2024 EUROPEAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, July 2nd – Sunday, July 7th
- Prelims at 9:30am local/Finals at 6pm local
- Lazdynai Pool, Vilnius, Lithuania
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Entries
- Day 1 Prelims Recap/Day 1 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Recap/Day 2 Finals Recap
- Day 3 Finals Recap
- Day 4 Prelims Recap/Day 4 Finals Recap
- Day 5 Prelims Recap
- Live Results
- Livestream ($)
The penultimate night of the European Junior Championships features finals of both 800 freestyles, the girls 200 butterfly, girls 100 free, and boys 800 free relay along with semifinals of the boys 100 free, both 100 backstrokes, both 100 breaststrokes, both 50 butterflies, and girls 200 IM.
After stealing the show on Thursday with a world junior record in the boys 1500 freestyle (14:41.89), Turkish distance specialist Kuzey Tuncelli will take on the boys 800 free final to kick off this evening’s finals session.
Catch up on this morning’s prelims session here.
Stay tuned for live updates below:
Boys 800 Free – Final
- World junior record: 7:43.37 – Lorenzo Galossi (ITA), 2022
- European junior record: 7:43.37 – Lorenzo Galossi (ITA), 2022
- Meet record: 7:47.45 – Petar Mitsin (BUL), 2023
- 2023 European junior champion: Petar Mitsin (BUL) – 7:47.45
PODIUM
- GOLD: Kuzey Tuncelli (TUR) – 7:48.01
- SILVER: Muhammed Yusuf Ozden (TUR) – 7:56.18
- BRONZE: Johannes Liebmann (GER) – 7:58.39
Turkish 16-year-old Kuzey Tuncelli dominated the boys 800 free by more than eight seconds en route to the victory in 7:48.01, narrowly missing Petar Mitsin‘s meet record (7:47.45) from last year.
Tuncelli shaved more than half a second off his own Turkish record of 7:48.53 from the 2024 World Championships in February, where he placed 12th. He was six seconds faster tonight than he was at last month’s European Championships (7:54.12), where he placed 6th.
Fellow Turkish standout Muhammed Yusuf Ozden (7:48.01) and Germany’s Johannes Liebmann (7:58.39) rounded out the podium as the only other swimmers under eight minutes in the final.
Girls 200 Fly – Final
- World junior record: 2:04.06 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
- European junior record: 2:06.26 – Lana Pudar (BIH), 2023
- Meet record: 2:06.26 – Lana Pudar (BIH), 2023
- 2023 European junior champion: Lana Pudar (BIH) – 2:06.26
PODIUM
- GOLD: Sarah Dumont (BEL) – 2:09.64
- SILVER: Laura Cabanes Garzas (ESP) – 2:09.96
- BRONZE: Alina Baievych (GER) – 2:10.09
Belgium’s Sarah Dumont held off top semifinals qualifier Laura Cabanes Garzas of Spain (2:09.96) for a tight girls 200 fly win in 2:09.64.
Dumont dropped a couple tenths off her previous-best 2:09.92 from May. Cabanes Garzas has been as fast as 2:09.03 last month.
Germany’s Alina Baievych secured bronze in 2:10.09, taking almost a second off her previous-best 2:10.78 from last summer.
Boys 100 Free – Semifinals
- World junior record: 46.86 – David Popovici (ROU) – 2022
- European junior record: 46.86 – David Popovici (ROU) – 2022
- Meet record: 47.30 – David Popovici (ROU) – 2021
- 2023 European junior champion: Boldizsar Magda (HUN) – 49.52
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Vlaho Nenadic (CRO) – 48.88
- Carlos D’Ambrosio (ITA) – 49.28
- Luca Hoek le Gueneda (ESP) / Gabriel Shepherd (GBR) – 49.36
- –
- Justin Cvetkov (SRB) – 49.50
- Lorenzo Ballarati (ITA) – 49.53
- Tajus Juska (LTU) – 49.55
- Michael Raje (GER) – 49.80
Croatian 18-year-old Vlaho Nenadic was the lone boys 100 free semifinalist under 49 seconds tonight at 48.88, dropping more than half a second off his previous-best 49.50 from last year’s 5th-place finish at the World Junior Championships.
Italian 17-year-old Carlos D’Ambrosio reached the wall four-tenths of a second behind Nenadic in 49.28, only .15 seconds shy of his personal-best 49.13 from March.
Spain’s Luca Hoek le Gueneda tied with Great Britain’s Gabriel Shepherd for the No. 3 seed heading into Sunday’s final at 49.36.
Lithuania’s Tajus Juska, who on Friday became the fastest 15-year-old 50 freestyler of all time, qualified 7th in 49.55, not far behind Italy’s Lorenzo Ballarati (49.53) and Serbia’s Justin Cvetkov (49.50). Juska dropped .17 seconds off his previous-best 49.72 from April.
Girls 100 Free – Final
- World junior record: 52.70 – Penny Oleksiak (CAN), 2016
- European junior record: 53.61 – Freya Anderson (GBR), 2018
- Meet record: 53.97 – Marrit Steenbergen, 2015
- 2023 European junior champion: Smilte Plytnykaite (LTU) – 55.31
PODIUM
- GOLD: Sara Curtis (ITA) – 54.22
- SILVER: Minna Abraham (HUN) – 54.28
- BRONZE: Grace Davison (IRL) – 55.11
Italy’s Sara Curtis fired off a personal-best 54.22 100 free to outduel Hungary’s Minna Abraham (54.28) by a blink in a thrilling battle for the girls 100 free crown.
Curtis, who will contest the 50 free at the Paris Olympics later this month, snuck under her previous-best 54.31 from March. Abraham crushed her previous-best 54.90 from last month’s European Championships to become the fourth-fastest Hungarian ever behind Katinka Hosszu (53.64 in 2014), Evelin Verraszto (53.74 in 2009), and Nikolett Padar (54.17 last month).
Irish 16-year-old Grace Davison completed the podium with a 3rd-place showing in 55.11, dropping a few tenths off her previous-best 55.44 from May. She’s now within a few tenths of Danielle Hill‘s Irish record (54.87) from 2022.
Boys 100 Back – Semifinals
- World junior record: 52.53 – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
- European junior record: 52.53 – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
- Meet record: 52.91 – Ksawery Masiuk (POL), 2022
- 2023 European junior champion: Oleksandr Zheltyakov (UKR) – 54.18
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Jakub Jan Krischke (CZE) – 55.02
- Daniele del Signore (ITA) – 55.12
- Alexandru Constantinescu (ROU) – 55.16
- John Shortt (IRL) – 55.18
- Davide Lazzari (ITA) – 55.53
- Romeo-Cesar Fadda-Sauvageot (FRA) – 55.59
- Aukan Goldin (ISR) – 55.83
- Alexis Emanuel Mork (NOR) – 56.10
The boys 100 back final is shaping up to be a close showdown on Sunday night as the top four semifinalists were separated by less than two tenths of a second tonight.
Czech 18-year-old Jakub Jan Krischke led the way in 55.02, dropping more than half a second off his lifetime best from April (55.62). Italy’s Daniele del Signore was next to the wall in 55.12, just off his personal-best 54.99 from last November. Romania’s Alexandru Constantinescu (55.16) and Ireland’s John Shortt (55.18) were also in close pursuit.
Girls 100 Breast – Semifinals
- World junior record: 1:04.35, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
- European junior record: 1:04.35, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
- Meet record: 1:05.48, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
- 2023 European junior champion: Eneli Jevimova (EST) – 1:06.81
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Eneli Jefimova (EST) – 1:06.08
- Smilte Plytnykaite (LTU) – 1:08.31
- Nayara Pineda Lopez (ESP) – 1:08.83
- Hannah Schneider (GER) – 1:09.15
- Jimena Ruiz Sanchez (ESP) – 1:09.22
- Irene Mati (ITA) – 1:09.28
- Theodora Taylor (GBR) – 1:09.36
- Jasmine Carter (GBR) – 1:09.38
European champion Eneli Jefimova cruised to the top qualifying spot in the girls 100 breast with a personal-best 1:06.08 as the 17-year-old aims for a three-peat in this event tomorrow night.
Jefimova knocked exactly a tenth of a second off her Estonian record of 1:06.18 from last year’s World Championships, where she ultimately placed 6th. She went 1:06.41 on her way to the European title last month.
Lithuania’s Smilte Plytnykaite (1:08.31) and Spain’s Nayara Pineda Lopez (1:08.83) were the only other semifinalists under 1:09 tonight as Jefimova appears in a league of her own in this event here in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Boys 100 Breast – Semifinals
- World junior record: 59.01, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
- European junior record: 59.01, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
- Meet record: 59.23, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
- 2023 European junior champion: Jonas Gaur (DEN) – 1:01.78
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Evangelos Efraim Ntoumas (GRE) – 1:01.16
- Max Morgan (GBR) – 1:01.30
- Subajr Biltaev (GER) – 1:01.44
- Filip Nowacki (GBR) – 1:01.62
- Nil Cadevall Micolau (ESP) – 1:01.67
- Maksim Manolov (BUL) – 1:01.81
- Oliver Munn (SWE) – 1:01.95
- Jan Gajda (POL) – 1:02.00
Greece’s Evangelos Efraim Ntoumas dropped more than a second off his lifetime best to snag the top seed in the boys 100 breast semifinals.
Ntoumas reached the wall in 1:01.16, demolishing his previous-best 1:02.35 from March. He’s only about a second away from the Greek record of 1:00.03 that Dimitrios Xynadas set back in 2009.
Great Britain’s Max Morgan (1:01.30) and Germany’s Subajr Biltaev (1:01.44) were both within a few tenths of Ntoumas to set up a fun showdown for tomorrow night.
Girls 50 Fly – Semifinals
- World junior record: 25.46 – Rikako Ikee (JPN), 2017
- European junior record: 25.66
- Meet record: 26.10 – Lana Pudar (BIH), 2023
- 2023 European junior champion: Lana Pudar (BIH) – 26.10
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Martine Damborg (DEN) – 26.33
- Emmy Hallkvist (SWE) – 26.45
- Flawia Kamzol (POL) – 26.48
- Jana Pavalic (CRO) – 26.49
- Anna Maria Borstler (GER) – 26.58
- Patricija Kondraskaite (LTU) – 26.72
- Albane Cachot (FRA) – 26.87
- Hollie Widdows (GBR) – 26.90
Denmark’s Martine Damborg paced the girls 50 fly semifinals with a time of 26.33, dropping more than half a second off her best time from April (26.95). The 17-year-old claimed the 100 fly crown in 58.75 earlier this week.
Sweden’s Emmy Hallkvist (26.45), Poland’s Flawia Kamzol (26.48), and Croatia’s Jana Pavalic (26.49) were all within a couple tenths of Damborg.
Boys 50 Fly – Semifinals
- World junior record: 22.96 – Diogo Ribeiro (POR), 2022
- European junior record: 22.96 – Diogo Ribeiro (POR), 2022
Meet record: 23.48 – Noe Ponti (SUI), 2019- 2023 European junior champion: Casper Puggard (DEN) – 23.67
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Teo del Riego Torres (ESP) – 23.46 *Meet record
- Lukas Edl (AUT) – 23.52
- Daniele Momoni (ITA) – 23.62
- Maro Miknic (CRO) – 23.84
- Alexandre Philipps (FRA) – 23.89
- Ethan Dumesnil (FRA) – 23.97
- Arda Akkoyun (TUR) – 24.06
- David Antal (HUN) – 24.10
Spain’s Teo del Riego Torres toppled Noe Ponti‘s meet record (23.48 from 2019) in the boys 50 fly semifinals with a personal-best 23.46. The 18-year-old dropped a couple tenths off his previous-best 23.72 from April.
Austria’s Lukas Edl (23.52) and Italy’s Daniele Momoni (23.62) touched within a couple tenths of the meet record as they should also threaten for Sunday’s title.
Girls 200 IM – Semifinals
- World junior record: 2:06.89 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
- European junior record: 2:11.03
- Meet record: 2:12.41 – Leah Schlosshan (GBR), 2023
- 2023 European junior champion: Leah Schlosshan (GBR) – 2:12.41
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Phoebe Cooper (GBR) – 2:15.40
- Laura Cabanes Garzas (ESP) – 2:15.63
- Linda Roth (GER) – 2:15.92
- Giada Alzetta (ITA) – 2:16.27
- Giulia Pascareanu (ITA) – 2:16.32
- Grace Davison (IRL) – 2:16.37
- Noelle Benkler (GER) – 2:16.90
- Sholah Robinson (GBR) – 2:17.23
Great Britain’s Phoebe Cooper clinched the top girls 200 IM qualifying spot in 2:15.40, a couple seconds off her personal-best 2:13.28 from last summer.
Spain’s Laura Cabanes Garzas (2:15.63) and Germany’s Linda Roth (2:15.92) also broke the 2:16 barrier in the semifinals. It was an especially impressive performance for Cabanes Garzas, who already captured a silver medal in the 200 fly (2:09.96) earlier in the session.
Girls 100 Back – Semifinals
- World junior record: 57.57 – Regan Smith (USA), 2019
- European junior record: 59.08 – Anastasia Shkurdai (BLR), 2020
- Meet record: 59.62 – Polina Egorova (RUS), 2017
- 2023 European junior champion: Lora Fanni Komoroczy (HUN) – 1:01.10
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Lora Fanni Komoroczy (HUN) – 1:01.45
- Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu (ROU) – 1:01.54
- Sara Costa de Vicente (ESP) – 1:01.97
- Blythe Kinsman (GBR) – 1:02.05
- Estella Llum Tonrath Nollgen (ESP) – 1:02.09
- Benedetta Boscaro (ITA) – 1:02.31
- Despoina Pyrili (GRE) – 1:02.37
- Jeanne Lechevalier (FRA) – 1:02.41
Defending champion Lora Fanni Komoroczy of Hungary took the top seed in the girls 100 back at 1:01.45, less than a tenth ahead of Romania’s Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu (1:01.54).
Komoroczy recently lowered her lifetime best to 1:01.08 at last month’s European Championships, where she ultimately placed 6th. Silisteanu has been as fast as 1:01.07 last summer, setting up another fun showdown for tomorrow night.
Spain’s Sara Costa de Vicente also went under 1:02 in the semifinals with a 3rd-place effort of 1:01.97 as she dropped a few tenths off her previous-best 1:02.29 from last month.
Girls 800 Free – Final
- World junior record: 8:11.00 – Katie Ledecky (USA), 2014
- European junior record: 8:21.91 – Merve Tuncel (TUR), 2021
- Meet record: 8:21.91 – Merve Tuncel (TUR), 2021
- 2023 European junior champion: Merve Tuncel (TUR) – 8:35.10
PODIUM
- GOLD: Amelie Blocksidge (GBR) – 8:30.05
- SILVER: Vivien Jackl (HUN) – 8:32.33
- BRONZE: Emma Vittoria Giannelli (ITA) – 8:33.83
British 15-year-old Amelie Blocksidge established a new national age record en route to the girls 800 free victory in 8:30.05.
Blocksidge dropped more than two seconds off her previous-best 8:32.65 from last July, in the process dipping under the British age record for 15-year-old girls (8:31.56) set by Holly Hibbott back in 2015.
Hungarian 15-year-old Vivien Jackl earned the runner-up finish in 8:32.33, not far off her personal-best 8:30.74 from April.
Italian 17-year-old Emma Vittoria Giannelli claimed the bronze medal in 8:33.83, annihilating her previous-best 8:39.27 from last November.
Boys 4×200 Free Relay – Final
- World junior record: 7:08.37 – USA, 2019
- European junior record: 7:10.95 – Hungary, 2017
Meet record: 7:15.46 – Hungary, 2017- 2023 European junior champion: Italy – 7:17.42
PODIUM
- GOLD: Italy – 7:12.15 *Meet record
- SILVER: Germany – 7:19.85
- BRONZE: Turkey – 7:19.99
The Italian quartet of Alessandro Ragaini (1:47.26), Filippo Bertoni (1:49.36), Gabriele Valente (1:49.05), and Carlos D’Ambrosio (1:46.48) dominated the boys 800 free relay in 7:12.15, crushing Hungary’s previous meet record from 2017 (7:15.46) by more than three seconds.
Germany (7:19.85) rallied past Turkey (7:19.99) for the silver medal more than seven seconds behind Italy.