Blume, Ipsen Join Denmark’s European C’ships Roster Post-Danish Open

Meet Results

The 2018 Danish Open took place over the weekend, with almost 500 swimmers vying for spots on the European Championships and European Junior Championships roster for the nation. Also among the competitors were a faction of foreign athletes originating from countries including Sweden, Norway and Russia.

Although Denmark’s high-profile athletes to the tune of Rikke Møller Pedersen and Mie Ø. Nielsen were indeed in the water at the Bellahoj Swimming Stadium, a pair of big names were absent. Anton Ipsen, NCAA champion for NC State, is still in the United States, while Olympic champion Pernille Blume opted out of competing due to a nagging shoulder injury.

Said Blume prior to the start of the championships, “I have had persistent shoulder problems for some time and despite several efforts we did not manage to get rid of it. I have therefore had to take another step back in training and now focus on getting on top of the board so I’m ready for the summer’s championship. It’s really annoying and I wish it could be different.”

Nevertheless, per the Danish European Championship selection procedures, which you can read in full here, both Ipsen and Blume were still deemed eligible for te European Championships in accordance with the provisional qualification criteria.

For all others, the top 2 swimmers per the finals of Olympic events who equaled or bettered the selection standards were selected for the European Championships. When all was said and done, a total of 17 swimmers were selected to compete in Glasgow come August. The entire list of both European Senior and European Junior Championships rosters are below, while we’ve also highlighted some of the more notable performances from the Open.

Key Performances:

Medley relay bronze medalist from Rio, Mie Ø. Nielsen, did some damage across multiple events, qualifying for the European Championships in both the 100m back and 100m freestyle. After clocking a solid 1:00.51 to take the top seed in the form event, Nielsen fired off a mark of 59.73 to represent the only swimmer in the final to dip under the minute threshold. Her time outshines the 59.90 produced at the Golden Tour Sarcelles and moves the 21-year-old up into the list of top 10 women in the event worldwide.

Teammate Victoria Bierre also claimed a European Championships-worthy effort with a silver medal finish in that 100m backstroke in 1:01.74, sliding just narrowly under the 1:01.77 QT.

Nielsen didn’t have as much wiggle room in the women’s 100m freestyle, however, as the Aalborg native couldn’t quite catch the ultimate winner, Signe Bro, who scored the only sub-55 second outing of the final. Bro touched in 54.62, well under the 55.37 European Championships cut, while Nielsen sneaked her way under by just .10, touching in 55.27 for silver. Julie Kepp Jensen finished with the bronze, also under the QT in 55.29.

Sans Blume, Jensen topped the women’s 50m freestyle event, clocking 24.97 to earn a new personal best. That easily cleared the 25.45 nomination standard, as she represented the only splash n’ dasher to do so.

Rikke Møller Pedersen was on a mission as well, qualifying for the European Championships squad in all 3 breaststroke events. Pedersen notched a winning effort of 31.80 in the 50m, 1:08.61 in the 100m and 2:25.40 in the 200m breast. Of her performances, just her 200m breaststroke places among the top 25 times in the world, checking in as the 19th fastest swimmer this season. She’ll have her hands full in Glasgow competing against British duo Molly Renshaw and Chloe Tutton, along with Spain’s Jessica Val.

National record holder Viktor Bromer snatched a solid time in the 200m butterfly, touching in 1:56.50 for the win, while Tobias Bjerg earned the 50m breaststroke win in a new Danish national record of 27.76. Both men qualified for the European Championships squad.

Denmark’s European Championships Team:

Anna Wermuth, The Capital Swim Club

Anton Ø. Ipsen, Sigma Swim Birkerød / USA

Emilie Beckmann, Tune IF / GTI / NTC

Emily Gantriis, Helsinge Swimming Club / NTC

Helena Rosendahl Bach, Holstebro Swimming Club

Julie Kepp Jensen, JGI / A6

Laura Glerup Jensen, H2Odense

Maria Grandt, The Capital Swimming Pool

Matilde Schrøder, Berns Swim Team / NTC

Mie Ø. Nielsen, Aalborg Swimming Club / NTC

Pernille Blume, Holbæk Swimming Club / NTC

Rikke Møller Pedersen, Holbæk Swimming Club / NTC

Signe Bro, Triton Ballerup / NTC

Thea Blomsterberg, Sigma Swim Birkerød

Tobias B. Bjerg, AGF

Victoria Bierre, Gladsaxe Swim GSC / NTC

Viktor B. Bromer, Aalborg Swimming Club / NTC

Coaches:
Martin Truijens, NTC coach coach
Mads Bjørn Hansen, NTC coach
Jon Langberg, A6
Bjørn Sørensen, AGF
Mads May, Holstebro SvømmeClub
Olaf Wildeboer, The Capital Swim Club

Denmark’s European Junior Championships Team:

Alexander Aslak Nørgaard, Sigma Swim Birkerød,
Amalie Søby Mortensen, Holbæk Svømme Klub
Andreas Hansen, Vejle Swimming Club
Arthur Dalén Ellegaard, Lyngby Swimming Club
Clara Rybak-Andersen, Gentofte Swimming Club
Elisabeth Sabroe Ebbesen, Gentofte Svømmeklub
Ellen Nielsen, Esbjerg Svømmeklub
Jakob Juul, Vejle Swim Club,
Johanne Hingebjerg, The Royal Swim Club,
Josephine Kruse, Sigma Swim Allerød
Karoline Barrett, Greve Swim Club / GTI
Karoline Sørensen, Thisted Swim Club
Laura Fogh, HEI Aarhus Swim
Lucas Bruun Strøbek, Gentofte Swimming Club
Mia Steen Duus, Sigma Swim Birkerød
Oskar Lindholm, Lyseng IF Århus Swim
Regitze Gaard, Kvik Kastrup
Sebastian Tullberg, Sigma Swim Birkerød
Sofie Hansen, Kvik Kastrup
Thea Blomsterberg, Sigma Swim Birkerød