Robert Glinta Becomes Romania’s First-Ever Male European Champion

2021 LEN EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Swimming: Monday, May 17th – Sunday, May 23rd, 2021
• Budapest, Hungary
• Prelims at 10:00 am local/Finals at 6:00 pm local
• Event Site
• Entry List
• Live Results
• Live Stream

The men’s 100m backstroke saw Romania’s Robert Glinta get to the wall first, nabbing his first-ever individual title at a European Championships, as well as the first title ever for a Romanian male.

Additionally, en route to grabbing the gold, his winning effort of 52.88 clinched a new national record.

Entering this meet, Glinta’s personal best in this fast and furious backstroke event rested at the 53.32 he logged nearly 3 years ago at the Romanian International Championships.

Already in prelims, the 24-year-old Team Iron ISL member dropped that down to 53.26 in prelims before notching his first result under the 53-second barrier, a mark of 52.92, in the semi-finals.

Tonight, opening in 25.50 and closing in 27.38, Glinta produced the fastest result of his career, with his 52.88 beating Spaniard Hugo Gonzalez by just .02. Greece’s Apostolos Christou was also right there nearly in the gold medal spot, instead wrapping up bronze in 52.97 along with Frenchman Yohann Ndoye Brouard.

Glinta checks in as the 21st fastest male performer ever in this 100m back, while his gold medal result represents the first time a Romanian male has ever clinched the top prize at a Eurpean Championships.