European Championships: Prelims Day 6: Ben Proud Eases Into 50 Free Semis As He Launches Bid For History

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Ben Proud: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

European Championships: Prelims Day 6 – Live Action

Ben Proud launched his bid to add the European 50 freestyle title to his world and Commonwealth golds on day six of prelims in Rome.

Proud became the first British swimmer to become world champion in the one-length event when he won in Budapest before adding the Commonwealth crown in Birmingham.

Proud glided into the wall in 21.78 for second overall in the heats headed by Thom de Boer of the Netherlands and his 21.59.

World record-holder Thomas Ceccon eased into the 100 back semis with Arianna Castiglioni and Benedetta Pilato leading the way into the 50br semis.

Men’s 50m freestyle

Thom de Boer dropped the hammer in the sixth of eight heats with a time of 21.59 with Proud going in the eighth prelim, his customary fine start seeing him rise with a clear lead, gliding into the wall in 21.78.

Italian duo Leonardo Deplano and Lorenzo Zazzeri both clocked 21.89 with the quartet the only men inside 22secs.

men 50 free

Women’s 200m butterfly

A new champion will be crowned with Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas not competing at the Foro Italico.

In her absence, Helena Bach of Denmark was the clear leader, clocking 2:08.66 ahead of Britain’s Keanna MacInnes (2:09.72) with Katinka Hosszu also through.

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Men’s 100m backstroke

Ceccon eased into the semis in 53.71, one of three men inside 54 with 50 back champion Apostolos Christou (53.78) and Joao Nogueira (53.87), a Portuguese record.

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Women’s 50m breaststroke

Arianna Castiglioni and Pilato occupied the top-two slots in 29.91 and 29.93 respectively with Ruta Meilutyte, who won the world title in Budapest, negotiating her way through in 30.12.

w 50br

Men’s 200 IM

Gabriel Jose Lopes was the only man inside 2mins in 1:58.94 with Carles Coll Marti (2:00.56) next through.

Desplanches and Razzetti, silver and bronze medallists last time out, also made it through.

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Mixed 4x200m freestyle

France led the way into tonight’s final ahead of Britain and Italy.

mixed 200

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