European Short-Course, Day 4 Finals: Kira Toussaint Wins Third Straight 50 Back Title In Otopeni

Kira Toussaint - Photo Courtesy: Patrick B. Kraemer

European Short-Course, Day 4 Finals: Kira Toussaint Wins Third Straight 50 Back Title In Otopeni

Kira Toussaint made it three 50m backstroke titles in a row and France won three golds on day four of the European Short-Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania.

Mewen Tomac led home a French 1-2 in the 100 backstroke, Anastasia Kirpichnikova delivered a 1500 free demonstration to add to her 800 free gold while Beryl Gastaldello won her first title in Otopeni at the third time of asking in the 100 free.

Noe Ponti added the 200 fly to the 100 gold he won in European record time at the Aquatics Complex of Otopeni.

France moved to the top of the medal table with six golds, six silvers and two bronze medals ahead of Great Britain (five golds, four silvers, four bronze) and Sweden (three golds, one silver and a bronze).

Men’s 200IM

Duncan Scott moved from second after the opening fly leg to go ahead on the backstroke, a lead he never relinquished to win in 1:50.98, a British record.

The Olympic silver medallist’s time was the second fastest by a European all-time, eclipsed only by Andreas Vazaios‘ continental mark of 1:50.85 from Glasgow 2019.

He said:

“I think 2019 was the last I did of these and then I was playing around with morning heats and finals getting ready for Tokyo so this one title has eluded me so it’s really nice to add that.

“Also with the time as well, a PB is really good.

“I’m in good shape and have prepared well for this meet but it’s not the focus (due to Paris), but Joe (Litchfield) and I can train together and push one another, tonight I’m delighted to nip under that ‘51 for sure.”

Alberto Razzetti was second in 1:53.09 with Danas Rapsys third in 1:53.49.

Women’s 100m Freestyle

Anna Hopkin led until the final touch when Beryl Gastaldello got the win in 51.48 to the Briton’s 51.66.

It was Gastaldello’s first individual title in the European short-course pool having claimed three silvers four years ago.

It was also third time lucky for the Frenchwoman who’d won silvers in the 50 free and 100IM.

The medal ceremony prompted more than the usual emotions on the podium.

Gastadello’s mother Veronique Jardin-Gastaldello, who competed in the freestyle at Barcelona 1992 and Los Angeles 1984, died in June. She lost her father Eric Gastaldello in 2016.

She said:

“It was amazing (out on the podium) and a lot of emotions because I’m coming back from lots of difficult things over the past few months.

“It was more than just swimming, I just had to keep pushing and moving forward. I’m really proud of myself and I hope it can be an example for people struggling out there.

“Resilience (is what I showed). I never give up and it’s a good reward because I work hard every day and I focus on taking care of my dogs and looking forwards.

“Obviously I was thinking a lot about my parents on the podium so I couldn’t hold it (together), but it’s more about, I’m capable of great things and I’ve not shown it yet in long course.

“This is a big step forward for me, a lot of big learning lessons and I know I can accomplish great things and this is the year to do it for sure.”

Freya Anderson made it two British swimmers on the podium in third in 52.10.

Men’s 100m Backstroke

Mewen Tomac went ahead at the 50m mark, a position he held from that point to stop the clock in 49.72 to add the 100 back title to 50 gold.

Yohann Ndoye Brouard made it a French 1-2 in 49.96 after a year in which he underwent surgery for a fractured elbow and then had nine metal pins removed from his elbow following fifth in Fukuoka.

The crowd at the Aquatics Complex of Otopeni were on their feet as Romanian Andrei Ungur shared bronze with Italian Lorenzo Mora in 50.04.

Nine swimmers competed in the final, the explanation that following the initial publication of the finalists the time of one competitor in the event was revised as a result of a soft touch. This moved him into the top 8. It was agreed to allow the competitor initially announced as ranked 8th to be included in the final.

Tomac said:

“It’s my best time and a gold medal, what else I could ask for? This was great.”

Ndoye Brouard added:

“This is my first medal at short-course Europeans, so this is great.

“This is not my best time, but I wanted to swim under 50 seconds which I did so it’s good and it’s also great that we finished 1-2 with Mewen.”

Women’s 200m Breaststroke

Tes Schouten attacked the race from the get-go and was 0.08 inside the world record at halfway and only 0.09 shy with 50 to go.

She came home in 2:16.09 for a new Dutch record to add gold to 100 bronze with a winning margin of 3.45secs over second-placed Thea Blomsterberg who clocked 2:19.54 and Kristyna Horska third in 2:19,63.

Schouten added gold to her 100 bronze and admitted to pre-race doubts.

“Yesterday (semifinals) gave me a lot of confidence but then just before the race I was like ‘what if it doesn’t work out the way that I want it?’

“You never know what the other girls are going to do because everyone is fast so it always is a surprise. I’m going to take a lot of confidence from this because I’m really happy.”

Men’s 200m Butterfly

Razzetti returned to the Otopeni pool after the 200IM to lead at the 150, 0.02 ahead of Ponti with the Swiss going ahead at 175.

A fabulous turn and underwater steered Ponti home in 1:49.71 to win the 100/200 fly double with Razzetti collecting his second silver of the night in 1:50.10 and Richard Marton of Hungary third in 1:52.12.

Ponti said:

“It’s a gold, it’s great.

“I went under 1:50, though I thought I could break 1:49, too.

“Perhaps because of this, I felt tense before the race, that’s why the first 50m wasn’t that good, I didn’t feel the strokes strong enough.

“Then I settled, clocked my second-best time ever, it’s another gold so I think I can be satisfied.”

Women’s 50m Backstroke

Kira Toussaint enjoyed a comprehensive victory in 25.82 for her third straight two-length title following gold at Kazan 2021 and Glasgow 2019.

Louise Hansson of Sweden was second (26.23) with Analia Pigree continuing France’s fine evening in the backstroke with third in 26.28.

There was a nervous wait after the race though while a video judging review was undertaken with the result finally confirmed.

“That took forever (to confirm the result), oh my God!

“Three in a row, it has been my goal the whole season. I know it’s the Olympic season but I really wanted that three in a row and I’m so happy it worked out and I’m very proud.

“I did some meditation right before and tried to tell myself ‘relax, you have done this so many times and you know what to do and stay calm’ – it worked.

“Last year and half hasn’t been very easy and to come back with a 25.8, which is really close to my best time again, I’m very proud yes.”

Women’s 1500m Freestyle

Anastasia Kirpichnikova delivered a demonstration in distance swimming when she added the 1500 title to her 800 gold.

The French swimmer defended her title in 15:20.12, 16.93secs ahead of Simona Quadarella (15:37.05) with Ajna Kesely third in 15:51.34 as the trio repeated the finishing order in the 800.

Kirpichnikova will now look to complete the treble in the 400 free.

There were mixed feelings though as Kirpichnikova had set her sights on Sarah Wellbrock’s European standard of 15:18.01.

“This is great to win another gold medal.

“I just wanted to a bit better, to break the European record.

“I was so close in Kazan and now it was two seconds – well, I should wait now to try again.”

OTOPENI 2023 SEMIFINAL ROUND-UP

European long-course champion David Popovici leads the 200 free in 1:42.04 ahead of Olympic relay gold medallist James Guy (1:42.66) and world title-holder Matt Richards (1:42.70).

Szebasztian Szabo was just 0.11 shy of his 50 fly world record in 21.86 with Ponti second in 22.18, the Swiss now going for the fly treble.

Netherlands teammates Caspar Corbeau and Arno Kamminga headed the 200 breaststroke in 2:03.04 and 2:04.59 respectively.

Angelina Kohler, who claimed her maiden international title in the 200m butterfly, led the way over 100m in a 55.76 PB.

Medi Harris was swiftest into the women’s 100 back final in 56.66, a day after becoming champion over 200.

Abbie Wood headed the 200IM, the long medley champion touching in 2:06.02.

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