European Championships: Nicolo Martinenghi Shows Speed in Semifinals of 100 Breaststroke; Charlotte Bonnet Chasing Title

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European Championships: Nicolo Martinenghi Shows Speed in Semifinals of 100 Breaststroke; Charlotte Bonnet Chasing Title

Of the seven events contested during the first evening session of the European Championships in Rome, four were semifinals. In addition to the men’s 50-meter butterfly and women’s 100 freestyle, tickets to finals were on the line in the women’s 200 backstroke and men’s 100 breaststroke. The breaststroke is the most-intriguing of the semifinals, as it features Italian Nicolo Martinenghi and the Netherlands’ Arno Kamminga. That well-accomplished duo is expected to duel for the title on Friday night.

Here is what unfolded in the semifinals at the Foro Italico.

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Meet Results

Men’s 50 Butterfly

The Netherlands’ Nyls Korstanje (22.88) and France’s Maxime Grousset (22.90) posted the only sub-23 performances of the semifinals to secure the top-two seeds for the final of the 50 fly. However, there is a strong field lurking behind, headlined by Italian Thomas Ceccon, who qualified third in 23.14. Best known for his backstroke talents, Ceccon will factor into the gold-medal chase, along with fourth seed Diogo Ribeiro of Portugal, who touched in 23.18. World-record holder Andriy Govorov of the Ukraine advanced as the sixth seed.

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Women’s 100 Freestyle

France’s Charlotte Bonnet will be the favorite for the title in the 100 freestyle after cruising through her semifinal in 53.56, with the Netherlands’ Marrit Steenbergen (53.80) the only other athlete to break 54 seconds. In an event that is lacking top-end power, the battle for the podium will be wide open. Silvia Di Pietro of Italy qualified third in 54.13, followed by Great Britain’s Freya Anderson (54.33) and France’s Beryl Gastaldello (54.36).

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Women’s 200 Backstroke

It’s going to take a major upset for Italian Margherita Panziera to not defend her European title in the 200 backstroke. Panziera cruised victory in the second semifinal and enters the final as the No. 1 seed by more than a second over Hungary’s Eszter Szabo Feltothy (2:09.80). Great Britain’s Katie Shanahan followed at 2:09.82.

At the World Championships in Budapest earlier this summer, Panziera just missed a spot on the podium in the 200 backstroke, as she touched in fourth place.

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Men’s 100 Breaststroke

Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi is 100 meters from adding a European title to the gold medal he won in June at the World Championships. Martinenghi dominated the semifinals, clocking in at 58.44 to win the second heat. He was followed on the way to the final by rival Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands, who prevailed in the first semifinal in 59.29. In the third position was Lithuania’s Andrius Sidlauskas, behind an effort of 59.45.

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