2017 Luxembourg Open Swimming Championships
- July 1-2, 2017
- Luxembourg
- Meet central
- Live results
A portion of Egypt’s men’s freestyle crew, which is rising in global prominence, was the highlight of the 2017 Luxembourg Open Swimming Nationals last weekend. In total, Mazen el Kamash and Mohamed Samy combined to win 5 events at the two-day meet, highlighted by individual dominance of the University newcomer Samy across 3 different stroke disciplines.
Races Won by the Egyptians:
- 50 free – El Kamash, 23.45
- 100 free – Samy, 49.84
- 200 free – Samy, 1:50.88
- 50 back – Samy, 25.54 (Meet Record)
- 200 IM – Samy, 2:02.99
Samy’s 50 backstroke wasn’t just a Meet Record, it also broke the Egyptian Record in the race. Samy hit FINA “B” standards for World Championship qualifying, in all 4 of his wins, but none were fast enough for an A standard. Nor was El Kamash’s time, meaning that they’re still unlikely to get individual swims in Budapest because of their compatriots who have been faster. An A standard would have allowed Egypt to send multiple swimmers in those events.
Other Meet Highlights:
- Italy’s Matteo Masiero won both the 50 (24.86) and 100 (54.50) butterflies. Both are within a few tenths of his personal bests.
- Several events were won by home-nation swimmers, including the country’s swimming flagbearer Lauren Carnol, who won the 100 breaststroke in 1:02.84.
- Top-8 Dutch sprinter Valerie Van Roon, only 19 years old, swam 25.72 in the 50 free. She beat out Julie Meynen (26.11) for the victory.
- Ilaria Cella broke the Meet Record in the 800 free, swimming 8:48.03. She also won the 400 free (4:17.13).
- Cella’s teammate Stefania Cartapani won the 50 backstroke in a Meet Record of 29.16. The old record of 29.33 was set last year by her countrymate Veronica Neri. Neri took 2nd this year in 23.49 – slower than she was last year. Cartapani also won the 100 backstroke (1:02.86).
- Iceland’s Hrafnhildur Luthersdottir won the 50 breaststroke in a new Meet Record of 31.28, the 100 in 1:08.43, and the 200 in 2:31.67 – making her the only swimmer to sweep a discipline at the meet.
- Josien Wikhuijs broke the Meet Record in the 50 fly, swimming a 26.70 in finals. That bested her own record of 27.04 from prelims, which in turn broke Theresa Michalak’s 27.37 record from 2011.
- Wikhuijs was 2nd in the 100 fly, which was won by Dutch swimmer Kinge Zandringa in a new Meet Record of 59.02. She’s the same age as the aforementioned Van Roon. Wikhuijs won again in the 200 fly (2:25.76).
