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
WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, Australia (2024)
- European Record: 1:52.98 – Federica Pellegrini, Italy (2009)
- Championship Record: 1:54.95 – Charlotte Bonnet, France (2018)
Top 8:
- Barbora Seemanova (CZE) – 1:55.37
- Minna Abraham (HUN) – 1:57.22
- Nicole Maier (GER) – 1:57.36
- Snaefridur Sol Jorunnardottir (ISL) – 1:57.85
- Daria Golovaty (ISR) – 1:58.62
- Janja Segel (SLO) – 1:58.91
- Francisca Martins (POR) – 1:59.11
- Leah Schlosshan (GBR) – 1:59.38
Hungary’s Minna Abraham got under the Olympic Qualifying Time, also known as the ‘A’ cut, of a 1:57.26 as she touched in a 1:57.22 en route to a silver medal on night 4 at the 2024 European Championships.
Abraham broke the 1:58-second mark for the first time last December at the 2023 US Open while training with the University of Southern California (USC) as she swam a 1:57.96. Since then, her fastest time in the event was a 1:58.46 at the 2nd stop of the Mare Nostrum series at the end of May.
Here in Serbia, Abraham led the women’s 800 free relay off in a 1:58.39 on night 1, about a second off of the cut. In the individual race, she swam a 1:58.83 in prelims before coming even closer to the cut in semifinals with a 1:57.65. Then, in finals, she was able to secure the cut with a 1:57.22.
Many emotions took over Abraham who had tears of joy on the side of the pool deck after the race.
“[This is] Insane. I was in the call room. I was like, I’m so nervous. I need to get that A cut. I’ve been working so hard and when I was racing, I think I had a pretty good race plan. I saw Barbora [Seemanova] go super fast next to me, but I knew that I could count with that. When I saw the board, I was second and I’m like right under the A cut. I couldn’t believe it. I saw my family, my friends, were all cheering, it was insane, I’m so happy.”
In addition to her individual qualification for Paris, Abraham will look to be a part of the Hungarian relays. The women qualified both the 4×100 and 4×200 freestyle relays. Abraham spoke on what she is looking forward to most in Paris.
“Just being there, being part of the special Hungarian relays. We have amazing relays right now. Being there, hopefully making finals and just seeing what I can take my individual 200 to.”
Abraham just finished up her freshman year at USC. At the Mare Nostrum Series, she spoke to SwimSwam’s Coleman Hodges on the impact the college season had and said that long course season and the NCAA season “compliment each other really well.” She had more praise for USC and the NCAA schedule here in Serbia as well.
“[Being at USC] absolutely helped my like racing and confidence. I was in the car I was thinking about all the relays I’ve anchored and everything I’ve like done out there, race after race every single weekend and how like I know I’m capable of this and that’s how I stood up there like I can do this. I know I’m capable of it so but I think it really helped.”
Congrats, Minna!