50 freestyle
Vladimir Morozov of Russia goes into Berlin with the top ranked time in Europe having posted a 21.55 at the Russian Nationals in May. Morozov had a breakout year in 2013 winning the silver at the World Championships in Barcelona posting a lifetime best of 21.47 as well as collecting gold at the 2013 Universiade in Kazan.
Olympic champion Florent Manaudou of France comes into the championships with the second fastest time of 21.70, which he posted in April at the French National Championships. Manaudou had an incredible 2012 winning Olympic gold in a time of 21.34. He was not as sharp in 2013 finishing fifth at the World Championships in Barcelona.
19 year old Ben Proud was impressive in Glasgow collecting the gold in the 50 freestyle in a time of 21.92. His time in the semi-final though was more impressive as Proud set a new games and British record of 21.76. He has improved a great deal in the event over the last two years entering the 2013 season with a lifetime best of 22.65.
One of either Andrey Grechin and Sergey Fesikov will most likely be in the top six. Grechin has a season’s best time of 21.94 and a lifetime best of 21.82 which he posted in 2012. Fesikov comes into Berlin with a season’s best of 22.03 and a lifetime best of 21.98.
Only one of the two will have a chance to compete in the final as there is a limit of only two participants from each country.
Konrad Czerniak of Poland has the fifth ranked time in Europe posting both a season and lifetime best of 21.94. It will be interesting to see if Czerniak competes in the 50 freestyle in Berlina since he has not competed in this event at most major international competitions.
Italians Luca Dotto and Marcro Orsi enter the championships with the eighth and ninth ranked times. Dotto, who took the silver at the 2011 World Championships, has posted a season’s best of 22.10 and has a lifetime best of 21.90. Orsi, who tied for fourth at the 2012 European Championships, has recorded a 22.22 and has a lifetime best of 21.82 which he posted in 2009.
My top six:
- Florent Manaudou (FRA) – 21.34 (2012)
- Vladimir Morozov (RUS) – 21.47 (2013)
- Ben Proud (GBR) – 21.76 (2014)
- Andrey Grechin (RUS) – 21.82 (2012)
- Konrad Czerniak (POL) – 21.94 (2014)
- Luca Dotto (ITA) – 21.90 (2011)
100 freestyle
Vladimir Morozov comes into Berlin with the top ranked time in Europe having recorded a time of 48.25. Morozov has the fastest lifetime best in the field by a long shot posting a time of 47.62 to win the event at last year’s Universiade in Kazan. He also finished fifth at the World Championships in Barcelona.
The Russian will be a heavy favourite in Berlin.
Fabien Gilot of France and Italian Luca Dotto were the two other Europeans in the final of the 100 freestyle in Barcelona last summer. Gilot has posted a season’s best of 48.73 and has a textile best of 48.02 which he posted in 2008. He did record his fastest time since 2011 last year in the semi-finals in Barcelona finishing in a time of 48.21.
Dotto has posted a season’s best of 48.96. He has a lifetime best of 48.24 which he recorded in 2011.
German Paul Biedermann, who was knocked him out of the 2013 season due to illness, comes into Berlin with the second fastest time of 48.31. This is not a common event for Biedermann to race at international competitions, as he mainly sticks to the 200 and 400 freestyle.
Biedermann’s German teammate Steffen Deibler enters the competition with a season’s best of 48.56. Deibler did not swim the event at the World Championships last year, choosing to focus on the 100 butterfly, but did record a lifetime best of 48.43 leading off the men’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay.
Assuming that Morozov will be in the final Russian Sergey Fesikov will try to beat out teammate Alexander Sukhorukov for a spot in the final. Fesikov has a season’s best of 48.76 and lifetime best of 48.43 which he recorded in 2009. His textile best is a 48.63 which he posted last year.
Sukhorukov comes into Berlin with a season and lifetime best of 48.66.
Frenchman Fabien Gilot, Florent Manaudou and Mehdy Metella will battle for a spot in the final. Manaudou has a season’s best of 48.69 and a lifetime best of 48.41 while Metella has a season and lifetime best of 48.72.
My top six:
- Vladimir Morozov (RUS) – 47.62 (2013)
- Steffen Deibler (GER) – 48.43 (2013)
- Alexander Sukhorukov (RUS) – 48.66 (2014)
- Fabien Gilot (FRA) – 48.02 (2008)
- Florent Manaudou (FRA) – 48.41 (2013)
- Luca Dotto (ITA) – 48.24 (2011)
I sense a big win for Manaudou in 47mid
The big question is Manaudou in the 100 free.
Nobody knows what to expect.
He swam the fastest time ever in textile in short course in 45.04 last December.
But long course is another story.
He had shoulder problems after that race and his straight arm technique is hard for his shoulders.
He has perhaps a body too big, too heavy and too muscular to swim a fast 100 free in long course. 😆 I don’t know.
It will be the surprise. Hopefully a good surprise for the French team.
Morozov is of course the huge favorite.