and will have the chance to build upon the 48.47 100 fly European record he set yesterday.

The women’s 50 backstroke will see a stacked field line-up behind the blocks, with the top seed Julie Kepp Jensen (25.85) slated to battle with the European record holder Kira Toussaint in the final heat. 2021 100 backstroke World Champion Louise Hansson, British duo Medi Harris and Lauren Cox, and France’s Analia Pigree are also some names to keep an eye on this morning.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Cate Campbell (AUS) – 50.25 (2017)
• European Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 50.58 (2017)
• SC Euros Record: Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) – 50.95 (2017)

Top 16: 

1. Anna Hopkin (GBR) – 51.79
2. Freya Anderson (GBR) – 52.60
3. Barbora Seemanova (CZE) – 52.80
4. Michelle Coleman (SWE) – 52.84
5. Sofia Morini (ITA) – 53.17
6. SS Jorunnardottir (ISL) – 53.33
7. Barbora Janickova (CZE) – 53.41
8. Chiara Tarantino (ITA) – 53.46
9. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 53.54
10. Lucy Hope (GBR) – 53.57 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
11. Sara Juvenik (SWE) – 53.58
12. Freya Colbert (GBR) – 53.73 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
13. Panna Ugrai (HUN) – 53.90
14. Nikolett Padar (HUN) – 53.91
15. Iris Julia Berger (AUT) – 53.99
16. Sofia Aastedt (SWE) & Katarina Milutinovic (SRB) – 54.05 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
17. –
18. Sara Curtis (ITA) – 54.06 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
19. Valentine Dumont (BEL) – 54.12
20. Nele Schulze (GER) – 54.21

Freya Anderson of Great Britain, who won the 100/200 freestyle double at the 2019 edition of these championships, took the win in the first of the seeded heats. She stopped the clock in 52.60 en route to the win.

Sweden’s Michelle Coleman, who won the 50 freestyle gold medal in 23.52 yesterday, finished 2nd behind Anderson in the heat. She posted a respectable 52.84 to safely advance to the semifinals later today. Coleman owns a career best time of 51.47, which she set at the 2019 Swedish Championships.

Olympic Champion Anna Hopkin took the win in the fourth heat, hitting the touchpad in 51.79. The former Arkansas Razorback took the race out strong, splitting 24.60 over the first 50 meters before closing in 27.19.

Charlotte Bonnet did not show up behind lane 3 in the final heat, where she was scheduled to compete. This is presumably because she is the top qualifier in tonight’s 100 IM final, and the 100 free semifinals would occur just before that final.

Sofia Morini posted a 53.17 to win the final heat, with Beryl Gastaldello touching 2nd in 53.54. Gastaldello won the silver medal in this event at the 2019 Glascow edition, and is seeded 2nd in tonight’s 100 IM final.

MEN’S 200 IM – HEATS

• World Record: Ryan Lochte (USA) – 1:49.63 (2012)
• European Record: Andreas Vazaios (GRE) – 1:50.85 (2019)
• SC Euros Record: Andreas Vazaios (GRE) – 1:50.85 (2019)

Top 16: 

1. Duncan Scott (GBR) – 1:52.90
2. Joe Litchfield (GBR) – 1:54.51
3. Andreas Vazaios (GRE) – 1:54.63
4. Danas Rapsys (LTU) – 1:54.72
5. Tom Dean (GBR) – 1:54.74 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
6. Ronny Brannkarr (FIN) – 1:56.01
7. Vadym Naumenko (UKR) – 1:56.14
8. Evan Jones (GBR) – 1:56.23 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
9. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 1:57.19
10. Apostolos Papastamos (GRE) – 1:57.33
11. Balazs Hollo (HUN) – 1:57.55
12. Richard Nagy (SVK) – 1:57.82
13. Robert-Andrei Badea (ROU) – 1:57.94
14. Thomas Ceccon (IYA) – 1:58.01
15. Thomas Jansen (NED) – 1:58.21
16. Luka Mladenovic (AUT) – 1:58.24
17. Gian-Luca Gartmann (SUI) – 1:58.98
18. Daniel-Alexandru Nicusan (ROU) – 2:00.07

The European record holder in this SCM 200 IM, Andreas Vazaios, swam in lane 4 of the first heat. He ultimately got to the wall in 3rd place, recording a mark of 1:54.63 to safely advance to the semifinals. Olympic Gold Medalist Duncan Scott swam in lane 7, posting a time of 1:52.90 to take the heat win. His British teammate, Joe Litchfield, touched in 1:54.51 to grab 2nd.

Notably, Scott posted a 31.9 split on the breaststroke leg, which is typically the toughest leg for him in the IM events.

Olympic medalists Thomas Ceccon (ITA) and Tom Dean (GBR) swam in lanes 4 and 5 of the second heat, with Dean grabbing the win in 1:54.74. Dean will not advance to the semifinals because two other British athletes (Scott & J. Litchfield) were faster in the previous heat. Ceccon posted 1:58.01 to take 4th in the heat, and will sneak through to the semifinals in 14th with that performance.

Lithuanian freestyler Danas Rapsys showcased his versatility this morning, finishing in 1:54.72 to win the final heat. The bronze medalist from two years ago, Alberto Razzetti of Italy, cruised to the wall in 1:57.19 to take 2nd in the heat. Razzetti is presumably saving energy for the 200 butterfly later in the session.

WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Rebecca Soni (USA) – 2:14.57 (2009)
• European Record: Rikke Moller Pedersen (DEN) – 2:15.21 (2013)
• SC Euros Record: Rikke Moller Pedersen (DEN) – 2:15.21 (2013)

Top 16: 

1. Tes Schouten (NED) – 2:20.38
2. Thea Blomsterberg (DEN) – 2:20.82
3. Clara Rybak-Andersen (DEN) – 2:20.95
4. Ana Blazevic (CRO) – 2:21.62
5. Nikoleta Trnikova (SVK) – 2:21.80
6. Andrea Podmanikova (SVK) – 2:21.81
7. Kristyna Horska (CZE) – 2:22.26
8. Eneli Jefimova (EST) – 2:22.27
9. Abbie Wood (GBR) – 2:22.43
10. Lisa Nystrand (SWE) – 2:22.86
11. Francescs Fangio (ITA) – 2:22.98
12. Klara Thormalm (SWE) – 2:23.10
13. Martina Carraro (ITA) – 2:23.26
14. Maria Romanjuk (EST) – 2:23.43
15. Brigitta Vass (ROU) – 2:23.47
16. Kara Hanlon (GBR) – 2:23.94

The first heat saw a Denmark 1-2 finish, with Thea Blomsterberg (2:20.82) leading the way ahead of Clara Rybak-Andersen (2:20.95). Their swims held up for the 2nd and 3rd fastest times of the morning.

Estonia’s Eneli Jefimova, who posted a sizzling 1:03.21 100 breaststroke en route to gold last night, took 3rd in the penultimate heat (2:22.27). Slovakia posted a 1-2 performance in the heat, with Nikoleta Trnikova (2:21.80) touching ahead of teammate Andrea Podmanikova (2:21.81).

Tes Schouten, who won the bronze medal in this event at the 2023 Fukuoka World Championships, took the win in the final heat (2:20.38). Her time was the fastest of the morning, qualifying her first for the next round. Schouten won the bronze medal in the 100 breast here in Otopeni, recording a time of 1:04.04 during that swim.

Abbie Wood, who won the 400 IM on day one of the competition, qualified 9th to advance to the semifinals.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Coleman Stewart (USA) – 48.33 (2021)
• European Record: Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) – 48.58 (2020)
• SC Euros Record: Arkady Vyatchanin (RUS) & Stanislav Donets (RUS) – 48.97 (2009)

Top 16: 

1. Mewen Tomac (FRA) – 50.47
2. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA) – 50.60
3. Andrei Ungur (ROU) – 50.61
4. Luke Greenbank (GBR) – 50.82
5. Ole Braunschweig (GER) – 50.96
6. Cameron Brooker (GBR) – 51.02
7. Jonathon Adam (GBR) – 51.20 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
8. Apostolos Christou (GRE) – 51.27
9. Lorenzo Mora (ITA) – 51.30
10. Stanislas Huille (FRA) – 51.35 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
11. Denis-Lauren Popescu (ROU) – 51.42
12. Thierry Bollin (SUI) – 51.43
13. Oliver Morgan (GBR) – 51.57 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
14. Markus Lie (NOR) – 51.59
15. Adam Jaszo (HUN) – 51.74
16. Shane Ryan (IRL) – 51.95
17. Gabriel Lopez (POR) – 51.98
18. Miroslav Knedla (CZE) – 52.07
19. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) – 52.08

French backstroke star Yohann Ndoye-Brouard won the first of the seeded heats, touching in 50.60 to touch 0.01 ahead of Romania’s Andrei Ungur. Ole Braunschweig of Germany took 3rd in the heat, safely advancing to the semifinals.

Apostolos Christou of Greece got off to a swift start in the second seeded heat and never looked back. He hit the wall in a final time of 51.27 to grab the win over Romania’s Denis-Laurean Popescu (51.42) and Thierry Bollin of Switzerland (51.43).

Mewen Tomac, who won the 50 backstroke yesterday, took the final heat out in a blistering pace. He turned through the 50 in 24.0 before finishing with a final time of 50.47. With his swim, he overtook his teammate Ndoye-Brouard for the fastest swim of the morning.

British World Champion Luke Greenbank posted a time of 50.82 to advance in 4th place.

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Margaret MacNeil (CAN) – 25.25 (2022)
• European Record: Kira Toussaint (NED) – 25.60 (2020)
• SC Euros Record: Sanja Jovanovic (CRO) – 25.70 (2009)

Top 16:

1. Kira Toussaint (NED) – 26.15
2. Kathleen Dawson (GBR) – 26.52
3. Danielle Hill (IRL) – 26.59
4. Medi Harris (GBR) – 26.61
5. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 26.63
6. Analie Pigree (FRA) – 26.74
7. Julie Kepp Jensen (DEN) – 26.90
8. Lora Komoroczy (HUN) & Costanza Cocconcelli (ITA) – 27.02
9. –
10. Fanny Teijonsalo (FIN) – 27.14
11. Tessa Giele (NED) – 27.20
12. Lauren Cox (GBR) – 27.47 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
13. Camila Rebelo (POR) – 27.55
14. Kalia Antoniou (CYP) & Katarina Milutinovic (SRB) – 27.63
15. El Avramova (TUR) – 27.70
16. –
17. Iv Loeyning (NOR) – 27.76

Danielle Hill of Ireland posted a time of 26.59 to take the first seeded heat. Medi Harris of Team GB claimed 2nd place (26.61), while Portugal’s Camila Rebelo (27.55) hit the wall 3rd.

Olympic Champion Kathleen Dawson posted a time of 26.52 to win the penultimate heat. Swimming out of lane two, she eclipsed her entry time of 27.05 by over half a second.

European record holder Kira Toussaint got her hand to the wall in a time of 26.15 to win the final heat. Julie Kepp Jensen, the fastest entry into this event, took 2nd in 26.90.

Lauren Cox, who won the bronze medal in the long course version of this event at the 2023 Fukuoka Worlds, will not get a second swim here in Otopeni. While she posted a time within the top 16, two of her British teammates posted faster times this morning.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record: Tomoru Honda (JPN) – 1:46.85 (2022)
• European Record: Laszlo Cseh (HUN) – 1:49.00 (2015)
• SC Euros Record: Laszlo Cseh (HUN) – 1:49.00 (2015)

Top 16: 

1. Noe Ponti (SUI) – 1:54.38
2. Richard Marton (HUN) – 1:54.95
3. Petar Mitsin (BUL) – 1:55.28
4. Edward Mildred (GBR) – 1:55.41
5. Ramon Klenz (GBR) – 1:55.42
6. Kregor Zirk (EST) & Vlad-Stefan Mihalache (ROU) – 1:55.63
7. –
8. Andreas Rizek (AUT) – 1:56.34
9. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 1:56.55
10. Ondrej Gemov (CZE) – 1:56.61
11. Balazs Hollo (HUN) – 1:56.75
12. Denys Kesil (UKR) – 1:56.88
13. Christian Ferraro (ITA) – 1:57.15
14. Samuel Kostal (SVK) – 1:57.24
15. Marius Toscan (SUI) – 1:57.59
16. Kenan Dracic (BIH) – 1:58.36

There were only two heats of the men’s 200 butterfly this morning, as only 19 athletes entered the event. That means only 3 swimmers did not advance to the semifinals tonight.

Richard Marton of Hungary was victorious in the first heat, clocking 1:54.95 in the process. Bulgarian freestyle ace, Petar Mitsin, took 2nd in the heat (1:55.28).

Noe Ponti, who set the European record in the 100 butterfly yesterday, posted 1:54.38 en route to victory in the second heat. Ed Mildred of Great Britain took 2nd in the heat, while Ramon Klenz of Germany hit the touchpad in 3rd.

Alberto Razzetti of Italy, the defending champion in this event, qualified through in 9th place (1:56.55). He also qualified in 9th position in the 200 IM about 30 minutes prior.

WOMEN’S 4×50 MEDLEY RELAY – HEATS

• World Record: Australia – 1:42.35 (2022)
• European Record: Sweden – 1:42.38 (2021)
• SC Euros Record: Netherlands – 1:42.69 (2009)

Top 8:

1. Italy – 1:45.98
2. Denmark – 1:47.03
3. Sweden – 1:47.23
4. Great Britain – 1:47.66
5. Czechia – 1:47.72
6. Slovenia – 1:48.38
7. Finland – 1:48.45
8. Netherlands – 1:48.57

The top two qualifiers for the final came out of heat one, as Italy and Denmark led the way. The Italian squad of Costanza Cocconcelli (27.14), Anita Bottazzo (29.89), Silvia Di Pietro (25.35), and Jasmine Nocentini (23.60) posted the fastest time of the morning by over a second, finishing in 1:45.98.

Denmark posted a time of 1:47.03 with the quartet of Julie Kepp Jensen (26.75), Schastine Tabor (30.01), Emilie Beckmann (25.48), and Signe Bro (24.79).

The 50 freestyle champion from yesterday, Michelle Coleman, led off the Swedish relay with a split of 26.86 on the backstroke leg. They advanced 3rd overall in 1:47.23.

WOMEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Katie Ledecky (USA) – 15:08.24 (2022)
• European Record: Sarah Wellbrock (GER) – 15:18.01 (2021)
• SC Euros Record: Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (RUS at time of record) – 15:18.30 (2021)

Top 8:

1. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (FRA) – 15:36.42
2. Ajna Kesely (HUN) – 15:55.94
3. Simona Quadarella (ITA) – 15:56.81
4. Lucie Hanquet (BEL) – 16:04.24
5. Alisee Pisane (BEL) – 16:05.20
6. Nora Fluck (HUN) – 16:08.42
7. Lara Grangeon (FRA) – 16:21.69
8. Louna Kasvio (FIN) – 16:23.19

After winning the 800 freestyle title yesterday, Anastasiia Kirpichnikova of France took the top qualifying spot in the 1500 (15:36.42). Kirpichnikova is the 3rd fastest performer of all-time in this event (15:18.30), which she recorded en route to winning the title in 2021. Based on how she performed in the 800, she has a great chance to repeat her gold medal performance in this 1500 tomorrow night.

Ajna Kesely of Hungary (15:55.94) and Simona Quadarella of Italy (15:56.81) qualified 2nd and 3rd, respectively. The top three qualifiers were the only individuals to dip under the 16-minute mark this morning.