Zheltiakov (Ukraine), Siskos (Greece) Set National Records In Men’s 200 Backstroke

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

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

Two National records went down in the first final on night 3 of the 2024 European Championships. Oleksandr Zheltiakov of Ukraine swam to a win in a national record of a 1:55. while Apostolos Siskos of Greece swam to 2nd in a Greek National Record of a 1:55.

Zheltiakov broke his own national record that he set last July at the World Junior Championships. He swam a 1:55.79 then to win the European Junior Title in Belgrade. His win also puts Ukraine onto the medal table as they had not won a medal yet this week in Serbia.

Split Comparison:

The biggest difference for Zheltiakov was his final 50, coming home 0.90 seconds faster today than he did last July.

Siskos broke the previous record of a 1:56.34 that Apostolos Christou set last month at the Greek Championships. Christou notably also holds the 50 and 100 backstroke records. Siskos’s takes back the 200 back record as he previously held the mark before Christou broke it last month.

Split Comparison:

Siskos took his own record back with a strong back-half. Although he was out slower than Christou on the first 100, he had enough left in the tank to come home strong.

In addition to their record-setting swims, both swimmers move up in the World Rankings this season to sit at #3 and #5 respectively.