European Short-Course, Day 4 Prelims: James Guy & Matt Richards Through In 200 Free, Tom Dean Misses Out

James Guy: Photo Courtesy: British Swimming

European Short-Course, Day 4 Prelims: James Guy & Matt Richards Through In 200 Free, Tom Dean Misses Out

Day four of prelims got under way at the European Short-Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania, following a thrilling night on Thursday.

David Popovici made his first appearance in an individual race in front of a home crowd at the Aquatics Complex of Otopeni.

With such depth of quality in Britain in the men’s 200 free, the two-per-nation came into play with Olympic champion Tom Dean and Jack McMillan missing out.

British women filled the top three slots in the 200IM with Leah Schlossan the one not to progress.

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 100m Backstroke

Medi Harris returned to the Otopeni pool after winning the 200 back in her first international outing in the longer event.

The Welshwoman led the field in 57.15 ahead of French pair Beryl Gastaldello (57.20) and Mary-Ambre Moluh (57.71) with defending champion Kira Toussaint through in 57.83.

Men’s 200m Freestyle

The depth of British quality in this event was on display with four men in the top six.

However, with the two-per-nation rule, it was James Guy (1:41.36) and world champion Matt Richards (1:41.63) who progressed as the top two meaning Jack McMillan (1:42.46) and Olympic champion Tom Dean (1:42.79) missed out.

Popovici went through in 1:42.39 in third with two-time champion Danas Rapsys progressing fifth in 1:42.58.

Women’s 100m Butterfly

Angelina Kohler claimed her first senior medal with an emotional gold in the 200 fly on Thursday evening.

It was Germany’s first gold of the meet and she returned to the Otopeni pool to go 56.33, sharing top spot with Sweden’s Louise Hansson.

Ellen Walshe – the Irish 400IM bronze medallist – was third in 57.59.

Men’s 200m Breaststroke

Arno Kamminga claimed his first individual title since Glasgow 2019 in the 100 on Thursday evening.

He led the 200 prelims in 2:04.68 ahead of training partner and 100 bronze medallist Caspar Corbeau (2:05.38) with Iceland’s Anton McKee third through in 2:05.42.

Women’s 200IM

British women filled the top three slots with 2022 European junior champion Leah Schlossan missing out by 0.05 as 0.13 separated the trio.

Katie Shanahan (2:07.70) led the way with Abbie Wood – winner of the 400IM ahead of the second-placed Scot – second (2:07.78) with Schlossan third but out in 2:07.83.

Men’s 50m Butterfly

Noe Ponti – who set the European record of 48.47 over 100m on Wednesday – looked superb on his start and turns, going 22.17 for pole.

Defending champion Szebasztian Szabo (22.40) and 100 silver medallist Maxime Grousset (22.42) joined him in the semis.

Matteo Rivolta, who won silver at the 2021 edition in Kazan, missed out on the two-per-nation rule while 2017 world long-course champion Ben Proud withdrew the morning after becoming the second-fastest man all-time over 50 free.

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