2024 European Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• June 17-23, 2024
• LCM (50 meters)
• Belgrade, Serbia
• Prelims: 9:30 am local time
• Finals: 6:30 pm local time
• Psych Sheets 
• Men’s Storylines
• Women’s Storylines
• Live Results
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
• Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

Day 3 Finals Heat Sheets

Day 3 Finals Event Lineup

• Women’s 200 free- Semifinals
• Men’s 200 back – Finals
• Women’s 50 fly- Finals
• Men’s 100 free- Finals
• Women’s 100 breast- Finals
• Men’s 100 fly- Semifinals
• Women’s 50 back- Semifinals
• Men’s 200 breast- Semifinals
• Women’s 400 IM- Final
• Men’s 800 free- Final
• Women’s 4×100 free- Final

The first big race to watch out for tonight is the men’s 100 freestyle where former world record holder David Popovici looks to defend his European crown after winning the event in a World Record time at the meet two years ago. Hungary’s Kristof Milak also highlights the race as he will take on the final of the 100 freestyle just 10 minutes before swimming in the first semifinal of the men’s 100 butterfly.

Milak had the 2nd fastest swim of prelims in the 100 fly as Noe Ponti (Switzerland) led the way. The two battled it out at the Mare Nostrum series earlier this month, with Milak earning the win.

The women’s side of the night features Eneli Jefimova in the 100 breast as she looks to win Estonia their first European Title ever. She also holds the Estonian Record in the event.

Later in the evening, Anastasia Gorbenko of Israel will take on the 400 IM. Gorbenko posted numerous best times in the event at the Mare Nostrum series and won silver in the event at the 2024 World Championships. She currently sits at #5 in the World in the event this year.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, Australia (2024)
• European Record: 1:52.98 – Federica Pellegrini, Italy (2009)
• Championship Record: 1:54.95 – Charlotte Bonnet, France (2018)

Top 8 Finalists

1. Minna Abraham, Hungary – 1:57.65
2. Barbora Seemanova, Czech – 1:57.81
3. Snaefrifdur Sol Jorunnardottir, Iceland – 1:57.87
4. Nicole Maier, Germany – 1:58.10
5. Janja Segel, Slovenia – 1:58.30
6. Francisca Martins, Portgual – 1:58.62
7. Daria Golovaty, Israel – 1:58.90
8. Leah Schlosshan, Great Britain – 1:59.11

Hungarian Minna Abraham continued to build off her successful first collegiate season in the US at USC with a new best time to lead the field into the women’s 200 free final to kick off Wednesday’s session.

She swam 1:57.65, more than a second better than her prelims swim. Her best time coming into the meet was a 1:57.96 at the US Open in December in Greensboro, USA. Prior to that swim, she had been stuck at 1:58 for over a year.

She would become Hungary’s first ever European Champion in this event. It was added to the long course schedule in 1970 and the short course schedule in 1996.

Nipping at her heels, out of the other heat, is Czech swimmer Barbora Seemanova in 1:57.81. She remains the odds-on favorite for Thursday – she swam 1:55.1 at the AP Race meet in May and won the 100 free on Tuesday in a new best time. She was the 2020 champion in this event.

Snaefrifdur Sol Jorunnardottir swam 1:57.87 for the 3rd seed, breaking her own Icelandic Record of 1:57.98 set in the semifinals of last year’s World Championships.

Nicole Maier of Germany, who also trains in the US, was 4th in a best time of 1:58.10.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)
• European Record: 1:53.23 – Evgeny Rylov, Russia (2021)
• Championship Record: 1:53.36 – Evgeny Rylov, Russia (2018)

Final: 

1. Oleksandr Zheltiakov (UKR) — 1:55.39
2. Apostolos Siskos (GRE) — 1:55.42
3. Roman Mityukov (SUI) — 1:55.75
4. Benedek Kovacs (HUN) — 1:56.13
5. Ksawery Masiuk (POL) — 1:57.50
6. David Gerchik (ISR) — 1:57.53
7. John Shortt (IRL) — 1:58.48
8. Adam Telegdy (HUN) — 2:01.30

Oleksandr Zheltiakov, the reigning World Junior champion, can now add European champion to his resume. The 18 year old swam a new Ukrainian record to win the event, lowering the mark he set at World Juniors (1:55.79) by four-tenths.

Zheltiakov flipped at the first turn in 6th place (27.28) but moved up to third by the halfway mark (56.98). He was still third at the final turn (1:26.74), but fired off a field-best 28.65 closing split to move through the field and get his hand on the wall first.

Apostolos Siskos had led for the entire race, but ended up getting pipped by Zheltiakov at the wall. He earned the silver medal in 1:55.42, just three-hundredths behind the Ukrainian teenager, setting a national record of his own.

Roman Mityukov, the 2023 Worlds bronze medalist, took bronze here as well. Mityukov also got under 1:56, posting a 1:55.75. His personal best–and Swiss national record–is the 1:55.34 he swam for bronze in Fukuoka.

The two Hungarians in the field, Benedek Kovacs and Adam Telegdy, finished 4th and 8th.

WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• World Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2014)
• European Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2014)
• Championship Record: 24.87 – Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2014)

Final:

1. Sara Junevik (SWE) — 25.68
2. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) — 26.08
3. Anna Ntountounaki (GRE) — 26.18
4. Tamara Potocka (SVK) — 26.21
5. Julie Kepp Jensen (DEN) — 26.22
6. Paulina Peda (POL) — 26.25
7. Jana Pavalic (CRO) — 2.266
8. Anna Dowgiert (POL) — 26.58

No Sarah Sjostrom, no problem for Sweden as Sara Junevik added a gold medal to their haul. Junevik stormed to the win in a 25.68, winning the event decisively as she was the only one in the field to break 26 seconds.

It’s a new lifetime best for Junevik, breaking her previous best of 25.74. She’d shown that she was on good form earlier in the season as she’d hit that standard for the second time at the Canet stop of this year’s Mare Nostrum tour. She’d previously been 25.74 at the 2023 World Championships.

Roos Vanotterdijk stopped the clock at 26.08, earning the silver medal a tenth ahead of Anna Ntountounaki, who made it two medals in two events for Greece. Vanotterdijk has been under 26 seconds before, but this marked the third fastest swim of her career.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: 46.80 – Pan Zhanle, China (2024)
• European Record: 46.86 – David Popovici, Romania (2022)
• Championship Record: 46.86 – David Popovici, Romania (2022)

Final: 

1. David Popovici (ROU) — 46.88
2. Nandor Nemeth (HUN) — 47.49
3. Andrej Barna (SRB) — 47.66
4. Danas Rapsys (LTU) — 48.04
5. Jere Hribar (CRO) — 48.38
6. Kristof Milak (HUN) — 48.41
7. Shane Ryan (IRL) — 48.76
8. Kamil Sieradzki (POL) — 48.84

What a statement from David Popovici, who launches into second in the world rankings this season with the third fastest swim in history and second fastest of his career– a 46.88. He joins Pan Zhanle, who broke his world record in February, in the club of sub-47 second swimmers this season.

In semifinals, Popovici swam his fastest time of the year in 47.82. He’s destroyed that mark by almost a full second now.

He was back to his usual back half antics as well. He led Nandor Nemeth lead the race around at the turn. Nemeth flipped in 22.63, with Popovici not far off his pace in 22.79. Popovici exploded on the second 50, ripping a 24.06 to stop the clock at 46.88.

Nemeth held on for a spot on the podium, winning silver in 47.49, .61 seconds behind Popovici, in a new lifetime best. Nandor’s previous best was a 47.62 from 2023 Worlds. Andrej Barna claimed bronze in 47.66 and was the only other swimmer in the field under 48 seconds.

Kristof Milak took 6th in 48.41. Shane Ryan, who swam an Irish record 48.39 yesterday, was 7th in 48.76.

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King, USA (2017)
• European Record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2013)
• Championship Record: 1:05.53 – Yuliya Efimova, Russia (2018)

1. Eneli Jefimova (EST) – 1:06.41
2. Lisa Mamie (SUI) – 1:07.15
3. Olivia Klint Ipsa (SWE) – 1:07.73
4. Dominika Sztandera (POL) – 1:07.75
5. Maria Romanjuk (EST) – 1:08.22
6. Ida Hulkko (FIN) – 1:08.94
7. Ana Blazevic (CRO) – 1:09.25
8. Andrea Podmanikova (SVK) – 1:09.27

In the women’s 100 breaststroke, Eneli Jefimova won Estonia’s first ever Euro title. She led wire to wire, blasting 31.20 on the opening 50 for a 0.09-second lead over Poland’s Dominika Sztandera.

Jefimova was the only swimmer under 1:07. Lisa Mamie of Switzerland lead a trio of 1:07-point swims, swimming the second-best back half of the field (35.68).

Olivia Klint Ipsa rounded out the podium, clocking 1:07.73 for the bronze. She was just about a second off her prelims time, which was 1:06.92.

There were two Estonians in that final, as Maria Romanjuk finished 5th (1:08.22).

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2021)
• European Record: 49.68 – Kristof Milak, Hungary (2021)
• Championship Record: 50.18 – Kristof Milak, Hungary (2021)

Top 8 Finalists:

1. Hubert Kos (HUN) – 51.31
2. Simon Bucher (AUT) – 51.45
3. Kristof Milak (HUN) – 51.57
4. Jakub Majerski (POL) – 51.62
5. Joshua Gammon (GBR) – 51.65
6. Daniel Gracik (CZE) – 51.68
7. Luca Nik Armbruster (GER) – 51.83
8. Adrian Jaskiewicz (POL) – 51.87

It took a 51-point swim to make the final for the men’s 100 butterfly. European and Championship record holder Kristof Milak made it through in 3rd, but he had the strongest back-half of the field (27.08). It wasn’t by much though, as Jakub Majerski was in hot pursuit (27.16).

The top two times came from the first semifinal, and it was a different Hungarian who leads the field heading into finals. Hubert Kos swam 51.31 to touch ahead of Austria’s Simon Bucher (51.45). The pair will take the middle lanes in the final tomorrow night.

Polan also got a pair of swimmers into the final, with Majerski (51.62) and Adrian Jaskiewicz (51.87) both making it through.

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 26.86 – Kaylee McKeown, Australia (2023)
• European Record: 27.10 – Kira Toussaint, Netherlands (2021)
• Championship Record: 27.19 – Kathleen Dawson, Great Britain (2021)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Danielle Hill (IRL) – 27.67
2. Theodora Drakou (GRE) – 27.99
3. Fanny Teijonsalo (FIN) – 28.08
4. Adela Piskorska (POL) – 28.16
5. Julie Kepp Jensen (DEN) – 28.19
6. Lora Komoroczy (HUN) – 28.30
7. Niko Sharafutdinova (UKR) – 28.64
8. Paula Peda (POL) – 28.65

Ireland’s Danielle Hill paced the semifinals of the women’s 50 backstroke, lowering her time from prelims by over three-tenths (27.67). Theodora Drakou joined her under 28 by the smallest possible margin (27.99).

Fanny Teijonsalo inched closer to the 28-second barrier, swimming 28.08 to qualify 3rd. She was followed closely by Adela Piskorska (28.08) and Julie Kepp Jensen (28.19).

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 2:05.48 – Qin Haiyang, China (2023)
• European Record: 2:06.12 – Anton Chupkov, Russia (2019)
• Championship Record: 2:06.80 – Anton Chupkov, Russia (2018)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Anton Mckee (ISL) – 2:10.14
2. Jan Kalusowski (POL) – 2:10.35
3. Lyubomir Epitropov (BUL) – 2:10.38
4. Erik Persson (SWE) – 2:10.72
5. Eoin Corby (IRL) – 2:11.62
6. Maksym Ovchinnikov (UKR) – 2:12.00
7. Christopher Rothbauer (AUT) – 2:12.79
8. Andrius Sidlauskas (LTU) – 2:13.23

There weren’t any big surprises in the semifinals. Anton Mckee maintained his top position from prelims. He’ll likely face a strong challenge from Jan Kalusowski and Lyubomir Epitropov in the final, who looked a little stronger in their back-halves.

Erik Persson was the fourth swimmer in the 2:10s, just 0.59-seconds back of Mckee.

WOMEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 4:24.38 – Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)
• European Record: 4:26.36 – Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (2016)
• Championship Record: 4:30.90 – Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (2016)

Top 8

1. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 4:36.05
2. Vivien Jackl (HUN) – 4:38.96
3. Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN) – 4:40.24
4. Anja Crevar (SRB) – 4:46.23
5. Lisa Nystrand (SWE) – 4:48.15
6. Louna Kasvio (FIN) – 4:52.77
7. Ada Hakkarainen (FIN) – 4:55.12

DQ: Aleksandra Knop (POL)

Anastasia Gorbenko wasn’t quite as fast as the national record she established earlier this summer, but she still cleared the women’s 400 IM field by over two seconds.

Hungary got two swimmers on the podium with Vivien Jackl and Zsuzsanna Jakabos.

There was one disqualification from Aleksandra Knop of Poland. Had she matched her time from prelims (legally), she would have slotted in at 7th.

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: 7:32.12 – Zhang Lin, China (2009)
• European Record: 7:39.19 – Daniel Wiffen, Ireland (2023)
• Championship Record: 7:40.86 – Gregorio Paltrinieri, Italy (2022)

Top 8

1. Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR) – 7:46.20
2. Dimitrios Markos (GRE) – 7:48.59
3. Zalan Sarkany (HUN) – 7:49.29
4. Krzysztof Chmielewski (POL) – 7:49.44
5. Henrik Christiansen (NOR) – 7:50.88
6. Kuzey Tuncelli (TUR) – 7:54.12
7. Muhammed Yusuf Ozden (TUR) – 7:55.32
8. Nathan Wiffen (IRL) – 8:03.74

Nearly everyone improved on their prelims time in the men’s 800 freestyle, lead by Mykhailo Romanchuk. After setting a standard of 7:48.22, he got down to 7:46.20 to take the title.

Dimitrios Markos took 2nd, followed by Zalan Sarkany. One more swimmer got under 7:50, after only Romanchuk did it in prelims: Krysztof Chmielewski.

WOMEN’S 4×100 FREE RELAY- FINAL

• World Record: 3:27.96 – Australia (2023)
• European Record: 3:31.72 – Netherlands (2009)
• Championship Record: 3:33.62 – Netherlands (2008)

Top 8

1. Hungary (Senanszky, Abraham, Ugrai, Padar) – 3:36.77
2. Denmark (Ebbesen, Bro, Jensen, Tabor) – 3:38.48
3. Poland (Fiedkiewicz, Famulok, Gusc, Polanska) – 3:41.01
4. Israel (Polonsky, Spitz, Golovaty, Murez) – 3:41.14
5. Austria (Berger, Pammer, Jelic, Kreundl) – 3:41.99
6. Sweden (Thormalm, Junevik, Bergman, Mortstrand) – 3:42.86
7. Slovenia (Segel, Fain, Sekuti, Pintar) – 3:44.30
8. Serbia (Milutinovic, Kaljevic, Markovic, Bukvic) – 3:45.64

Hungary took the title in the women’s 400 freestyle relay to close out the session. They had two 53-point splits on their back half to power their finish from Panna Ugrai (53.88) and Nikolett Padar (53.67). No other team got a 53-point split, flying or otherwise.

The fastest lead-off came from Denmark’s silver medal relay. Elisabeth Sabroe Ebbesen dropped 54.75 to give her team an narrow lead over Hungary.