The Danish Short Course Nationals wrapped up Sunday night in Gladsaxe. While Mie Nielsen (Aalborg) won two more titles, neither swim was exceptional for her. Instead the night was dominated by the next generation of Danish swimming.
Nielsen won the 200 freestyle in 1:57.30, then cruised to a 50 backstroke win in 27.24. Nielsen has swum a wide program in Gladsaxe, and leaves the meet with seven individual titles. She was hardly challenged the entire weekend, but it’s fitting that she was the lone Danish star to take part this weekend. Nielsen, still just 19 years old, should bridge the gap between veterans like Rikke Møller Pedersen and Jeanette Ottesen to younger swimmers.
While Nielsen basked in the glow of victory, she had to see one of her own junior national records broken. 15 year old Katrine Bukh Villesen of Thisted won the 400 IM in 4:41.33. Villesen has come on incredibly strong, improving 20 seconds in that event in the last year. She will now try her hand at the Nordic Junior, and pending a similarly strong long course performance, European Junior stage.
Another strong youth performance came from Andreas Kaas Elmgreen of Lyngby. Elmgreen made the leap from Danish Age Group Champion to Senior Champion in one competition, taking the 200 backstroke in 1:59.76 at just 16 years old. He was just 2:05 a year ago, and with plenty more junior swimming to go has a good chance to break the Danish Junior record of 1:55.80.
Other winners on the final night in Gladsaxe:
- Caroline Erichsen, Sigma, in the 100 butterfly (58.39)
- Nicholas Blanch, Aalborg, in the 1500 free (15:23.04)
- Magnus Sloth Poulsen, Herlev, 100 butterfly (53.03)
Full results, Danish Short Course Nationals.
