2019 European Short Course Championships Day 5 Finals Live Recap

2019 LEN EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, December 4th – Sunday, December 8th
• Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
• SCM
• Entry List 
• Competition Schedule
• Results Documents 
• Live Video – LEN TV

KEEP REFRESHING THIS PAGE FOR LIVE, EVENT-BY-EVENT UPDATES OF ALL THE ACTION FROM GLASGOW.

For a World Record, athletes will earn a bonus of €10,000 (about $11,000), with European Records earning them €5,000 (about $5,500). The European Swimming Federation will also offer €220,000 (about $245,000) as prize money for the 12 best performances in the Men’s and Women’s events respectively. The best single-performance according to the FINA points table will receive €20,000.

WOMEN’S 50M FREESTYLE – SEMIFINALS

• WR     22.93 KROMOWIDJOJO R (NED) Berlin (GER) 2017
• WJR   23.98 SANCHEZ, K (CAN) Sheffield (GBR) 2018
• ER      22.93 KROMOWIDJOJO R (NED) Berlin (GER) 2017
• EJR    24.12 STANDARD TIME
• CR      23.30 SJOSTROM, S (SWE) Copenhagen (DEN) 2017

Mariia Kameneva came off the block like a shot, registering the top time of the women’s 100m free semi field in a lifetime best of 23.55. That outing overtakes the previous Russian national record held by Rozaliya Nasretdinova since 2017 with still the final yet to be raced tonight.

Anna Hopkin of Great Britain busted out a solid performance of 23.73, just .03 off of her own PB. She is the 2nd fastest British swimmer ever with a lifetime best of 23.70, with Olympian Fran Halsall owning the British record at 23.44 from 2009.

Danish 50m freestyle Olympic champion Pernille Blume is very much in the mix with her mark of 23.82, while veteran Olympian Femke Heemskerk and French racer Melanie Henique also got under the 24-second barrier to make the final. Blume owns a PB of 23.49 in this SCM 50 free.

Of note, Danielle Hill smashed her morning effort of 24.76 to log a new Irish national record of 24.44 to tie for 9th.

MEN’S 50M BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• WR     22.22 MANAUDOU, F (FRA) Doha (QAT) 2014
• WJR   22.77 KOLESNIKOV, K (RUS) Hangzhou (CHN) 2018
• ER      22.22 MANAUDOU, F (FRA) Doha (QAT) 2014
• EJR    22.77 KOLESNIKOV, K (RUS) Hangzhou (CHN) 2018
• CR      22.74 DONETS, S (RUS) Eindhoven (DEN) 2010

Russian ace Kliment Kolesnikov kept up his top seed from the morning, producing a solid semi swim of 23.00 to hold a .13 advantage over Germany’s Christian Diener. But, Diener earned silver in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events already here in Glasgow and will be extra hungry to finally stand atop the podium.

Ireland’s Shane Ryan is hanging in, capturing the 3rd seed in a time of 23.21, just off his morning effort of 23.16. Joe Litchfield also made the final, securing the 4th seed in 23.22. That’s within striking distance of the 23.09 British record currently held by now-retired Olympian Christopher Walker-Hebborn.

As suspected after his morning swim, Italy’s reigning gold medalist from Copenhagen, Simone Sabbioni, finished out of the final, as did Frenchman Jeremy Stravius, who took bronze 2 years ago. He’s in the 2nd reserve spot after 23.46 tonight.

Of note, World Record holder Florent Manaudou was absent from the blocks this morning.

WOMEN’S 200M BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• WR     2.14.57 SONI, R (USA) Manchester (GBR) 2009
• WJR   2.18.90 STANDARD TIME
• ER      2.15.21 PEDERSON, R M (DEN) Herning (DEN) 2013
• EJR    2.18.59 CHIKUNOVA, E (RUS) Kazan (RUS) 2019
• CR      2.15.21 PEDERSON, R M (DEN) Herning (DEN) 2013

Russia claimed the first gold medal of the final night of competition here in Glasgow, courtesy of Mariia Temnikova‘s podium-topping performance in the women’s 200m breast.

After hitting the wall this morning in the only sub-2:20 time of the field in 2:19.92 to lead the pack, the 24-year-old busted out an even quicker 2:18.35 to take the top prize by over a second this evening. That checks-in as the fastest of her career, overtaking her previous lifetime quickest of 2:18.85 notched at the 2018 Russian Nationals.

Temnikova stated post-race, “I’m extremely happy because I’ve done the task. I fought hard to be in the final and to get this medal.”

British record holder Molly Renshaw got it done for silver in 2:19.66, while Italy’s Martina Carraro produced an outing of 2:19.68 for bronze.

For Carraro, her time tonight represents a new Italian national record, with the 26-year-old becoming the first Italian female to get under 2:20 in the event. The previous Italian record stood at 2;20.56 from Francesca Fangio just last month.

As for Renshaw, she saw her 2:17.98 British national record go down earlier this weekend via Jocelyn Ulyett’s time of 2:17.10 from the Swim England Winter Nationals. After the race here in Glasgow, Renshaw commented, “I decided to go out fast and see if I was able to keep the pace till the end. The last 50m was a bit difficult but I’m satisfied with my achievement.”

MEN’S 100M FREESTYLE – FINAL

• WR     44.94 LEVEAUX, A (FRA) Rijeka (CRO) 2008
• WJR   46.12 CHALMERS, Kyle (AUS) Tokyo (JAP) 2016
• ER      44.94 LEVEAUX, A (FRA) Rijeka (CRO) 2008
• EJR    45.68 STANDARD TIME
• CR      44.94 LEVEAUX, A (FRA) Rijeka (CRO) 2008

In the battle of the Russians, it was Vlad Morozov who surged to the wall first in this men’s 100m free, logging a winning time of 45.53 for the gold.

Morozov split 21.52/24.01 to register a time well-off his personal best and Russian national record of 44.95 that’s been on the books for more than a year. However, in beating runner-up Alessandro Miressi of Italy and Vladislav Grinev of his native land of Russia, Morozov successfully captured the 50m/100m free double here in Glasgow.

Miressi posted the fastest time of his career last night in 46.03 to fall just inside the previous Italian national record of 46.04 Marco Orsi set in 2015. With his 45.90 silver medal-worthy swim this evening, the 21-year-old becomes his nation’s first-ever SCM 100 freestyler under the 46-second threshold.

For Grinev, despite earning a mark of 46.16 in the prelims and 46.26 in the semi-finals, the man mustered just 46.35 to snag the bronze.

Also, the men’s 200m freestyle silver medalist here, Duncan Scott, landed off the podium in 5th but produced a big personal best and Scottish national record of 46.58. We’ll see him again in the 100m IM 2 events ahead.

WOMEN’S 100M BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• WR     54.61 SJOSTROM, S (SWE) Doha (QAT) 2014
• WJR   55.99 IKEE, R (JAP) Tokyo (JAP) 2017
• ER      54.61 SJOSTROM, S (SWE) Doha (QAT) 2014
• EJR    56.42 STANDARD TIME
• CR      55.00 SJOSTROM, S (SWE) Copenhagen (DEN) 2017

The women’s 100m fly saw 16-year-old Anastasiya Shkurdai take home the gold, beating a veteran field in a time of 56.21. That not only scores the teen a new lifetime best and Belarusian national record in the fast and furious event, but it also makes her the new European Junior Record holder.

Shkurdai’s splits of 26.27/29.94 that rendered the 56.21 tonight overtook the previous European Junior benchmark of 56.42 that’s been on the books since records started being recognized. Shkurdai already produced a Europan Junior record in the women’s 50m fly event in which she finished 5th here in Glasgow.

She was ecstatic after the race, with the teen saying, “I am happy! I don’t believe this happened to me!”

Italian dynamo Elena Di Liddo fell one slot from the semi-finals last night to this final, claiming the silver in a time of 56.37. She owns the Italian national record in 56.06 from 2018.

Rounding out the top 3 was Greek swimmer Anna Ntountounaki, who logged a huge personal best of 56.44 to establish a new national record. She had never before been under the 57-second threshold, with her 57.18 PB from last night getting destroyed for bronze here.

MEN’S 100M IM – FINAL

• WR     50.26 MOROZOV, V (RUS) Eindhoven (NED) 2018
• WJR   50.63 KOLESNIKOV, K (RUS) Hangzhou (CHN) 2018
• ER      50.26 MOROZOV, V (RUS) Eindhoven (NED) 2018
• EJR    50.63 KOLESNIKOV, K (RUS) Hangzhou (CHN) 2018
• CR      50.76 MANKOC, P (SLO) Istanbul (TUR) 2009

Although Russia’s Sergei Fesikov led through the 75m mark, it was his teammate Kliment Kolesnikov who scorched a final 25m freestyle to take the 100m IM title in a time of 51.15 tonight.

Although that’s off his personal best of 50.63 that earned him gold at the 2018 Short Course World Championships, it was enough to get him on top of the podium ahead of Fesikov’s 51.59 tonight. Kolesnikov already took the men’s 100m back here in Glasgow and will compete in the 50m back shortly.

Kolesnikov said after the race, “It was so hard after the 50m back semis. But I’m happy that I had the strength to achieve this. I really wanted to win this gold and I’m especially happy for the Russan 1-2.”

Fesikov said, “The final was great and I am really happy to be here because this is my 7th final in this event since 2007. I like to fight with my friend Kliment and stand on the podium at the end”

Greek 200m IM hero Andreas Vazaios got himself another medal, taking the bronze in 51.62, only .03 out of silver. Vazaios’ time lowers his newly-minted national record of 51.75 logged in last night’s semi.

WOMEN’S 400M FREESTYLE – FINAL

• WR     3.52.92 TITMUS, A (AUS) Hangzhou (CHN) 2018
• WJR   3.53.97 WANG, J (CHN) Budapest (HUN) 2018
• ER      3.54.52 BELMONTE GARCIA, M (ESP) Berlin (GER) 2013
• EJR    3.58.91 GOSE, I (GER) Berlin (GER) 2019
• CR      3.54.85 MUFFAT, C (FRA) Chartes (FRA) 2012

World champion in the 1500m freestyle from this summer’s long course action in Gwangju, Korea, Italy’s Simona Quadarella kept her speedy swims going with gold here in the short course 400m free.

Stopping the clock in a time of 3:59.75, the soon-to-be-21-year-old marked the only sub-4:00 outing of the talented final. That represents the athlete’s first time ever under that barrier, inching the star closer to the 3:57.59 Italian national record held by icon Federica Pellegrini.

Of her race, Quadarella stated, “Amazing! I can’t believe it. I tried to start as fast as I could. For me, the 400m is very difficult, but I gave it everything I had.”

Taking silver this evening was Germany’s teen sensation Isabel Gose, who touched in 4:00.01 to hold off another teen in Hungary’s Ajna Kesely, who finished in 4:00.04.

Kesely was due to have Hungarian teammate Boglarka Kapas with her in this final, but the defending 400m free gold medalist from this meet in 2017 dropped after claiming the 4th seed of the morning.

As for Gose, the German owns the European Junior Record in this event with her lifetime best of 3:58.91 produced earlier this year. Gose was already a huge champion over the summer, winning the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle gold medals in Kazan at the European Short Course Championships.

Julia Hassler of Lichtenstein finished 5th in the final with her time of 4:01.53 slicing .01 off of her own national record.

MEN’S 200M BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• WR     1.48.24 SEITO, D (JAP) Hangzhou (CHN) 2018
• WJR   1.51.30 STANDARD TIME
• ER      1.49.00 CESH, L (HUN) Netanya (ISR) 2015
• EJR    1.52.02 MILAK, K (HUN) Szazhalombatta (HUN) 2017
• CR      1.49.00 CESH, L (HUN) Netanya (ISR) 2015

Incredibly just 2 races after earning 100m IM bronze, Greek powerhouse Andreas Vazaios made it happen for gold in the 200m fly tonight in Glasgow.

Splitting 53.51/56.72, the 25-year-old crushed a new Greek national record of 1:50.23 to scorch the field by well over a second. His previous national record stood at the 1:51.23 he produced at this same meet 2 years ago in Copenhagen where he took silver.

Vazaios stated post-race, “It’s part of my strategy to swim the 200m this way, to make the last 50m at maximum speed. I’m really so-so happy! My performance was Great. It was so hard to get his gold, but everything went great.”

The runner-up medal went to Germany’s Ramon Klenz tonight, with the 21-year-old putting up a time of 1:51.51. That’s within .30 of Thomas Rupprath’s national record of 1:51.21. It also hacks .37 off of his previous PB heading into this meet.

Bringing home the bronze for Britain was James Guy, with the Bath athlete powering his way to a lifetime best of 1:51.73. His performance checks-in as the 2015 200m free world champion’s first time ever under the 1:52 barrier. Entering Glasgow, Guy had been as fast as 1:52.08 from 2018’s Swim England Winter Nationals.

However, Guy’s outing here now makes him the 2nd fastest Briton of all-time, sitting only behind national record holder Joe Robuck and his time of 1:51.27. Guy said of his swim, “I fell great. I raced hard and smart. I knew I had a chance for a medal and just fought for that. And I’m getting stronger again.”

Ireland’s Brendan Hyland touched in a time of 1:55.06 for 8th, but, of note, this was his very first senior international final.

WOMEN’S 50M FREESTYLE – FINAL

• WR     22.93 KROMOWIDJOJO R (NED) Berlin (GER) 2017
• WJR   23.98 SANCHEZ, K (CAN) Sheffield (GBR) 2018
• ER      22.93 KROMOWIDJOJO R (NED) Berlin (GER) 2017
• EJR    24.12 STANDARD TIME
• CR      23.30 SJOSTROM, S (SWE) Copenhagen (DEN) 2017

Mariia Kameneva made the most of lane 4 in this women’s 50m free final, getting to the wall in a nearly identical time as her semi-final earlier in the session.

Touching in 23.56, only .01 slower than her 23.55 Russian national record, the 20-year-old is now the European Short Course champion in the event. She has already collected individual silver medals here in the 100m free and 100m IM events.

Runner-up went to Melanie Henique of France, who logged a rapid 23.66 for a new French national record. That overtakes the 23.81 Beryl Gastaldello produced at two different International Swimming League (ISL) meets this year.

Bronze went to the reigning 50m free Olympic champion Pernille Blume of Denmark. The 25-year-old got to the wall in a time of 23.73, off her PB of 23.49 from when she won bronze at this same meet in her home nation 2 years ago.

MEN’S 50M BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• WR     22.22 MANAUDOU, F (FRA) Doha (QAT) 2014
• WJR   22.77 KOLESNIKOV, K (RUS) Hangzhou (CHN) 2018
• ER      22.22 MANAUDOU, F (FRA) Doha (QAT) 2014
• EJR    22.77 KOLESNIKOV, K (RUS) Hangzhou (CHN) 2018
• CR      22.74 DONETS, S (RUS) Eindhoven (DEN) 2010

Taking his 2nd gold of the night, Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov soared to the wall to get the men’s 50m back gold after his 100m IM top finish.

Touching in 22.75, the 19-year-old produced the only sub-23 second time of the field, with Germany’s Christian Diener wrapping up silver in 23.07. For Diener, this represents his 3rd silver after already reaping the same result across the 100m and 200m distances here in Glasgow.

Getting a bronze for his nation of Ireland, Shane Ryan kept up his speed from throughout the rounds to clock a time of 23.12. That shaved .04 off of his 23.16 from the semi at the top of the night.

WOMEN’S 4X50M MEDLEY RELAY – FINAL

• WR      1.42.38 UNITED STATES, Hangzhou (CHN) 2018
• WJR    1.52.11 STANDARD TIME
• ER       1.42.69 NETHERLANDS, Istanbul (TUR) 2009
• EJR     1.50.85 STANDARD TIME
• CR        1.42.69 NETHERLANDS, Istanbul (TUR) 2009

In an incredibly close race that came down to the touch, the nation of Poland pulled out the upset over Italy and Russia in the women’s 4x50m medley relay tonight in Glasgow.

Led by Alicja Tchorz‘s 26.29 opener, Dominika Sztandera kept the momentum going with a 29.55 2nd leg. Kornelia Fiedkiewicz drove on with a mark of 25.75 on breast before Kasia Wasick sealed the deal with her 23.26 scorcher. All told, Poland hit the wall in 1:44.85, a new national record by just under a second.

Italy was right behind in 1:44.92, knocking down its national record as well. Elena Di Liddo‘s breast split of 25.02 helped keep the team right in the gold medal hunt.

Russia touched just .04 outside of silver, getting the bronze with a combination of Mariia Kameneva, Nika Godun, Arina Surkova and Daria S. Ustinova.

Of note, 2 years ago, the top 3 finishers in this race were Sweden, Denmark, and France, so we saw an entirely new podium this time around.

MEN’S 4X50M MEDLEY RELAY – FINAL

• WR     1.30.44 RUSSIA, Copenhagen (DEN) 2017
• WJR   1.38.29 STANDARD TIME
• ER      1.30.44 RUSSIA, Copenhagen (DEN) 2017
• EJR    1.38.29 STANDARD TIME
• CR      1.30.44 RUSSIA, Copenhagen (DEN) 2017

Taking the final event of these 2019 European Short Course Championships, the men’s 4x50m medley relay from Russia captured gold in a decisive time of 1:30.63. That outing falls within .20 of the World Record the same nation set at the 2017 edition of this meet.

This time around, it was Kliment Kolesnikov leading off in a time of 22.64, a new Championships Record in its own right, before Vlad Morozov busted out a time fo 25.53 on breast. Oleg Kostin, the men’s 50m fly winner here, produced a split of 21.61 before Vladislav Greinev fired off a 20.85 finishing statement.

For Kolesnikov, this event represents his 3rd gold medal of the evening, after reaping the same result in the 100m IM and 50m back.

Hungary took silver in 1:32.10, partly due to the wicked-fast back half combination of Szebaszian Szabo‘s fly leg of 21.77 and Maksim Lobanovskij‘s 20.27 monster of an anchor.

Belarus rounded out the top 3 in 1:32.29, just .23 off of their national record.