2022 European Championships: Day 6 Prelims Live Recap

2022 EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Thursday, August 11 – Wednesday, August 17, 2022 (pool swimming)
• Rome, Italy
• Parco Del Foro Italico
• LCM (50m)
• Start Times
  • Prelims: 9:00 am local / 3:00 am ET
  • Finals: 6:00 pm local / 12:00 pm ET
• Meet Central
• Event Schedule
• Entries
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Day 6 Prelims Heat Sheet

DAY 6 PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

Day 6 Prelims Events:

• Men’s 50 Free
• Women’s 200 Fly
• Men’s 100 Back
• Women’s 50 Breast
• Men’s 200 IM
• Mixed 4×200 Free Relay

This morning’s prelims session features heats of the men’s 50 free, women’s 200 fly, men’s 100 back, women’s 50 breast, men’s 200 IM, and mixed 4×200 free relay.

Notably, 17-year-old Romanian freestyle star David Popovici is not entered the men’s 50 free. Even though he’s the World Record holder in the 100 free, Popovici isn’t a drop-dead sprinter in the first place, but he’s on an absolute tear at these Championships, and probably could have done some damage in the 50. Great Britain’s Ben Proud enters as the top seed, followed closely by France’s Maxime Grousset and Netherlands’ Thom de Boer. Grousset in particular has been racing well this week.

Great Britain’s Laura Stephens comes in as the top seed in the women’s 200 fly this morning, with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Lana Pudar closely behind. After her Bronze medal and national record performance in the 100 fly final last night, Pudar comes into this race with a lot of momentum. Keep an eye on European Record holder Katinka Hosszu as well. Hosszu is set to race in final of the 200 IM on night 6, and at least coming into today’s session, is set to race the 200 fly as well. Hosszu will be pushed by her Hungarian teammates to qualify for semifinals in the 200 fly this morning.

100 back World Record holder Thomas Ceccon is set to race in the men’s 100 back this morning, where he is heavily favored. After breaking the World Record at the World Championships 2 months ago, Ceccon has been racing very well at these Championships. He’s fresh off a new lifetime best in the 50 back last night, so another WR isn’t out of the question at this meet for Ceccon.

Italian breaststrokers have been dominant at these Championships. After winning Gold in the women’s 100 breast a few days ago, Benedetta Pilato will look to double up on titles in the women’s 50 breast. She’ll be pushed hard by Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte, who also has incredible speed.

Jeremy Desplanches, Tom Dean, and Hubert Kos all enter the men’s 200 IM with 1:56s today. A favorite is hard to pick here, but Kos has swum well this week.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: 20.91, Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 2009
• European Record: 20.94, Fred Bousquet (FRA) – 2009
• European Championship Record: 21.11, Ben Proud (GBR) – 2018
• 2020 European Champion: Ari-Pekka Liukkonen (FIN), 21.61

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Thom de Boer (NED) – 21.59
2. Ben Proud (GBR) – 21.78
3. Leonardo Deplano (ITA) – 21.89 (Tie)
4. Lorenzo Zazzeri (ITA) – 21.89 (Tie)
5. Vladyslav Bukhov (UKR) – 22.02
6. Kristian Gkolomeev (GRE) – 22.06
7. Bjorn Seeliger (SWE) – 22.13
8. Jesse Puts (NED) – 22.15
9. Heiko Gigler (AUT) – 22.17
10. Illya Linnyk (UKR) – 22.18
11. Diogo Ribeiro (POR) – 22.20
12. Meiron Cheruti (ISR) – 22.21
13. Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) – 22.22
14. Andrej Barna (SRB) – 22.23 (Tie)
15. Maxime Grousset (FRA) – 22.23 (Tie)
16. Pawel Jaraszek (POL) – 22.24

In an otherwise fairly quiet 50 free prelims, Dutchman Thom de Boer wasted no time getting after it, throwing down a 21.59 to clock the fastest time of the morning.  That time comes in just 0.01 seconds off de Boer’s lifetime best of 21.58, which also stands as the Dutch Record in the event. Moreover, his swim this morning was faster than what he did at the World Championships in June. In prelims at Worlds, de Boer was 21.91. He then missed out on qualifying for finals, swimming a 21.99 in semifinals.

Top seed Ben Proud had a solid morning swim as well, clocking a 21.78. Proud won the men’s 50 free at Worlds in June, swimming a 21.32.

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record: 2:01.81 – Liu Zige, CHN (2009)
• European Record: 2:04.27 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2009)
• European Championships Record: 2:04.79 – Mireia Belmonte, ESP (2014)
• 2020 European Champion: Boglarka Kapas, HUN – 2:06.50

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Helena Bach (DEN) – 2:08.66
2. Keanna MacInnes (GBR) – 2:09.72
3. Ilaria Cusinato (ITA) – 2:09.75
4. Laura Stephens (GBR) – 2:10.30
5. Lana Pudar (BIH) – 2:10.82
6. Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN) – 2:11.02
7. Antonella Crispino (ITA) – 2:11.15
8. Ana Monteiro (POR) – 2:11.40
9. Holly Hibbott (GBR) – 2:11.41 (X – country limit)
10. Laura Lahtinen (FIN) – 2:12.44
11. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2:13.59
12. Julia Pujadas (ESP) – 2:13.73
13. Anastasia Tichy (AUT) – 2:14.00
14. Amina Kajtaz (CRO) – 2:14.10
15. Mireia Belmonte (ESP) – 2:16.75
16. Fanny Borer (SUI) – 2:16.91
17. Aleksandra Knop (POL) – 2:17.74

In an already small field coming into the event, the women’s 200 fly saw 3 no-shows this morning, including Hungary’s Reka Nyiradi and Dalma Sebestyen, as well as Israel’s Leah Polonsky. With the absences, the field was down to just 19 swimmers, meaning only 3 would miss out on advancing to semifinals.

Denmark’s Helena Bach led the way in a strong heat 1, swimming a 2:08.66. With Great Britain’s Keanna MacInnes and Italy’s Ilaria Cusinato pushing her, Bach would speed to the fastest time of the morning. Interestingly, MacInnes and Cusinato would also be the only other swimmers this morning to crack 2:10.

Notably, Katinka Hosszu made the decision to go forward with her double today, racing the 200 fly this morning. She got the job done, swimming a 2:13.59 to finish 11th overall. Hosszu will also be racing in the women’s 200 IM final tonight, alongside the 200 fly semifinal.

MEN’S 100 BACK – HEATS

• World Record: 51.60, Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 2022 World Championships
• European Record: 51.60, Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 2022 World Championships
• European Championships Record: 52.11, Camille Lacourt – 2010
• 2020 European Champion: Robert Glinta (ROU) – 52.88

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 53.71
2. Apostolos Christou (GRE) – 53.78
3. Joao Costa (POR) – 53.87
4. Roman Mityukov (SUI) – 54.01
5. Ksawery Masiuk (POL) – 54.04
6. Michele Lamberti (ITA) – 54.37
7. Lorenzo Mora (ITA) – 54.41 (X – country limit)
8. Jonathon Adam (GBR) – 54.43
9. Kacper Stokowski (POL) – 54.44
10. Yohann Ndoye Brouard (FRA) – 54.49
11. Tomas Franta (CZE) – 54.52
12. Ole Braunschweig (GER) – 54.53
13. Jonathon Marshall (GBR) – 54.57
14. Benedek Kovacs (HUN) – 54.67
15. Matteo Restivo (ITA) – 54.69 (X – country limit)
16. Mewen Tomac (FRA) – 55.33
17. Markus Lie (NOR) – 55.34
18. Oleksandr Zheltyakov (UKR) – 55.49

World Record holder Thomas Ceccon looked smooth and in control this morning as he cruised to the top time of the morning in 53.71. Coincidentally, he finished just ahead of Greece’s Apostolos Christou in terms of times this morning, a nod to the battle the two had in the 50 back final last night, where Christou emerged victorious.

Joao Costa was the 3rd fastest swimmer this morning, coming in at 53.87. With the swim, Costa broke his own Portuguese Record in the event by 0.01 seconds. Costa notably had the fastest 2nd 50 in the field this morning, coming home in 27.50.

200 back champion Yohann Ndoye Brouard was in the mix this morning as well, finishing 10th overall at 54.49. After cracking the French Record in the 200 back a few days ago, Ndoye Brouard is one to keep an eye on as we move forward in the event.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE

• World Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (ITA) – 2021 European Championships
• European Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (ITA) – 2021 European Championships
• European Championship Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (ITA) – 2021
• 2021 European Champion: Benedetta Pilato (ITA), 29.30

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Arianna Castiglioni (ITA) – 29.91
2. Benedetta Pilato (ITA) – 29.93
3. Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 30.12
4. Imogen Clark (GBR) – 30.18
5. Veera Kivirinta (FIN) – 30.34
6. Lisa Angiolini (ITA) – 30.62 (X – county limit)
7. Sophie Hansson (SWE) – 30.80
8. Martina Carraro (ITA) – 30.90 (X – country limit)
9. Florine Gaspard (BEL) – 30.94
10. Ana Rodrigues (POR) – 31.04 (Tie)
11. Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) – 31.04 (Tie)
12. Anne Palmans (NED) – 31.37
13. Mona McSharry (IRL) – 31.41
14. Klara Thormalm (SWE) – 31.43
15. Kara Hanlon (GBR) – 31.60
16. Lisa Mamie (SUI) – 31.72
17. Dominika Sztandera (POL) – 31.74
18. Maria Drasidou (GRE) – 31.77

In another Italian breaststroke blitz, it was Arianna Castiglioni who led the way this morning, speeding to a 29.91. She was just a tick faster than 100 breast champion Benedetta Pilato, who swam a 29.93. The World Record holder in the event, Pilato has been as fast as 29.30 before, a time which she swam to win the European Championships title last year.

Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte was next in, swimming a 30.12. Meilutyte won Gold at the World Championships in June, swimming a 29.70.

Ana Rodrigues finished in a tie for 10th overall with a 31.04, breaking the Portuguese Record.

Notably, 200 breast champion Lisa Mamie narrowly qualified for semifinals in the 50 this morning, swimming a 31.72.

MEN’S 200 IM – HEATS

• World Record: 1:54.00, Ryan Lochte (USA) – 2011 World Championships
• European Record: 1:55.18, László Cseh (HUN) – 2009 World Championships
• European Championship Record: 1:56.66, László Cseh (HUN) – 2012
• 2020 European Champion: Hugo González (ESP), 1:56.76

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Gabriel Lopes (POR) – 1:58.94
2. Carles Coll (ESP) – 2:00.56
3. Vadym Naumenko (UKR) – 2:00.60
4. Hubert Kos (HUN) – 2:00.65
5. Andreas Vazaios (GRE) – 2:01.03
6. Ron Polonsky (ISR) – 2:01.05
7. Enzo Tesic (FRA) – 2:01.28
8. Jeremy Desplanches (SUI) – 2:01.47
9. Eitan Ben Shitrit (ISR) – 2:01.55
10. Daniil Giourtzidis (GRE) – 2:01.69
11. Anze Fers Erzen (SLO) – 2:01.98
12. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 2:02.16
13. Pier Matteazzi (ITA) – 2:02.66
14. Emilien Mattenet (FRA) – 2:04.24
15. William Lulek (SWE) – 2:04.29
16. Richard Nagy (SVK) – 2:04.51

Portugal’s Gabriel Lopes led the field by a wide margin this morning, speeding to a 1:58.94 to finish as the only swimmer in 2:00. The swim comes in just off Alexis Santos’ Portuguese Record of 1:58.a9, which was set in 2019. This morning, Lopes swam a great race all around, splitting 25.66 on fly, 29.50 on back, 34.03 on breast, and 29.75 on free.

Top seed Jeremy Desplanches was in cruise control this morning, swimming a 2:01.47 to finish 8th overall.

Israel’s Ron Polonsky was blazing coming home this morning, splitting 28.74 on the freestyle leg, which was the fastest free split in the field.

Tom Dean, the #2 seed in the event, didn’t swim this morning, marking the latest individual scratch in a long line for Dean.

MIXED 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – HEATS

• World Record: N/A
• European Record: N/A
• European Championships Record: 7:26.67, Great Britain (Dean, Guy, Wood, Anderson) – 2020
• 2020 European Champion: Great Britain (Dean, Guy, Wood, Anderson) – 7:26.67

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. France – 7:38.82
2. Great Britain – 7:40.84
3. Italy – 7:41.22
4. Poland – 7:41.33
5. Netherlands – 7:41.51
6. Hungary – 7:41.87
7. Israel – 7:44.06
8. Denmark – 7:47.36

The field wasn’t particularly fast this morning, but France led the way with a 7:38.82. They were fueled by a strong performance from their men’s swimmers, seeing Roman Fuchs lead-off in 1:48.04, with Wissam-Amazigh Yebba throwing down a sizzling 1:46.86 on the second leg. The French women were 2:01 and 2:02, respectively, on the back-half. This was a cruise into the final for most of the top contenders, so expect big changes in the evening session for most of the qualifying squads.

Notably, this morning’s performances marked the first time Sweden, France, and Poland officially competed in a mixed 4×200 free relay, so their performances this morning stand as national records.