European Short-Course, Day 3 Finals: Daniel Wiffen Goes Third All-Time With 1500 Masterclass

Daniel Wiffen: Photo by Patrick B. Kraemer / MAGICPBK

European Short-Course, Day 3 Finals: Daniel Wiffen Goes Third All-Time With 1500 Masterclass

Daniel Wiffen produced the third-fastest 1500 free in history as he claimed his second gold medal in as many races on the third night of finals at the European Short-Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania.

Wiffen became the first Irish swimmer to win a European short-course title when he dismantled the field in the 400 free on the opening night.

The 22-year-old returned for the longest race in the pool where he threatened the world record before stopping the clock in 14:09.11.

Ben Proud set a European 50 free record in 20.18: read more here.

There was a British 1-2 in the women’s 200 backstroke with France also taking the top two spots in the women’s 100IM.

Great Britain lead the medal table with four gold, three silver and three bronze medals ahead of France (three golds, five silvers, one bronze), Sweden (three golds, one bronze) with Ireland in fourth with two golds and a bronze.

Women’s 200m Backstroke

Harris had never raced a 200 back before Wednesday but she led throughout to win in a 2:02.45 Welsh record.

Katie Shanahan came from third at 150 to take second in 2:03.22 for a British 1-2 with Pauline Mahieu of France third in 2:03.90.

Harris said:

“I’m very, very happy. I’m just really pleased, I glad I entered this event – I’ve not done it in three years so I’m really happy to have gone and done that, I’m quite shocked.”

Men’s 50m Freestyle

Proud set a European record of 20.18: read more here

Women’s 200m Butterfly

Angelina Kohler led throughout to win in 2:03.30 ahead of Helena Bach Rosendahl (2:03.86) with Lana Pudar setting a European Junior Record of 2:04.55.

Women’s 100IM

Charlotte Bonnet produced lightning quick breaststroke and freestyle legs to claim the title in 57.47 with Beryl Gastaldello making it a France 1-2 in 57.67.

Louise Hansson of Sweden took third in 58.33.

Men’s 1500 Freestyle

Wiffen delivered a masterclass in distance swimming and was under Florian Wellbrock’s world record pace up until 900m and at halfway was 1.18secs inside.

The red line may have got away from the Irishman following the 950 mark but his winning time of 14:09.11 was the third-fastest in history, eclipsed only by Wellbrock’s WR of 14:06.88 and Gregorio Paltrinieri’s 14:08.06 from the 2015 European short-course.

He finished a full 25m ahead of David Aubry and Mykhailo Romanchuk who finished in 14:21.78 and 14:22.18 respectively for silver and bronze while brother Nathan was eighth.

Daniel Wiffen – coached by Andi Manley at Loughborough – still has a race remaining in Otopeni, his favourite 800 free in which he’s the European record holder in both the long and short-course pools.

He said:

“It’s a great time, I knew I was going fast as I took it out fast, and I just wanted to see how long I could hold on, I got to the 500m, and I was really feeling it.

“It definitely hurt, but I expected to be that fast building on from the 400m title.

“I guess I’m just taking loads of confidence from this and hopefully will bring it back and convert it into long course (50m).”

Men’s 100m Breaststroke

Kamminga won the first individual titles of his career at Glasgow 2019 with the 100/200 double.

Since then, the Netherlands swimmer has won nine medals in the Olympic, world and European pools as well as nine in the global and continental short-course pools.

The double Olympic silver medallist was sixth at 75 but came back on the final 25 to take the touch in 56.52 with Nicolo Martinenghi second (56.57) and his training partner Caspar Corbeau (52.66).

Kamminga suffered illness and burnout in 2022 which meant he missed his winter block of training and headed to the Fukuoka worlds without his usual preparation.

Despite that, he won silver in the 100 breast in an historic three-way tie with Martinenghi and Nic Fink as he concludes the year by returning to the top of the individual podium.

He said:

“It’s great to be back after four years and winning again.

“I had a hard time: first it was hard to take a step back from swimming and watch the others from the sidelines and even if I wanted to race my body said no.

“Then I returned, trained hard but the results did not come for a while – so now it’s great to achieve this, to be on the top of the podium.”

Martinenghi added:

“Oh, it’s good, every time it’s great to race against these guys and it was a good swim especially since I’m not 100% now. I thought I could go 56.5 which I did so I’m really satisfied.”

Corbeau said:

“That’s great, a first individual medal for me, so I’m happy. It was very close, my finishing touch could have been better but perhaps the others can tell you the same, so I don’t want to think of this, just enjoy the moment.”

Women’s 4x50m Medley Relay

Michelle Coleman won her third gold anchoring the Swedish quartet in 1:43.26 ahead of Italy (1:43.97) and Great Britain (1:44.67).

OTOPENI SEMIFINALS ROUND-UP

Tes Schouten led the way in the women’s 200m breaststroke in 2:16.98, a new Dutch record.

Anna Hopkin headed the 100 free semis in 51.70, the only woman inside 52secs and Louise Hansson booked lane four for the 50 back in 26.23.

Olympic silver medallist Duncan Scott was comfortably the swiftest into the 200IM final in 1:51.90 from which 10-time World short-course medallist Thomas Ceccon was DQd.

French pair Mewen Tomac – the 50 back gold medallist – and Yohann Ndoye Brouard booked lanes four and five in the 100 back in 50.01 and 50.19 respectively.

Noe Ponti – fresh from his European 100 fly record – is in pole position in the 200, clocking 1:51.79.

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