2025 EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
- December 2-7, 2025
- Lublin, Poland
- SCM (25 meters)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Live Recaps:
MEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE — Final
- WR: 14:06.88 – Florian Wellbrock, GER (2021)
- WJ: 14:20.64 – Kuzey Tuncelli, TUR (2024)
- ER: 14:06.88 – Florian Wellbrock, GER (2021)
- EJ: 14:20.64 – Kuzey Tuncelli, TUR (2024)
- CR: 14:08.06 – Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA (2015)
Top 8
- Daniel Wiffen (IRL)- 14:13.96
- Zalan Sarkany (HUN)- 14:15.51
- Florian Wellbrock (GER)- 14:19.26
- David Betlehem (HUN)- 14:19.65
- Bartosz Kapala (POL)- 14:26.44
- Victor Johansson (SWE)- 14:27.34
- Sacha Velly (FRA)- 14:35.20
- Kuzy Tuncelli (TUR)- 14:43.60
Zalan Sarkany crushed the previous Hungarian record in the 1500 free to take silver tonight, hacking nearly eight seconds from the time David Betlehem posted back in 2023.
Bethlehem was in the field tonight and also under his old mark of 14:22.27, clocking 14:19.65 for 4th place.
Sarkany led for 95% of this race, only falling behind eventual winner Dan Wiffen on the final 75. Wiffen defended his 2023 title in the event, his second medal of the meet after taking bronze in the 400 free on Day 1.
The Hungarian swimmer’s previous best was set in the same race that Bethlehem set the previous national record. Sarkany touched there in 14:23.31, just 0.04 seconds behind his compatriot’s mark of 14:23.27, but flipped the script tonight.
Compared to both 2023 swims, Sarkany was faster throughout the entire race. He kept all three 500s under 4:48, and despite falling behind Wiffen at the end, closed over three seconds faster than his previous best.
Split Comparison
| David Betlehem – 2023 Hungarian SC Champs | Zalan Sarkany – 2023 Hungarian SC Champs | Zalan Sarkany – 2025 European SC Champs | |
| 500 | 4:45.52 | 4:45.61 | 4:43.76 |
| 1000 | 9:36.01 (4:50.49) | 9:36.03 (4:50.42) | 9:31.41 (4:47.65) |
| 1500 | 14:23.27 (4:47.26) | 14:23.31 (4:47.28) | 14:15.51 (4:44.10) |
Sarkany is now tied for 7th all-time with Asian Record-holder Park Tae Hwan.
Top 10 Men’s SCM 1500m Freestyle Performers All-Time
- Florian Wellbrock (GER) – 14:06.88, 2021
- Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) – 14:08.06, 2015
- Dan Wiffen (IRE) – 14:09.11, 2023
- Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR) – 14:09.14, 2018
- Grant Hacket (AUS) – 14:10.10, 2001
- Ahmed Hafnaoui (TUN) – 14:10.94, 2021
- Park Tae Hwan (KOR)/Zalan Sarkany (HUN) – 14:15.51, 2016/2025
- –
- Yuriy Prilukov (RUS) – 14:16.13, 2006
- Ahmed Jaouadi (TUN) – 14:16.40, 2024
In addition, he ranks as the #2 swimmer in the world this season.
2025-2026 SCM Men 1500 FREE
WIFFEN
14:13.96
| 2 | Zalan Sarkany | HUN | 14:15.51 | 12/04 |
| 3 | Florian Wellbrock | GER | 14:19.26 | 12/04 |
| 4 | Dávid BETLEHEM | HUN | 14:19.65 | 12/04 |
| 5 | Sam Short | AUS | 14:25.26 | 10/02 |
Zarkany trains with the University of Indiana, after transferring from Arizona State last summer. He is the reigning NCAA champion in the mile and the top swimmer in the NCAA this season, looking well placed to defend his title.
He won 2025 NCAAs in 14:21.29, and has already been 14:23.85 this season to win the event at the Ohio State invite just two weeks ago.
He set a new best in the 400 free on Day 1 here in Lublin., placing 6th in the final in 3:38.03. His final swim of the meet will come in the 800 free, where he is the defending World short course champion.
Sarkany posted a Hungarian record of 7:29.50 at the World Cup stop in Westmont, and comes in as the fastest seed. While Dan Wiffen will be aiming to continue Ireland’s fantastic championships and defend his 2023 title, Sarkany may well be the favorite.
