2024 European Junior Championships: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2024 EUROPEAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, July 2nd – Sunday, July 7th
• Lazdynai Pool, Vilnius, Lithuania
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Entries
• Day 1 Prelims Recap
• Live Results
• Livestream ($)

We’re entering day one of the 2024 European Junior Championships taking place for the first time in the nation of Lithuania.

Each day is packed with action featuring girls aged 14-17 and boys aged 15-18 with hardware and titles on the line from throughout Europe, including some who are moving on to compete at this month’s Olympic Games.

Following along as we watch current and future stars in action from the Lazdynai Pool in Vilnius.

GIRLS 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 4:25.87, Summer McIntosh (2023)
• European Junior Record: 4:34.96
• European Record: 4:26.36, Katinka Hosszu (2016)
• Championship Record: 4:40.64, Alba Vazquez Ruiz (2019)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Vivien Jackl (HUN), 4:40.66

GOLD – Vivien Jackl (HUN), 4:39.28 *Championships Record
SILVER – Sarah Dumont (BEL), 4:42.44
BRONZE – Laura Cabanes (ESP), 4:43.62

Immediately with the first event, we saw our first European Junior Championships Record bite the dust, courtesy of Vivien Jackl in this girls’ 400m IM final.

15-year-old Jackl of Hungary ripped a time of 4:39.28 to take the event decisively, producing the sole sub-4:40 result of the field.

Jackl’s time overtook the previous meet mark of 4:40.64 champion Alba Vazquez Ruiz put on the books in 2019. It also beat the 4:40.66 Jackl notched en route to taking the gold in Belgrade’s edition of these championships last year.

Runner-up status tonight went to Belgian Sarah Dumont who stopped the clock at 4:42.44 while Spain’s Laura Cabanes bagged bronze in 4:43.62. Dumont’s effort is a new Belgian national record.

As quick as Jackl’s outing was this evening, the teen owns a lifetime best of 4:34.96, the monster effort she produced in Budapest earlier this year to become the 6th-best performer on the season.

GIRLS 200 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 1:53.65, Summer McIntosh (2023)
• European Junior Record: 1:56.17, Nikolett Padar (HUN), 2023
• European Record: 1:52.98, Federica Pellegrini (2009)
• Championship Record: 1:57.51, Isabel Gose (2019)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Nikolett Padar (HUN), 1:57.59

Top 8:

1. Minna Abraham (HUN), 1:58.36
2. Linda Roth (GER), 1:59.61
3. Ela Ozdemir (TUR), 1:59.80
4. Phoebe Cooper (GBR), 2:00.06
5. Maeline Bessard (FRA), 2:00.33
6. Sylvia Statkevicius (LTU), 2:00.40
7. Dora Molnar (HUN), 2:00.47
8. Rebecca-Aimee Diaconescu (ROU), 2:00.54

Last year’s silver medalist Minna Abraham of Hungary held onto the top spot she claimed out of this morning’s heats of the girls’ 200m free.

18-year-old Abraham punched a time of 1:58.36 to lead a trio of sub-2:00 performers, followed by Germany’s Linda Roth and Turkey’s Ela Ozdemir. The former notched 1:59.61 for the 2nd seed while the latter hit 1:59.80.

Roth’s effort sliced .02 off her previous PB of 1:59.63 from May of this year. Ozdemir’s outing here represents her first-ever foray under the 2:00 barrier, already approaching Gizem Guvenc’s Turkish national record of 1:58.24 posted over 4 years ago.

Abraham was the silver medalist in this event last year in Belgrade, posting a time of 1:59.29. However, more recently, while competing at the senior European Championships just last month, Abraham nailed a lifetime best of 1:57.22 to capture the silver medal.

BOYS 200 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 1:42.97, David Popovici (2022)
• European Junior Record: 1:42.97, David Popovici (2022)
• European Record: 1:42.00, Paul Biedermann (2009)
• Championship Record: 1:45.26, David Popovici (2021)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Petar Mitsin (BUL), 1:46.50

Top 8:

1. Kristupas Trepocka (LTU), 1:48.59
2. Nicholas Castella (DEN), 1:49.45
3. Ahmet Burak Isik (TUR), 1:49.46
4. Kenan Dracic (BIH), 1:49.54
5. Filippo Bertoni (ITA), 1:49.58
6. Christian Giefing (AUT), 1:49.86
7. Lukas Fritzke (GER), 1:49.92
8. Gabriele Valente (ITA), 1:50.21

The host nation got a boost in the form of Kristupas Trepocka sealing up the top spot in these boys’ 200m freestyle semi-finals.

The 18-year-old cleared the field by just under a second, reaping a result of 1:48.59. That represents a lifetime best, erasing his previous career-quickest effort of 1:49.13 put up in the prelims at last month’s senior European Championships.

Danish rising star Nicholas Castella logged a time of 1:49.45 to hold a narrow advantage over 3rd-seeded Ahmet Burak Isik who clocked 1:49.46.

7 of the top 8 finishers tonight all impressively dipped under the 1:50 threshold; however, they have miles to go to get into the range of last year’s winner Petar Mitsin who earned gold in 1:46.50.

GIRLS 50 BACKSTROKE – SEMFINAL

• World Junior Record: 27.49, Minna Atherton (2016)
• European Junior Record: 27.51, Daria Vaskina (2019)
• European Record: 27.10, Kira Toussaint (2021)
• Championship Record: 27.74, Mary-Ambre Moluh (2022)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Lora Komoroczky (HUN), 28.08

Top 8:

1. Blythe Kinsman (GBR), 28.31
2. Martine Damborg (DEN), 28.37
3. Lora Komoroczy (HUN), 28.42
4. Sara Curtis (ITA), 28.50
5. Zoe Carlos-Broc (FRA), 28.61
6. Anna Maria Borstler (GER), 28.68
7. Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu (ROU), 28.77
8. Sara Costa de Vicente (ESP), 28.83

As is typical in 50 stroke sprints, the top tier of talent in this girls’ 50m back were separated by just about half a second when all was said and done.

Blythe Kinsman of Great Britain powered her way to the pole position, stopping the clock in 28.31, a new career-best by .01.

That holds a .06 advantage over runner-up Martine Damborg who will flank the Brit in tomorrow night’s final, courtesy of her 28.37 outing.

Hungary’s Lora Komoroczy, last year’s gold medalist in this event, will be on Kinsman’s other side, registering 28.42.

Italy’s 50m free national record holder, 17-year-old Sara Curtis lurks as the 4th seed in 28.50.

BOYS 50 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 24.00, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• European Junior Record: 24.00, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• European Record: 23.80, Kliment Kolesnikov (2021)
• Championship Record: 24.52, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Miroslav Knedla (CZE), 24.88

Top 8:

1. Mantas Kauspedas (LTU), 25.06
2. Daniele del Signore (ITA), 25.36
3. Jakub Jan Krischke (CZE), 25.45
4. Vincent Passek (GER), 25.55
5. Noe Pantskhava (GEO), 25.57
6. Alexandru Constantinescu (ROU), 25.65
7. Finn Broekhoven (NED), 25.81
8. Aukan Goldin (ISR), 25.96

This boys’ 50m backstroke podium is guaranteed to look different than last year as none of the medalists are competing here in Lithuania.

Host nation swimmer Mantas Kauspedas fired off a new national record of 24.95 this morning to nab the top seed and establish his first time under the 25-second barrier.

The 16-year-old was slightly off that mark tonight but still secured the #1 seed in a result of 25.06.

Italy’s Daniele del Signore was next in line in 25.36 while the Czech swimmer will try to follow in Miroslav Knedla‘s footsteps, carrying a mark of 25.45 into tomorrow’s final.

5th-seeded Noe Pantskhava nailed a new Georgian national record with this evening’s effort. His time of 25.57 erased his own former benchmark of 25.58 put on the books in Belgrade at last year’s edition.

GIRLS 50 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• European Junior Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• European Record: 29.16, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2023
• Championship Record: 29.75, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Eneli Jefimova (Estonia), 30.33

Top 8:

1. Nayara Pineda Lopez (ESP), 31.50
2. Martina Fanunza (ITA), 31.59 & Smilte Plytnykatie (LTU), 31.59
3. –
4. Maria Ramos (ESP)31.62
5. Irene Mati (ITA), 31.67
6. Havana Cueto Cabrera (SUI), 31.70
7. Egle Salu (EST), 31.80
8. Jasmine Carter (GBR), 31.93

While reigning European Junior Championships gold medalist Eneli Jefimova of Estonia has opted out of this event this time around, Spanish swimmer Nayara Pineda Lopez took advantage of the open door.

16-year-old Lopez turned in a time of 31.50 for a slim lead over a pair of 2nd seeds in Martina Fanunza of Italy and Smilte Plytnykatie of Lithuania. They both earned identical times of 31.59.

Estonia is indeed represented in tomorrow night’s final, thanks to Egle Salu’s time of 31.80 as the 7th-quickest semi performer.

BOYS 50 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 26.97, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• European Junior Record: 26.97, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• European Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (2017)
• Championship Record: 27.23, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Jonas Gauer (DEN), 27.57

Top 8:

1. Nusrat Allahverdi (TUR), 27.59
2. Subajr Biltaev (GER), 27.81
3. Oliver Munn (SWE), 28.08
4. Maksim Manolov (BUL), 28.11
5. Emilian Hollank (GER), 28.15
6. Nil Cadevall Micolau (ESP), 28.18
7. Max Morgan (GBR), 28.22
8. Fran Miodrag (CRO), 28.25

Turkey’s Nusrat Allahverdi nearly matched his morning performance, checking in with 27.59 compared to his heats outing of 27.58.

Germany’s Subajr Biltaev nabbed the 2nd slot in 27.81 as the only other sub-28-second performer. He was 27.61 in this morning’s rounds.

It took a time of 27.57 to top the podium last year so the field is right in that realm for the main event tomorrow evening.

BOYS 200 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINAL

• World Junior Record: 1:53.79, Kristof Milak (2017)
• European Junior Record: 1:52.71, Kristof Milak (2018)
• European Record: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (2022)
• Championship Record: 1:53.79, Kristof Milak (2017)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Andrea Camozzi (ITA), 1:58.59

Top 8:

1. Samuel Kostal (SVK), 1:59.26
2. Mykola Kotenko (UKR), 1:59.33
3. Vlad-Stefan Mihalache (ROU), 1:59.48
4. Tuncer Berk Erturk (TUR), 1:59.58
5. Mikolaj Popiel (POL), 1:59.77
6. David Antal (HUN), 1:59.85
7. Eren Kuru (TUR), 2:00.09
8. Matteo Christopher Palmisani (ITA), 2:00.43

Nothing too crazy happened in tonight’s semi-finals of the boys’ 200m free with no competitor clearing the 1:59 barrier.

Slovakia’s Samuel Kosta led the charge with a time of 1:59.26, off his national record of 1:57.26 from this year’s Mare Nostrum Tour.

Mykola Kotenko of Ukraine posted a new personal best of 1:59.33 to snare the 2nd seed while last year’s silver medalist Vlad-Stefan Mihalache rounded out the top 3 performers in 1:59.48.

GIRLS 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 3:36.19, Canada (2017)
• European Junior Record: 3:39.91
• European Record: 3:31.72, Netherlands (2009)
• Championship Record: 3:40.10, Russia (2021)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Italy, 3:40.60

GOLD – Italy, 3:41.12
SILVER – France, 3:41.13
BRONZE – Germany, 3:41.60

Italy repeated as the European Junior Championships gold medalists as the foursome of Chiara Sama, Sara Curtis, Cristiana Stevanato and Caterina Santambrogio combined for a collective time of 3:41.12.

Sama led off with an opening split of 56.27 before Curtis punched a 2nd leg of 54.74. Stevanato kept the speed going with a 3rd leg of 55.12 before Santambrogio concluded the contest in 54.99.

Only Hungary’s 2nd leg Abraham (54.34) was faster than Curtis’ split.

Italy got to the wall just .01 ahead of Frane who settled for silver only a fingernail behind in 3:41.13. Germany bagged bronze in 3:41.60 in the extremely tight battle to the finish.

BOYS 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

• World Junior Record: 3:15.49, United States (2023)
• European Junior Record: 3:16.26, Russia (2019)
• European Record: 3:08.32, France (2008)
• Championship Record: 3:16.58, Italy (2009)
• 2023 European Junior Champion: Italy, 3:17.87

GOLD – Italy, 3:17.04
SILVER – France, 3:18.83
BRONZE – Great Britain, 3:19.49

The boys’ 4x100m free relay saw Italy repeat as well, with the nation reaping gold in 3:17.04. That topped the podium by well over a second, with France clinching silver in 3:18.83 and Great Britain rounding out the top 3 in 3:19.49.

For Italy, the foursome was comprised of Gabriele Valente (50.28), Carlos D’Ambrosio (48.48), Mirkko Chiaversoli (49.07) and Lorenzo Ballarati (49.21). They easily beat the 3:17.87 time their countrymen put on the books last year in Belgrade.

D’Ambrosio’s split of 48.48 was by far the fastest of the field, giving him good vibes heading into the individual freestyle sprint events later on in the competition.