2023 European Short Course Championships: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2023 EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• December 5-10, 2023
• Otopeni Olympic Swimming Complex, Bucharest, Romania
• Short Course Meters (25 meters)
• Prelims 2:30am (ET), Finals 11am (ET)
• Entries Book
• Live Results (Omega)
• Live Results (Microplus Timing)
• Eurovision Sport Livestream
• Day 1 Prelims Recap | Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap | Day 3 Finals Recap

The fourth day of the 2023 European Short Course Championships will kick off with the heats of six individual events. While it will be the shortest morning session of the meet, it will still feature the women’s 100 backstroke, men’s 200 freestyle, women’s 100 butterfly, men’s 200 breaststroke, women’s 200 IM, and the men’s 50 butterfly.

The men’s 200 freestyle will see hometown hero David Popovici swim in the final heat. Popovici broke the Romanian record in the 50 free (21.30) on day one, and comes in as the top seed in this event (1:40.79). The world champion in the long course pool, Matthew Richards of Team GB, will swim next to him in the final heat. Some other names to watch include Maxime Grousset (FRA), Danas Rapsys (LTU), Tom Dean (GBR), and James Guy (GBR). Notably, only two swimmers per country get to advance to the semifinals, so look for Richards, Dean, and Guy to post quick times this morning as they will battle for those two spots.

The women’s 200 IM will feature freestyler turned breaststroker/IMer Charlotte Bonnet. Bonnet won the 100 IM gold medal last night, and enters this event as the 2nd seed (2:06.70). Abbie Wood, who won the 400 IM on the first night of the competition, is entered with the fastest entry time (2:05.49).

The men’s 50 butterfly will be an exciting race to end the session, as co-world record holder Szebasztian Szabo will highlight the field. Noe Ponti, who broke the European record in the 100 fly on day two (48.47) will swim in the penultimate heat. Some other names to watch include 100 fly bronze medalist Jacob Peters, 100 fly silver medalist Maxime Grousset, and Matteo Rivolta.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Minna Atherton (AUS) – 54.89 (2019)
• European Record: Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 55.03 (2014)
• SC Euros Record: Kira Toussaint (NED) – 55.17 (2019)

Top 16:

1. Medi Harris (GBR) – 57.15
2. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 57.20
3. Mary-Ambre Molluh (FRA) – 57.71
4. Kira Touissant (NED) – 57.83
5. Pauline Mahieu (FRA) – 57.85 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
6. Analie Pigree (FRA) – 58.05 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
7. Kathleen Dawson (GBR) – 58.21
8. Hanna Rosvall (SWE) – 58.51
9. Margherita Panziera (ITA) – 58.75
10. Lotte Hosper (NED) – 59.03
11. IV Loeyning (NOR) – 59.07
12. Lauren Cox (GBR) – 59.08 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
13. Camila Rebelo (POR) – 59.20
14. Danielle Hill (IRL) – 59.24
15. Maria Godden (IRL) – 59.39
16. Dora Molnar (HUN) – 59.41
17. Janja Segel (SLO) – 59.42
18. Gabriela Georgieva (BUL) & Lotta Upanne (FIN) – 59.49

Mary-Ambre Moluh of France was victorious in the first heat, touching in a time of 57.71. Hanna Rosvall of Sweden hit the wall in 58.51 to grab 2nd, while Lauren Cox of Great Britain rounded out the top three in 59.08.

Medi Harris, who won gold in the 200 backstroke a night ago, took the win in heat 2 with a time of 57.15. Championship record holder Kira Toussaint touched the wall in 2nd (57.83), and France’s Analia Pigree finished 3rd in 58.05.

Beryl Gastaldello, the top seed in the event, battled with teammate Pauline Mahieu in the final heat. Gastaldello took the heat out in a strong 27.3, and ultimately touched the wall in 57.20. Mahieu finished in 57.85, but will not advance because Mary-Ambre Moluh was faster in heat one.

Kathleen Dawson of Great Britain touched in 58.21 in the final heat, advancing to the semifinals in 7th. World Championships bronze medalist Lauren Cox will not advance to the semifinals, as two of her British teammates posted faster swims this morning.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Paul Beidermann (GER) – 1:39.37 (2009)
• European Record: Paul Beidermann (GER) – 1:39.37 (2009)
• SC Euros Record: Paul Beidermann (GER) – 1:39.81 (2009)

Top 16:

1. James Guy (GBR) – 1:41.36
2. Matt Richards (GBR) – 1:41.63
3. David Popovici (ROU) – 1:42.39
4. Jack McMillan (GBR) – 1:42.46 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
5. Danas Rapsys (LTU) – 1:42.58
6. Thomas Dean (GBR) – 1:42.79 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
7. Roman Fuchs (FRA) – 1:43.73
8. Antonio Djakovic (SUI) – 1:44.10
9. Matteo Ciampi (ITA) – 1:44.16
10. Niko Jankovic (CRO) – 1:44.51
11. Nandor Nemeth (HUN) – 1:44.57
12. Dimitrios Markos (GRE) – 1:44.79
13. Marco De Tullio (ITA) – 1:44.91
14. Lucas Peters (NED) – 1:45.18
15. Alexander Trampitsch (AUT) – 1:45.42
16. Felix Auboeck (AUT) – 1:46.20
17. Evan Bailey (IRL) – 1:46.65
18. Mihai Gergely (ROU) – 1:47.17

James Guy of Great Britain posted the fastest time of the morning, winning heat four in 1:41.36. The time checks in as a new personal best for Guy, which is a promising sign after his recent coaching change.

Matt Richards of Team GB was 2nd to Guy in the heat (1:41.63), and advanced 2nd overall to tonight’s semifinals. David Popovici finished 3rd in that same heat, meaning the top three qualifiers all came from heat four.

Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys was victorious in heat three, touching in 1:42.58. Rapsys has been as quick as 1:40.85 in the event, and he will be in contention for gold if he can match that time.

Jack McMillan and Tom Dean posted the 4th and 6th fastest times of the morning, but will not get second swims because they were not the fastest two British athletes.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record: Margaret MacNeil (CAN) – 54.05 (2022)
• European Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 54.61 (2014)
• SC Euros Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 55.00 (2017)

Top 16:

1. Angelina Kohler (GER) & Louise Hansson (SWE) – 56.33
2. –
3. Ellen Walshe (IRL) – 57.59
4. Anna Ntountounaki (GRE) – 57.61
5. Giulia D’Innocenzo (ITA) – 57.70
6. Panna Ugrai (HUN) – 57.71
7. Lana Pudar (BIH) – 57.78
8. Helena Rosendahl Bach (DEN) & Laura Lahtinen (FIN) – 57.92
9. –
10. Keanna MacInnes (GBR) – 57.97
11. Iris Julia Berger (AUT) – 58.00
12. Laura Stephens (GBR) – 58.09
13. Emilie Bechmann (DEN) – 58.13
14. Tessa Giele (NED) – 58.15
15. Sara Juvenik (SWE) – 58.30
16. Kajtaz Amina (CRO) – 58.35

400 IM bronze medalist Ellen Walshe took heat two, winning in 57.59. That undercut her entry time of 57.96, and held up to be the 3rd fastest time of the morning. Anna Ntountounaki of Greece touched in 57.61 to snag 2nd behind Walshe, a little over a second shy of her 56.26 national record from 2021.

Angelina Kohler of Germany, who won the 200 butterfly gold medal last night, took heat three in a time of 56.33. Louise Hansson took the final heat in the same exact time (56.33), meaning they will share the top seed heading into the semifinals.

World Junior Champion Lana Pudar advanced through to the semifinals in 7th, posting a time of 57.78 in heat two. Pudar holds a best time (and national record) of 56.28, which was set in December of 2021.

Ten athletes broke the 58-second barrier this morning, and it took a time of 58.35 to earn a second swim in this event.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Kirill Prigoda (RUS) – 2:00.16 (2018)
• European Record: Kirill Prigoda (RUS) – 2:00.16 (2018)
• SC Euros Record: Marco Koch (GER) – 2:00.53 (2015)

Top 16:

1. Arno Kamminga (NED) – 2:04.68
2. Caspar Corbeau (NED) – 2:05.38
3. Anton McKee (ISL) – 2:05.42
4. Maksym Ovchinnikov (UKR) – 2:05.85
5. Marco Koch (GER) – 2:06.07
6. Erik Persson (SWE) – 2:06.23
7. Gregory Butler (GBR) – 2:06.72
8. Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 2:06.81
9. Christopher Rothbauer (AUT) – 2:07.25
10. Matej Zabojnik (CZE) – 2:07.59
11. Christoffer Haarsaker (NOR) – 2:07.92
12. Archie Goodburn (GBR) – 2:08.34
13. Ivo Kroes (NED) & Vojtech Netrh (CZE) – 2:08.46 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
14. –
15. Darius-Stefan Coman (ROU) – 2:09.99
16. Constantin Malachi (MDA) – 2:10.65
17. Daniils Bobrovs (LAT) – 2:10.75

100 Breaststroke champion Arno Kamminga posted the fastest 200 breaststroke of the morning, hitting the wall in 2:04.68 to win the first heat. His Dutch teammate, Caspar Corbeau, won the third heat in 2:05.38 to post the 2nd fastest time of the morning. After placing 1st and 3rd in yesterday’s 100 breast, they look to be in a good position to both challenge for the podium once again.

Anton McKee posted the 3rd fastest time of the morning, stopping the clock in 2:05.42 to place 2nd in the first heat. Former world record holder Marco Koch posted a time of 2:06.07 to rank 5th heading into the semifinals.

World Champion Nicolo Martinenghi, who is more known for his sprint breaststroke, qualified 8th this morning.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – HEATS

• World Record: Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2:01.86 (2014)
• European Record: Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2:01.86 (2014)
• SC Euros Record: Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2:02.53 (2015)

Top 16:

1. Katie Shanahan (GBR) – 2:07.70
2. Abbie Wood (GBR) – 2:07.78
3. Leah Schlosshan (GBR) – 2:07.83 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
4. Lena Kreundl (AUT) – 2:09.40
5. Charlotte Bonnet (FRA) – 2:09.74
6. Lisa Nystrand (SWE) – 2:10.64
7. Hanna Bergman (SWE) – 2:10.67
8. Diana Petkova (BUL) – 2:11.26
9. Ellen Walshe (IRL) – 2:11.62
10. Ellie McCartney (IRL) – 2:11.99
11. Zinke Delcommune (BEL) – 2:12.97
12. Eszter Szabo Feltothy (HUN) – 2:13.16
13. Schastine Tabor (DEN) – 2:13.22
14. Nikoleta Trnikova (SVK) – 2:13.97
15. Vicky Luc (SWE) – 2:14.01 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
16. Grace Davison (IRL) – 2:14.36 (only two swimmers per country can advance)
17. Tamara Potocka (SVK) – 2:14.58
18. Brigitta Vass (ROU) – 2:14.73
19. Vivian Xhemollari (ALB) – 2:24.25

Team GB posted the three fastest times of the morning in the 200 IM, led by Katie Shanahan (2:07.70). Abbie Wood posted a time of 2:07.78 and Leah Schlosshan swam 2:07.83, but Schlosshan will not be granted a second swim because she was the third fastest from her country.

Schlosshan has been on the rise in 2023, continuing to steadily improve throughout the year. She was the 2023 European Junior Champion in the LCM version of the 200 IM, and you can read more about her record setting performance here.

The 100 IM champion from yesterday, Charlotte Bonnet, cruised to a time of 2:09.74 in heat two. She took 2nd in the heat, with Lena Kreundl of Austria getting the touch (2:09.40).

Ellen Walshe of Ireland completed her 100 fly/200 IM double this morning by clocking a time of 2:11.62. She ranks 9th heading into the next round later today.

MEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record: Nicholas Santos (BRA) & Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) – 21.75 (2018/2021)
• European Record: Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) – 21.75 (2021)
• SC Euros Record: Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) – 21.75 (2021)

Top 16:

1. Noe Ponti (SUI) – 22.17
2. Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) – 22.40
3. Maxime Grousset (FRA) – 22.42
4. Daniel Zaitsev (EST) – 22.53
5. Daniel Gracik (CZE) – 2268
6. Jacob Peters (GBR) – 22.72
7. Nikola Miljenic (CRO) – 22.76
8. Stanislas Huille (FRA) – 22.84
9. Michele Busa (ITA) – 22.86
10. Sean Niewold (NED) – 22.90
11. Max McCusker (IRL) – 22.92
12. Diogo Ribiero (POR) – 22.95
13. Jesse Puts (NED) – 22.99
14. Oskar Hoff (SWE) – 23.01
15. Christian Ferraro (ITA) – 23.17
16. Stergios Marios Bilas (GRE) – 23.18

Noe Ponti was the fastest butterfly swimmer of the morning, stopping the clock in 22.17 to snag the win in heat five. World record holder Szebasztian Szabo of Hungary recorded a time of 22.40 to win heat six, marking the 2nd fastest swim of the morning.

Maxime Grousset, who won silver in the 100 fly on day one, hit the touchpad in 22.42 to rank as the 3rd fastest swimmer heading into tonight.

Diogo Ribiero, the junior star who won silver in this event at the 2023 Fukuoka World Championships, qualified 12th this morning (22.95).

Max McCusker of Ireland, who competed collegiately at Arizona State, posted a time of 22.92 in the earlier heats. His time ultimately held up for 11th overall, earning him a second swim.