One day after his 18th birthday, Spaniard Luca Hoek can buy himself a celebratory beer for downing his own national record in the 50 free.
Hoek rocked a 21.93 in the long course splash-and-dash on the second day of his country’s Spring Open Championships. See the video below.
This is the 2nd sub-22 performance by a Spanish national. The first came from Hoek himself with a 21.99 at last summer’s Euro Juniors in Slovakia. Prior to that, the NR belonged to a supersuited Javier Noriega at 22.04 from 2009.
The effort ranks Hoek 17th in the world this season, 6th among Europeans, and 2nd among 18-and-under swimmers, trailing only Ukrainian WJR holder Nikita Sheremet in the latter group.
Among all-time 18&under performers by birth year, Hoek moves up to #5. He has another nine months, which notably includes the European Championships and Euro Juniors, to gun for Sheremet and Michael Andrew’s World Junior mark.
All-Time 18 & Under Performers (By Birth Year), Boys’ 50 Freestyle (LCM)
T-1. Michael Andrew (USA), 21.75 – 2017
T-1. Nikita Sheremet (UKR), 21.75 – 2025
- Artem Selin (GER), 21.83 – 2019
- Diogo Ribeiro (POR), 21.92 – 2022
- Luca Hoek Le Guenedal (ESP), 21.93 – 2026
- David Curtiss (USA), 21.95 – 2019
- Jacob Mills (GBR), 21.96 – 2025
- Vladyslav Bukhov (UKR), 21.97 – 2020
- Evgeny Sedov (RUS), 21.98 – 2014
- Yu Hexin (CHN), 22.00 – 2014
Hoek is slated to swim the 100 free on Sunday, an event in which he also holds the national record in. With a 48.04, the new adult is on 47 watch. He also appears on the 200 free start list for Saturday’s session, coming in with a 1:48.35 seed. A Spanish and French dual citizen, Hoek is representing CN Terrassa from his home autonomous community of Catalonia.
Nikita Sheremet 21.62 in Westmont 03/07/26, #2 18 & under all-time
You’re right, but this post is just among times swum when considered 18&under by WJR standards (18 by end of year). Here’s the full 18&under list by birthday with Sheremet’s 21.62 https://www.instagram.com/p/DV2Y67YjAo8/?igsh=MXY3aXhsaGVsNmt2
Get this man to Virginia Tech immediately!!
Wow that’s a group with remarkably poor senior level results for how fast they were as juniors. Not really a great list to be a part of
Is this ragebait bro
Dude Diogo Ribeiro went 21.6 last year, and he seems to be in excelent form. Portuguese nationals at the end of March he’s gonna compete there, curious to see the results. I’m portuguese and he’s the best ever swimmer we’ve had in Portugal
Spain seems to be building momentum as a swimming nation
I would say they’re in a worse spot than they were 10 years ago
We are. And its sad. I dont know what happened with the VTech guys like Luis Domínguez or Mario Molla but they havent raced in a long long time
Any rumors on if he’s planning to come to college in the US?
David Curtis the goat