Two Golds for Poland, Including a World Record, and Franzi’s 5th Gold Highlight the Final Day of the Euro Champs

By Phillip Whitten and Norbert Agh

BERLIN, August 4. EIGHT events were swum on this, the final night of competition at the European
Championships in Berlin, with swimmers from seven different countries winding up atop the podium.

One country won two events: Poland.

Polish Party
First there was the stunning world record in the 200m butterfly by Otylia Jedrejczak — 2:05.78 — to erase the 2:05.81 set by Australia's Susie O'Neill on May 17, 2000 at the Australian Olympic Trials. The record was the first-ever by a Polish woman.

"I knew I was in top form but I never dreamt of being capable of achieving such an incredible time," she said.

Hungary's 16 year-old future star, Eva Risztov, set a national record of 2:08.24 to earn her third silver medal of the meet.

Moments later, inspired by his teammate's success,and swimming in the very next event Bart Kizierowski upset world record-holder Alex Popov, the defending champion, top qualifier and overwhelming favorite, in the 50 free, clocking 22.18 seconds. Among his other victims was 100m free WR-holder, Pieter Van Den Hoogenband of The Netherlands. Double Olympic champion Van den Hoogenband of Holland, who won gold in the 100 and 200 freestyle events this week, had to settle for fourth in 22.34 while Popov was fifth in 22.35.

"My goal was to beat Alexander Popov and I succeeded," said van den Hoogenband with an ironic laugh.

Kizierowski, 25, a University of california grad who trained in Croatia this summer under University of California co-head coach, Mike Bottom (as did Croatia's Gordan Kozulj, winner of the 200m backstroke), has often been in the finals at major meets. But this was the first time he'd ever won all the marbles at a major meet.

"It seems that today is a great day for Poland," said Kizierowski, who also took bronze in the 50 meter backstroke.

Popov actually got the best start and took a quick lead, but he was unable to maintain it. The pro-Popov crowd sat in stunned silence as Kizierowski took a commanding lead and jammed his hand into the touchpads for the win.

In all, one world, two European and five Championship records were broken this evening. Five world marks fell during the course of the meet.

Franzi, Franzi, Franzi…
For the boisterous, highly partisan German crowd, these Championships were also a coming out party of sorts for Germany's most popular personality, Franziska Van Almsick. Now 24, Van Almsick has been swimming well all year, showing promise that she would return to her world record form of eight years ago. She did all that…and more.

After breaking her own 8 year-old world mark in the 200 free yesterday, Franzi came back tonight to record the fastest 100m fly relay split (57.48) and lead Germany to a European record 4:01.54 in the women's 4x100m medley relay.

"It was a wonderful conclusion to the championships and absolutely unbelievable that we broke the
European record to boot," said van Almsick, who burst into the limelight with two surprise medals at the 1992 Olympics at 14 years of age before suffering from years of erratic performances and withering criticism.

In all, the reborn Franzi won five gold medals. 100 free, 200 free, 400 medley relay, 800 freestyle relay and the world record-setting 400 freestyle relay.

Moments after breaking the elusive 200 meter record on Saturday she fell to her knees and sobbed with joy.

The charismatic Van Almsick, whose heroics in the 1990s turned swimming into a major sport in Germany, tried to brush aside speculation she would retire after the championships. "I've first got to digest all this success," said van Almsick, who earlier in the week said she might quit after a perfect race. "I'm not going to say anything else now."

Here's how the other events went tonight:

Women's 50m backstroke
As advertised, this was a two-woman race featuring Spain's Nina Zhivanevskaia and Germany's Sandra Volker, the WR-holder. Zhivanevskaia led the entire way and touched in a Championship record 28.58. Volker held off young Aliksandra Herasimenia of Belarus for the silver, 28.81 to 28.86.

Women's 50m freestyle
Sweden's Therese Alshammar redeemed herself after a week of lackluster performances. Tonight she
retained her 50 meter freestyle title, leading all the way, to touch in 24.84. The time was four-tenths of a second slower than her winning time two years ago.

Slovakia's Martina Moravcova, 100m fly winner, was second in 25.09, followed by Belarus' Herasimenia, third once again, at 25.24.

"This title is very important to me because so far the Europeans in Berlin did not go well for me," said the Swede, who was a disappointing sixth in the 100. "It was a difficult week and I was starting to have doubts."

Men's 400m Individual Medley
Italy's Alessio Boggiatto swam a lifetime best to finish second in the 200 IM, so the buzz around the pool was that Tom Dolan's world record in the 400 IM was in serious danger.

The Italian thought so too, and he gave it a go.

Trailing for only the first 50 meters, he split 58.48 for the fly and 1:05.37 for the backstroke, giving him a commanding lead on the rest of the field. He stayed on target on the first 50 of the breaststroke leg — 34.59, but then the gruelling pace began to tell. His second 50 breast was slower — 35.40. And his freestyle was a disappointing 59.35. Still, his time, 4:13.19, was a new Championship record, though it was 4-hundredths of a second slower than his winning time at last year's World championships.

After the race the Italian said: "Until 250 meters, I felt I could break the world record but then I got tired. I am happy with this performance, though unfortunately a strong opponent was missing tonight."

Boggiatto remains the third fastest 400 IMer in history, behind Dolan and Hungary's Tamas Darnyi.

Hungary's Istvan Bathazi was second in 4:17.33.

Women's 400m freestyle
The women's 400 free was a great race, with Ukraine's Yana Klochkova, the 1991 world champion, looking for her third gold, and Hungary's Eva Risztov looking for her first gold after three silvers. Klochkova achieved her aim, just edging Risztov in a thrilling battle.

Actually, it was a three-woman race for 300 meters, with Romania's Camelia Potec very much in the mix. At the 100, Klochkova touched in 1:00.00 to Potec's 1:00.16 and Risztov's 1:00.20.

Risztov passed the Romanian at the 200 and reduced klochkova's lead from 20 one-hundredths to 16.

The young Hungarian gained another hundredth of a second on the third 100 meters to trail by 15-hundredths.

Then Klochkova made a move, turning at 350 meters a full 8-tenths of a second ahead of Risztov.

But Risztov had something left in her tank, and as they hit the pads, she had closed to within 14-hundredths of a second of the Ukrainian. At the end it was Klochkova, 4:07.10; Risztov, 4:07.24; and Potec, 4:09.49.

"That was a very, very tight race," said Klochkova. "I had the luckier hand in the touch. Three gold medals in Berlin. It couldn't have gone better."

Risztov won her fourth silver medal but was unhappy.
"I'm really disappointed," she said after the race.
"My fourth silver medal and I was beaten so very narrowly."

Later, though, she reconsidered, telling SwimInfo in an exclusive interview: “I finally am satisfied because I almost won after swimming the 200 fly final. It makes me quite sure that I will win at least one gold next year in the World Championships.”

Don't bet against her.

Women's 4x100m medley relay
Germany's 4x100m medley relay team broke the European record in a race that was never close.

The German quartet of Antje Buschschulte (backstroke, 1:01.38 — faster than the winning time in the 100 back), Simone Weiler (breaststroke, 1:08.65), Franziska Van Almsick (fly, 57.48) and Sandra Volker (free, 54.03) won in 4:01.54 to better the previous mark of 4:03.06 set by the German team at the 1999 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Sweden was a distant second at 4:06.15, as anchor Johanna Sjoberg just overtook Ukraine's Olga

Mukomol in the final five meters for the silver. Ukraine clocked 4:06.22.

The fastest backstroke split was recorded by Spain's Nina Zhivanevskaia at 1:01.05. Russia's Stanislava Komarova, the winner of the 100 back, led off her relay in 1:01.87.

Sweden's Emma Igelstrom had the fastest breaststroke split (1:08.16), Franzi led all the flyers (57.48) and Volker was the swiftest freestyle anchor (54.03).

Men's 4x100m medley relay
Germany got off to a strong start as Stev Theloke threw down a 55.01 for his 100 meter backstroke leadoff leg, but he was barely ahead of France's Pierre Roger who swam a national record 55.15.
Peter Horvath went 55.45 for Hungary while Gordan Kozulj led off in 55.74 for Croatia. Mired in seventh place was Russia's Evgueni Alechine (56.50).

Ukraine's Oleg Lisogorand Russia's WR-holder, Roman Sloudnov, had the fastest 100 breast splits, both clocking 1:00.04, with France's Huges Duboscq, at 1:00.26, and Hungary's Karoly Guttler, at 1:00.39, close behind.

At the 200 it was a free-for-all, with France leading at 1:55.41 followed closely by Hungary (1:55.84), Germany (1:56.37), Ukraine (1:56.43), Russia (1:56.54) and Finland (1:56.69).

Three swimmers swam 51+ fly legs: Ukraine's Andriy Serdinov (51.13), Germany's Thomas Rupprath (51.74) and Russia's Igor Martchenko (51.82). At the end of 300 meters, the lead had changed once again, but it was still a five-team race.

Going into the final leg, only 8-tenths of a second separated the top five teams, with Ukraine leading (2:47.56), followed by France (2:47.73), Hungary (2:48.37), Germany (2:48.11) and Russia (2:48.36). Finland, in sixth, was still in the race.

hat's when Russia unveiled it's not-so-secret weapon: the russian Rocket, aka Alex Popov. Failing to panic, Popov slowly closed the gap moving his team into fourth place with one lap to go, as France regained the lead. But the Rocket had too much fuel left in his engine to remain in the doldrums. With a burst of speed, Popov passed the entire pack, splitting 47.85 for his 100 meters to give Russia the win in a Championship record 3:36.21. France followed for the silver and Germany out-touched Ukraine for the bronze.

There were three 48+ freestyle splits: France;s Romain Barnier (48.82), Hungary's Attila Zubor (48.85) and Germany's Stefan Herbst (48.94).

Despite his stirring performance, Popov was less than pleased: "The European championships didn't go well for us," he said. "My relay time could also have been better."

FINAL MEDAL TALLY

Gold Silver Bronze Total

Germany 15 12 9 36

Russia 11 7 8 26

Italy 7 6 7 20

Ukraine 6 5 6 17

Sweden 4 3 4 11

Netherlands 4 0 2 6

France 2 3 4 9

Poland 2 1 1 4

Finland 2 0 0 2

Spain 1 5 2 8

Austria 1 2 1 4

Slovakia 1 2 0 3

Croatia 1 0 2 3

Hungary 0 8 1 9

Belarus 0 1 6 7

Romania 0 1 2 3

Switzerland 0 1 0 1

Greece 0 0 1 1

Slovenia 0 0 1 1

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Berlin, Germany
DAY SEVEN: August 4, 2002

FINALS RESULTS

WOMEN'S 50m BACKSTROKE
28.25 VÖLKER Sandra GER 17−06−00 BERLIN WR
28.25 VÖLKER Sandra GER 17−06−00 BERLIN ER
28.58 ZHIVANEVSKAIA,Nina ESP 04−08−02 BERLIN CR

1. ZHIVANEVSKAIA Nina ESP 77 0.66 28.58 CR
2. VÖLKER Sandra GER 74 0.61 28.81
3. HERASIMENIA A. BLR 85 0.75 28.86 n
4. ORNSTEDT Louise DEN 85 0.62 29.25
5. PIETSCH Janine GER 82 0.74 29.27
6. CAPPA Alessandra ITA 82 0.68 29.31
7. AMSHENNIKOVA Irina UKR 86 0.72 29.50
8. MOCANU Diana ROM 84 0.72 29.64

WOMEN'S 200m BUTTERFLY
2:05.78 JEDREJCZAK,Otylia POL 04-08-02 BERLIN WR
2:05.78 JEDREJCZAK,Otylia POL 04-08-02 BERLIN ER
2:05.78 JEDREJCZAK,Otylia POL 04-08-02 BERLIN CR

1. JEDREJCZAK Otylia POL 83 0.92 28.79 1:00.79 1:33.14 2:05.78 WR
2. RISZTOV Eva HUN 85 0.87 29.09 1:01.64 1:34.51 2:08.24 n
3. MEHLHORN Annika GER 83 0.90 28.84 1:01.06 1:34.25 2:09.37
4. GARCIA Mireia ESP 81 0.82 29.50 1:02.26 1:36.23 2:11.04
5. SEGAT Francesca ITA 83 0.85 29.85 1:03.83 1:37.73 2:12.38
6. VIVES Roser ESP 84 0.92 29.87 1:03.31 1:37.64 2:12.46
7. OLIVEIRA Sara POR 85 0.82 30.21 1:03.39 1:37.50 2:12.56
8. VINOGRADOVA E. RUS 80 0.84 29.58 1:03.26 1:38.28 2:13.81

MEN'S 50m FREESTYLE
21.64 POPOV Alexander RUS 16-06-00 MOSCOW WR
21.64 POPOV Alexander RUS 16-06-00 MOSCOW ER
21.95 POPOV Alexander RUS 09-07-00 HELSINKI CR

1. KIZIEROWSKI Bartosz POL 77 0.75 22.18
2. VISMARA Lorenzo ITA 75 0.83 22.26
3. VOLYNETS Oleksandr UKR 74 0.80 22.31
4. VAN DEN HOOGENBAND NED 78 0.80 22.34
5. POPOV Alexander RUS 71 0.84 22.35
6. NYSTRAND Stefan SWE 81 0.76 22.67
7. SCARICA Michele ITA 82 0.76 22.78
8. MANKOC Peter SLO 78 0.76 22.96

WOMEN'S 50m FREESTYLE
24.13 DE BRUIJN Inge NED 22-09-00 SYDNEY WR
24.13 DE BRUIJN Inge NED 22-09-00 SYDNEY ER
24.44 ALSHAMMAR Therese SWE 09-07-00 HELSINKI CR

1. ALSHAMMAR Therese SWE 77 0.82 24.84
2. MORAVCOVA Martina SVK 76 0.85 25.09
3. HERASIMENIA ALIKSANDRA BLR 85 0.76 25.24
4. MEISSNER Kathrin GER 73 0.74 25.34
5. VAN RIJN Wilma NED 71 0.82 25.53
6. KORC Agata POL 86 0.83 25.54
7. GROOT Chantal NED 79 0.81 25.59
8. MUKOMOL Olga UKR 79 0.83 25.61

MEN'S 400m INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
4:11.76 DOLAN Tom USA 17-09-00 SYDNEY WR
4:12.36 DARNYI Tamas HUN 08-01-91 PERTH ER
4:13.19 BOGGIATTO Alessio ITA 04-08-02 BERLIN CR

1. BOGGIATTO Alessio ITA 81 0.84 27.86 58.48 1:31.52 2:03.85
2:38.44 3:13.84 3:44.11 4:13.19 CR
2. BATHAZI Istvan HUN 78 0.81 27.85 59.30 1:33.31 2:06.23
2:41.80 3:18.93 3:48.93 4:17.33
3. ROSTOUCHER Nicolas FRA 81 0.82 28.10 59.58 1:34.18 2:07.53
2:43.73 3:20.17 3:50.11 4:19.19
4. KOKKODIS Ioannis GRE 81 0.89 27.82 1:00.02 1:34.61 2:08.25
2:44.64 3:22.11 3:52.24 4:20.86
5. HALIKA Michael ISR 78 0.94 28.40 1:00.56 1:34.83 2:08.82
2:45.55 3:22.49 3:52.24 4:21.10
6. LEVAILLANT Batiste FRA 80 0.80 27.60 58.67 1:32.82 2:06.54
2:43.69 3:20.87 3:52.42 4:22.27
7. PLATEL Yves SUI 77 0.82 28.46 1:00.88 1:35.43 2:09.13
2:45.21 3:22.29 3:52.98 4:22.98
8. NAZARENKO Dmytro UKR 80 0.92 29.00 1:02.36 1:35.16 2:07.86
2:43.92 3:21.79 3:53.30 4:24.03

WOMEN'S 400m FREESTYLE
4:03.85 EVANS Janet USA 22-09-88 SEOUL WR
4:05.84 MOEHRING Anke GDR 17-08-89 BONN ER
4:05.84 MOEHRING Anke GDR 17-08-89 BONN CR

1. KLOCHKOVA Yana UKR 82 0.86 29.09 1:00.00 1:31.60 2:03.38
2:35.23 3:07.00 3:37.45 4:07.10
2. RISZTOV Eva HUN 85 0.92 29.12 1:00.20 1:31.79 2:03.54
2:35.34 3:07.15 3:38.25 4:07.24 n
3. POTEC Camelia ROM82 0.93 29.00 1:00.16 1:31.79 2:03.59
2:35.35 3:07.33 3:38.96 4:09.49
4. PADURARU Simona ROM81 0.87 29.50 1:00.80 1:32.74 2:04.52
2:36.36 3:08.46 3:40.08 4:09.59
5. HENKE Jana GER 73 0.90 29.31 1:00.64 1:32.63 2:04.63
2:36.53 3:08.60 3:40.37 4:10.21
6. OUFIMTSEVA Irina RUS 85 0.93 29.54 1:00.60 1:32.32 2:04.38
2:36.37 3:08.34 3:39.50 4:10.38
7. STOCKBAUER Hannah GER 82 0.85 29.42 1:00.49 1:32.72 2:04.78
2:36.99 3:09.00 3:40.89 4:11.62
8. VILLAECIJA Erika ESP 84 0.90 29.59 1:01.21 1:33.21 2:05.42
2:37.60 3:10.04 3:42.28 4:13.51

WOMEN'S 4x100m MEDLEY RELAY
3:58.30 UNITED STATES USA 23-09-00 SYDNEY WR
4:01.54 GERMANY GER 04-08-02 BERLIN ER
4:01.54 GERMANY GER 04-08-02 BERLIN CR

1. GERMANY 4:01.54 ER
BUSCHSCHULTE Antje 78 30.01 30.01 1:01.38 1:01.38 0.69
WEILER Simone 78 1:33.02 31.64 2:10.03 1:08.65 0.23
VAN ALMSICK F. 78 2:36.62 26.59 3:07.51 57.48 0.39
VÖLKER Sandra 74 3:33.59 26.08 4:01.54 54.03 0.52

2. SWEDEN 4:06.15
ALSHAMMAR Therese 77 30.73 30.73 1:04.33 1:04.33 0.82
IGELSTROM Emma 80 1:35.56 31.23 2:12.49 1:08.16 0.27
KAMMERLING A. 80 2:38.55 26.06 3:11.29 58.80 0.12
SJOBERG Johanna 78 3:36.68 25.39 4:06.15 54.86 0.18

3. UKRAINE 4:06.22 n
AMSHENNIKOVA Irina 86 30.49 30.49 1:02.34 1:02.34 0.67
BONDARENKO Svitlana 71 1:35.08 32.74 2:11.25 1:08.91 0.48
KLOCHKOVA Yana 82 2:39.07 27.82 3:10.84 59.59 0.56
MUKOMOL Olga 79 3:37.51 26.67 4:06.22 55.38 0.43

4. RUSSIA 4:07.72
KOMAROVA Stanislava 86 30.55 30.55 1:01.87 1:01.87 0.80
BOGOMAZOVA Elena 82 1:33.78 31.91 2:11.73 1:09.86 0.35
SOUTIAGUINA Natalia 80 2:39.18 27.45 3:11.46 59.73 0.17
IOUDINA Lioubov 81 3:38.10 26.64 4:07.72 56.26 0.06

5. SPAIN 4:08.38 n
ZHIVANEVSKAIA Nina 77 30.04 30.04 1:01.05 1:01.05 0.67
DOMENECH Belen 85 1:34.45 33.40 2:11.75 1:10.70 0.42
SAN JUAN Angela 83 2:39.87 28.12 3:12.31 1:00.56 0.21
ROCA Laura 80 3:39.34 27.03 4:08.38 56.07 0.18

6. ITALY 4:10.38
CAPPA Alessandra 82 30.58 30.58 1:03.62 1:03.62 0.72
FARINA Sara 78 1:36.32 32.70 2:13.47 1:09.85 0.33
SEGAT Francesca 83 2:42.10 28.63 3:14.44 1:00.97 0.19
VIANINI Cecilia 76 3:41.41 26.97 4:10.38 55.94 0.56

7. NETHERLANDS 4:10.56
SCHREUDER Hinkelien 84 31.52 31.52 1:05.27 1:05.27 0.81
BAANS Madelon 77 1:37.72 32.45 2:14.89 1:09.62 0.56
GROOT Chantal 79 2:42.46 27.57 3:15.53 1:00.64 0.43
VAN RIJN Wilma 71 3:41.78 26.25 4:10.56 55.03 0.39

8. DENMARK 4:11.22
ORNSTEDT Louise 85 30.88 30.88 1:02.71 1:02.71 0.70
THORUP Majken 79 1:35.51 32.80 2:13.14 1:10.43 0.19
SKOU Sophia 75 2:41.54 28.40 3:14.35 1:01.21 0.24
HJORTH−HANSEN Julie 84 3:41.27 26.92 4:11.22 56.87 0.08

MEN'S 4x100m MEDLEY RELAY
3:33.73 UNITED STATES USA 23-09-00 SYDNEY WR
3:35.88 GERMANY GER 23-09-00 SYDNEY ER
3:36.21 RUSSIA RUS 04-08-02 BERLIN CR

1. RUSSIA 3:36.21 CR, n
ALECHINE Evgueni 79 26.92 26.92 56.50 56.50 0.69
SLOUDNOV Roman 80 1:24.30 27.80 1:56.54 1:00.04 0.27
MARTCHENKO Igor 75 2:20.35 23.81 2:48.36 51.82 0.30
POPOV Alexander 71 3:11.49 23.13 3:36.21 47.85 0.39

2. FRANCE 3:36.55 n
ROGER Pierre 83 26.89 26.89 55.15 55.15n 0.73
DUBOSCQ Huges 81 1:23.16 28.01 1:55.41 1:00.26 0.37
ESPOSITO Franck 71 2:19.45 24.04 2:47.73 52.32 0.18
BARNIER Romain 76 3:10.67 22.94 3:36.55 48.82 0.30

3. GERMANY 3:37.05
THELOKE Stev 78 26.69 26.69 55.01 55.01 0.73
KRUPPA Jens 76 1:22.95 27.94 1:56.37 1:01.36 0.32
RUPPRATH Thomas 77 2:20.04 23.67 2:48.11 51.74 0.21
HERBST Stefan 78 3:11.16 23.05 3:37.05 48.94 0.06

4. UKRAINE 3:37.11 n
NIKOLAYCHUK V. 75 27.50 27.50 56.39 56.39 0.75
LISOGOR Oleg 79 1:24.10 27.71 1:56.43 1:00.04 0.18
SERDINOV Andriy 82 2:20.08 23.65 2:47.56 51.13 0.03
SILANTYEV Denis 76 3:11.23 23.67 3:37.11 49.55 0.20

5. HUNGARY 3:37.22n
HORVATH Peter 74 26.71 26.71 55.45 55.45 0.68
GÜTTLER Karoly 68 1:23.25 27.80 1:55.84 1:00.39 0.10
GASPAR Zsolt 77 2:20.00 24.16 2:48.37 52.53 0.41
ZUBOR Attila 75 3:11.60 23.23 3:37.22 48.85 0.20

6. SWEDEN 3:39.91n
PETERSSON Jens 83 27.50 27.50 57.47 57.47 0.69
GUSTAVSSON Martin 80 1:26.13 28.66 1:58.64 1:01.17 0.14
FROLANDER Lars 74 2:22.56 23.92 2:50.76 52.12 0.09
NYSTRAND Stefan 81 3:13.90 23.14 3:39.91 49.15 0.00

7. FINLAND 3:41.42n
SIEVINEN Jani 74 27.34 27.34 56.22 56.22 0.63
PIHLAVA Jarno 79 1:24.23 28.01 1:56.69 1:00.47 0.04
HARD Jere 78 2:20.70 24.01 2:49.02 52.33 0.20
RATY Tero 78 3:13.23 24.21 3:41.42 52.40 0.18

8. CROATIA 3:42.14
KOZULJ Gordan 76 27.06 27.06 55.74 55.74 0.68
ROGULJ Vanja 82 1:24.22 28.48 1:58.10 1:02.36 0.27
FRANICEVIC Lovrenco 78 2:22.70 24.60 2:52.49 54.39 0.17
DRAGANJA Duje 83 3:15.38 22.89 3:42.14 49.65 0.21

WR: World Record
ER: European Record
CR: Championship Record
n: National Record
=n: Equals National Record
+: Second-fastest swim all-time

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