Hubert Kos Opts For 200 IM Over 100 Back On Day 6 Of European Championships

2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• June 17-23, 2024
• LCM (50 meters)
• Belgrade, Serbia
• Prelims: 9:30 am local time
• Finals: 6:30 pm local time
• Psych Sheets 
• Men’s Storylines
• Women’s Storylines
• Live Results
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Live Recap | Day 3 Finals Live Recap
• Day 4 Prelims Live Recap | Day 4 Finals Live Recap
• Day 5 Prelims Live Recap
• Day 5 Finals Live Recap

Day 6 Prelims Heat Sheets

Day 6 Prelims Event Lineup

• Men’s 50 free
• Women’s 200 fly
• Men’s 200 back
• Women’s 50 breast
• Men’s 200 IM
• Mixed 4×200 free relay

Vladyslav Bukhov of Ukraine enters the men’s 50 free as the top seed. Bukhov holds the Ukrainian national record in the event as he swam a 21.38 in semifinals at the 2024 World Championships before swimming to gold in a 21.44 in finals. Sweden’s Bjorn Seeliger comes in as the #2 seed with a 21.67 entry time. Another name to watch for in prelims is Serbia’s Andrej Barna who has been on fire in his home country as he blasted a 46.86 100 free split the other night.

The women’s 200 fly only has two heats and Lana Pudar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) will look to defend her title from two years ago. Pudar notably won bronze in the 200 fly at the 2024 World Championships in a 2:07.92. After just missing the podium in the 100 fly last night, Denmark’s Helena Bach will look for revenge as she enters as the #2 seed just behind Pudar in a 2:06.93. With only two heats, it is important to watch the two-per-country rule especially as teams such as Hungary have four entries.

The men’s 100 backstroke has a notable scratch as Hubert Kos has opted to focus on the 200 IM, which takes place later in the morning. Greek national record holder Apostolos Christou enters as the top seed with a 52.70 just ahead of Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk, the only other sub-53 second entry as Masiuk has a 52.92 entry time. The two finished 1-2 in the 50 backstroke last night.

Finland’s Veera Kivirinta enters the women’s 50 breast as the top seed. The 100 breast Eneli Jefimova of Estonia champion is not entered in the event so there might be another breaststroke champion.

With his scratch in the 100 back, Hubert Kos of Hungary will solely focus on the 200 IM this morning as he is tied as the top seed along with Hungary’s Gabor Zombori. Both swimmers have a 1;57.88 entry time. Zombori notably won bronze in the 400 IM earlier this week while Kos has been highlighted by silver in the 100 fly. 2020(1) Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist in the event Jeremy Desplanches of Switzerland enters as the #3 seed in a 1:58.00.