By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
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 penultimate finals session from Budapest will be an action-packed one with 11 events on the docket, including finals in the men’s 800 free, 50 breast and 200 back, the women’s 100 free and 200 IM, and the mixed 400 free relay.
Katinka Hosszu has the opportunity to make history in the women’s 200 IM – a sixth straight victory would mark the longest streak in an individual event at the LC European Championships, men or women. Hosszu’s run of five in a row in the event is tied with fellow Hungarian Laszlo Cseh, who won five straight in both the men’s 200 IM (2006-14) and 400 IM (2004-12).
Israel’s 17-year-old breakout star Anastasia Gorbenko may have something to say about that, however, having qualified first out of the semi-finals in 2:10.35. Great Britain’s Abbie Wood should also be a factor.
In the men’s 800 free, Gregorio Paltrinieri, the winner in 2014 and 2016, will look to reclaim his title from defending champion Mykhailo Romanchuk. Romanchuk beat Paltrinieri head-to-head earlier in the meet in the 1500 free.
The women’s 100 free crown is up for grabs with the winner of the last four titles, Sarah Sjostrom, absent as she heals up from an elbow injury. In her absence, the Dutch duo of Femke Heemskerk and Ranomi Kromowidjojo will duke it out, with France’s Marie Wattel and Brits Freya Anderson and Anna Hopkin also in the mix. Heemskerk has notably won a medal in four of the last five championships in this event, but has never stood atop the podium.
Adam Peaty will shoot for four straight in the men’s 50 breast, which would tie Oleg Lisogor‘s record in the event (2002-08), and Luke Greenbank will look to upend defending champ Evgeny Rylov in the men’s 200 back after lowering the British Record in both the prelims and semis.
This morning’s prelims featured a few swims worth mentioning – Kristof Milaktied the Championship Record in the men’s 100 fly (50.64), and Benedetta Pilato broke the meet, Italian and World Junior Records in the women’s 50 breast (29.50).
Men’s 800 Free Final
- European Record: 7:39.27, Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), 2019
- European Championship Record: 7:42.33, Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), 2016
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 7:54.31
- Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR), 7:42.61
- Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), 7:43.62
- Gabriele Detti (ITA), 7:46.10
There was nothing in the men’s 800 free final early on, with two-time winner Gregorio Paltrinieri inching his way into the lead around the 300m mark. Defending champion Mykhailo Romanchuk refused to let the Italian get away, and the two duelled it out over the final 100.
As we’ve seen before, Romanchuk had more finishing kick at the end, taking out Paltrinieri on the final 50 in 27.70 to win it by a full second in 7:42.61, just off his Ukrainian Record of 7:42.49. Romanchuk moves into second in the world rankings this season, trailing only Paltrinieri’s 7:41.96 from April.
Paltrinieri touched second in 7:43.62, his fifth straight medal in the event, while his teammate Gabriele Detti won his third medal in the last four championships with bronze in 7:46.10. Detti improves his season-best of 7:46.58, but falls one spot in the rankings due to Romanchuk’s swim.
Norwegian Henrik Christiansen takes fourth for the second straight championships in 7:47.99.
WOMEN’S 100 FREE FINAL
- European Record: 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
- European Championship Record: 52.67, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2014
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 54.38
- Femke Heemskerk (NED), 53.05
- Marie Wattel (FRA), 53.32
- Anna Hopkin (GBR), 53.43
MEN’S 50 BREAST FINAL
- European Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (GBR), 2017
- European Championship Record: 26.09, Adam Peaty (GBR), 2018
Women’s 200 Back Semi-Finals
- European Record: 2:04.94, Anastasia Fesikova (RUS), 2009
- European Championship Record: 2:06.18, Margherita Panziera (ITA), 2018
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:10.39
Men’s 50 Free Semi-Finals
- European Record: 20.94, Frederick Bousquet (FRA), 2009
- European Championship Record: 21.11, Ben Proud (GBR), 2018
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 22.01
Women’s 50 Fly Semi-Finals
- European Record: 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2014
- European Championship Record: 24.87, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2014
Men’s 100 Fly Semi-Finals
- European Record: 49.95, Milorad Cavic (SRB), 2009
- European Championship Record: 50.64, Piero Codia (ITA), 2018
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 51.96
Women’s 50 Breast Semi-Finals
- European Record: 29.48, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
- European Championship Record: 29.66, Yuliya Efimova (RUS), 2018
MEN’S 200 BACK FINAL
- European Record: 1:53.23, Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 2021
- European Championship Record: 1:53.36, Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 2018
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 1:57.50
WOMEN’S 200 IM FINAL
- European Record: 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2015
- European Championship Record: 2:07.30, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2016
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:12.56
Mixed 4×100 Free Relay Final
- European Record: 3:21.81, Netherlands, 2017
- European Championship Record: 3:22.07, France, 2018
Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2021 European Championships: Day 6 Finals Live Recap