Matti Mattsson Mints Finnish 200 BR National Record (2:08.51) in Helsinki

2021 Helsinki Swim Meet

• Apr. 22-23, 2021
• Helsinki, FIN
• FINA Olympic Qualifying Standards
• Live Results
• Day 1 Prelims/Day 2 Prelims

During day one finals of the 2021 Helsinki Swim Meet, Matti Mattsson highlighted the session with his newly-minted Finnish national record in the 200 breast. After the preliminaries session, Austrian Christopher Rothbauer led the morning swims at a smooth 2:14.62, ahead of German Marco Koch (2:15.61) and Mattsson (2:15.62).

Into the final, Mattsson valiantly took his race out in a 29.18, establishing an early lead that couldn’t be broken down. Mattsson touched in at 2:08.51, taking down his 7-year-old national record/lifetime best of 2:08.95 from the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona, ESP. Mattson now jumps from No. 23 to No. 15 all-time in European history, as well as No. 10 in the world for the 2020-2021 season.

Mattsson’s Post-Race Interview

All-Time European Rankings — Men’s 200 BR LCM

1. Anton Chupkov (RUS), 2:06.12 — 2019
2. Arno Kamminga (NED), 2:06.85 — 2020
3. Daniel Gyurta (HUN), 2:07.23 — 2013
4. Ross Murdoch (GBR), 2:07.30 — 2014
5. Michael Jamieson (GBR), 2:07.43 — 2012
6. Marco Koch (GER), 2:07.47 — 2014
7. James Wilby (GBR), 2:07.49 — 2019
8. Andrew Willis (GBR), 2:07.73 — 2016
9. Giedrius Titenis (LTU), 2:07.80 — 2009
10. Erik Persson (SWE)/Kirill Prigoda (RUS), 2:07.85 — 2017/2020
11. (tie)
12. Ilya Khomenko (RUS), 2:08.09 — 2017
13. Adam Peaty (GBR), 2:08.34 — 2015
14. Loris Facci (ITA), 2:08.50 — 2009
15. Matti Mattsson (FIN), 2:08.51 — 2021**

German Koch finished in second place at 2:10.35, improving six-tenths from his winning time at the 2021 Swim Open Stockholm earlier this month. Koch is currently the No. 6 all-time European in this event at 2:07.47.

Austria’s Rothbauer settled for third at 2:12.43, just a second over his Stockholm swim at 2:11.53. Rothbauer did walk away with the men’s 50 breast win, clocking in a sub-28 effort of 27.83.

Koch’s Post-Race Interview

More Session Highlights:

Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu was another session highlight, casually topping three events in Helsinki. The Hungarian star put up winning times in the 100 fly (59.93), 200 IM (2:12.83), and 200 back (2:15.25). At the 2021 Hungarian Nationals, Hosszu picked up this year’s 200 IM national title at 2:11.47, which ranks within the top-20 times in the world this season.

Placing second to Hosszu in the IM was Finland’s Jenna Laukkanen, registering a time of 2:17.44. Laukkanen also picked up another runner-up finish in the 100 breast at 1:08.46 behind country-mate Ida Hulkko, splitting 31.29/36.03 to win the event at 1:07.32.

Picking up two wins in Helsinki on the men’s side was Hungarian Richard Bohus, first winning the 100 free by 0.09s over Finland’s Anton Herrala 50.34 to 50.43. Bohus then picked up a second win in the 100 back at 55.66.

Finals for the second and last day of the 2021 Helsinki Swim Meet is scheduled to begin at 6pm local time. Missed out on this morning’s prelims session? Check out our prelims recap here.

More Day One Winners:

• Women’s 50 Free: Michelle Coleman (SWE), 24.94
• Women’s 200 Free: Evelyn Verraszto (HUN), 2:01.98
• Women’s 800 Free: Laura Lahtinen (FIN), 8:59.31
• Men’s 400 Free: Balazs Hollo (HUN), 3:53.56
• Women’s 50 Back: Mimosa Jallow (FIN), 28.02
• Men’s 50 Fly: Ari-Pekka Liukkonen (24.07)
• Men’s 200 IM: David Verraszto (HUN), 1:59.51