The Royal Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN) has announced its roster for the 2019 European Short Course Swimming Championships, which will be held December 4-8 in Glasgow, Scotland. The Spanish will be sending five female and four male swimmers who were selected based on the results from the Spanish Short Course Swimming Championships, which were held last week. In order to be selected for the European Short Course Championship roster, swimmers must have cleared the time standards at the Spanish Short Course Championships — the only selection meet for the European Short Course Championships.
Despite her record-breaking performances, Lidón Muñoz is notably absent from the roster, as well as is her teammate Jessica Vall. According to Yo Soy Noticia, Muñoz has opted to focus on an international, FINA recognized long course meet in Amsterdam the weekend after the European Short Course Championships instead. The Amsterdam meet is designed to provide swimmers a chance to obtain qualification standards for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
7-time Short Course World Champion Mireia Belmonte, who withdrew from the Spanish Championships, is also absent from the roster, though she has not competed at the European Short Course Championships since 2013. Having battled several health issues and injuries, such as dizziness which resulted in her withdrawl from the 2018 European Championships, Belmonte withdrew from the Spanish Short Course Championships, as well as the ISL European Derby which was held in London this weekend. She cited a minor ankle injury that prevented her from making her normal preparations, as her latest ailment.
The women’s roster includes Ainhoa Campabadal, who will be competing in the 100, 200, and 400 freestyles. Backstroker Paloma de Bordons will be competing in all three backstroke races, and Beatriz Gomez and Paula Juste will be competing in the same 200 IM, 400 IM, 400 freestyle program. Paloma Marrero will be competing in every breaststroke event, as well as the 100 IM.
The men’s roster will feature sprint-freestyler Mortiz Berg in the 100 and 200 freestyles, breastroker Sergio Ortega, backstroker Héctor Fontabella, and breastroker/IM’er Bruno Ortiz-Cañavate. Notably, Spanish Short Course record holder Cesar Castro is absent from the roster, as he failed to record qualifying times in his events. During the 2018 iteration of the Spanish Short Course Championships, Castro completed the 200 freestyle in a record-setting 1:43.94; however, this year he was only able to produce a 1:45.30. Castro was also outside of the qualification standards in the 100 and 400 freestyles.
Spain qualified their mixed medley relay, as well as a men’s medley relay.
2017 saw a Spanish roster of nine, composed of seven women and two men. Among these nine swimmers, Jessica Vall was the only to make the podium, earning gold and bronze in the 200 and 100 breastrokes respectively. The nine swimmers competing for Spain at this year’s European Short Course Championships were not on the 2017roster.
Female Roster
- Ainhoa Campabadal (100/200/400 freestyle)
- Paloma de Bordons (50/100/200 backstroke)
- Beatriz Gómez (200/400 IM, 400 freestyle)
- Paula Juste (200/400 IM, 400 freestyle)
- Paloma Marrero (50/100/200 breastroke, 100 IM)
Male Roster
- Moritz Berg (100/200 freestyle)
- Sergio Ortega (50 breastroke)
- Héctor Fontabella (50/100 backstroke)
- Bruno Ortiz-Cañavate (50/100 breastroke, 100 IM)
Go Blue