Europeans Cool Off After Blistering First Half of Meet

BUDAPEST, Hungary, Aug. 4. THE 28th LEN European Championships held in Budapest, Hungary cooled down after witnessing three world records over the initial four days of competition. Three meet records fell, however, in a sparkling day of swimming in Europe.

Men’s 1500-meter Freestyle
Russia’s Yury Prilukov shattered a nine-year-old meet record in the distance freestyle with a 14:51.93 to capture gold. His performance eclipsed the 14:58.65 turned in by Italy’s Emiliano Brembilla in Sevilla in 1997. Meanwhile, France’s Sebastien Rouault picked up silver in 14:55.73, while his countryman Nicolas Rostoucher snagged bronze in 15:01.82.

"This year, I won the world short course title, now won the gold here, and I hope I will win my third gold in the upcoming European short course championships,” Prilukov said. “I still miss a world long course title, which I want to win next year in Melbourne."

Women’s 200-meter Freestyle Semifinal
Laure Manaudou clocked the quickest qualifying time of the morning with a 1:58.00, while Germany’s Annika Liebs, who just uncorked an eye-popping 1:55 anchor leg during Germany’s world-record run in the 800-meter freestyle relay on Thursday, snared the second-best time with a 1:58.39. Meanwhile, Poland’s Otylia Jedrzejczak qualified third in 1:59.18.

Men’s 100-meter Butterfly Semifinal
Ukraine’s Andriy Serdinov nabbed the top spot with a 52.05, while Russia’s Nikolay Skvortsov touched second in 52.85. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Sergiy Breus grabbed third in 53.06.

Women’s 200-meter Breaststroke Final
Britain’s Kirsty Balfour grabbed gold in the 200 breast with a 2:25.66, while Ukraine’s Yuliya Pidlisna took silver in 2:28.42. Hungary’s Agnes Kovacs continued her solid meet in front of a home crowd with a bronze in 2:28.90.

"I had the European record on my mind, but now I am pleased with my time,” Balfour said. “I made a big step forward this year."

“My goal was to win a medal here in Budapest, now I have two,” Kovacs said. “I died on the last lap."

Men’s 100-meter Freestyle Final
Italy’s Filippo Magnini picked up gold in 48.79, while Sweden’s Stefan Nystrand took silver in 48.91. Meanwhile, Pieter Van Den Hoogenband rounded out the podium with a 48.94.

"The time is not so good but the important thing is that I won the gold just like in Madrid in 2004,” Magnini said. “I saw the others well but I only concentrated on my own race."

"I am pleased because it is my first under-49 time since 2004,” Van Den Hoogenband said. “It was a very strong final. It is nice to be on the podium again. I was so happy to win the 200 final, so this is just a bonus. I will swim faster next time."

Women’s 50-meter Backstroke Semifinal
World record co-holders Aleksandra Herasimenia of Bulgaria (28.51) and Janine Pietsch of Germany (28.57) both cleared the standard of 28.58 previously set by Spain’s Nina Zhivanevskaia in 2002. Meanwhile, German Antje Buschschulte picked up third in 28.97.

Men’s 200-meter Backstroke Semifinal
Russia’s Arkady Vyatchanin knocked down the third meet record of the day with a 1:57.16 as the top qualifier in the 200 back. He surpassed the previous standard of 1:57.58 set by Markus Rogan in 2004. Germany’s Helge Meeuw placed second in 1:57.45, while Hungarian Laszlo Cseh finished third in 1:57.76. Notably, Rogan came in fourth in 1:57.90.

Women’s 100-meter Butterfly Final
Inge Dekker of the Netherlands captured gold in 58.35, while Slovakia’s Martina Moravcova pocketed silver in 58.98. France’s Alena Popchanka closed out the medal-winners with bronze in 59.06.

"This is my first really big success," Dekker said. "I got a felling that I could make it today. When I did not see anybody beside me at 90 meters, I knew I had done it."

"One of my goals was to be the oldest swimmer winning a medal here," Moravcova said. "I probably achieved that."

Men’s 50-meter Breaststroke Semifinal
World record holder Oleg Lisogor posted the top time in the semifinals with a 27.63, while Italy’s Alessandro Terrin touched second in 27.77. Meanwhile, Russia’s Roman Sludnov finished third in 27.94.

Norbert Agh contributed to this report.

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