European Short-Course, Day 5 Finals: Noe Ponti Completes Butterfly Clean Sweep In Otopeni

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Noe Ponti: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

European Short-Course, Day 5 Finals: Noe Ponti Completes Butterfly Clean Sweep In Otopeni

Noe Ponti became the first man to complete the butterfly clean sweep after winning gold in the 50 at the European Short-Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania.

The Swiss swimmer went 21.79 to add the sprint to the 100 he won in a European record of 48.47 and the 200 he claimed on Friday.

Kira Toussaint made it three in a row in the 100 back to add to three straight 50 back titles.

Matt Richards and James Guy delivered a British 1-2 in the 200 free with David Popovici finishing outside the medals in fourth,

Great Britain return to the top of the medal table with eight golds, six silvers and four bronze medals ahead of France (six golds, seven silvers and five bronze) and the Netherlands (five golds and four bronze medals).

Women’s 100m Backstroke

Medi Harris was comfortably the fastest qualifier and was seeking a second individual title of the meet following 200 back gold.

But it was Kira Toussaint who led throughout to win in 55.88 to claim her third straight 100 title and add to her three in a row over 50 on Friday.

The Netherlands swimmer said:

“I came here to win these two events (50-100m), so I’m very pleased to achieve the double.

“I was nervous before the start but it’s fun to feel the excitements and at the same time I was confident and I’m happy that I’ve succeeded.”

Harris was second in 56.81 with Mary-Ambre Moluh of France third in 57.10.

Men’s 200m Freestyle

British 1-2s are becoming a regular occurence in the 200.

Tom Dean and Duncan Scott in Tokyo were followed by Richards and Dean at the 2023 World Championships.

And it was the same once more in Otopeni with Richards and Guy taking the two top slots in 1:41.01 and 1:41.12 respectively.

Danas Rapsys was third in 1:41.15 with Popovici fourth in 1:41.52.

Matt Richards: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow/British Swimming

Richards said:

“I’m over the moon with that. It’s a great result to try and build that momentum on from Worlds into short course.

“I’m definitely better long course so this is all a challenge and a learning experience to refine some of my skills, but

I’m over the moon to come out on top.

“So, so pleased to see Jim on the podium as well.”

Guy added:

“I’ve not had an individual final & to get an individual podium is amazing. I’ve waited for a long time for it to happen. The last time I did a 200m free and got a medal was 2016, so seven years is a long time, so never give in!”

“Things happen in life but don’t give up. I’m 28 and still PB’ing and I’m happy with what I’m doing so bring on next year.”

Women’s 100m Fly

Louise Hansson added to her Otopeni medal haul with gold in 55.37 with Angelina Kohler adding 100 silver to her 2 fly gold in 55.50.

Anna Ntountounaki was third. in 55.98, two years after silver in Kazan.

Men’s 200m Breaststroke

The Netherlands are thriving in the breaststroke with Arno Kamminga and Tes Schouten having already paid a trip to the top of the Otopeni podium.

Caspar Corbeau led from start to finish to join the golden club in 2:02.41 to add to his 100 bronze.

Anton McKee of Iceland took silver in 2:02.74 with Kamminga third in 2:03.32, patting Corbeau’s back as he hoisted himself on the lane ropes before slapping the water.

Women’s 200IM

Abbie Wood led throughout to win in 2:05.58 as she won the medley double.

WOOD Abbie GBR 200m Breaststroke Women Heats Swimming FINA 19th World Championships Budapest 2022 Budapest, Duna Arena 22/06/22 Photo Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Charlotte Bonnet rocketed down the final 25 for silver in 2:06.58 with Lena Kreundl third in 2:06.89.

Wood said:

“It’s tough doing the IM double but I’m really proud”

She paid tribute to her coach at Loughborough Performance Centre, saying:

“I need to give Dave Hemmings a shout out and I hope he starts to get the praise he deserves because what he’s doing with Medi (Harris) and I is great.

“She’s smashed it this week too. It was a bit of a surprise when he said we would be training partners but it’s working so well for both of us.”

Men’s 50 Fly

Noe Ponti completed the fly treble in 21.79 – just 0.04 off the world record of 21.75 held by Szebasztian Szabo who finished second in 21.96.

Maxime Grousset was third in 22.10.

Noe Ponti of Switzerland competes in the 50m Butterfly Men Heats during the 20th World Aquatics Championships at the Marine Messe Hall A in Fukuoka (Japan), July 23rd, 2023. Noe Ponti placed 5th.

Noe Ponti: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Ponti said:

“Amazing, I honestly didn’t expect to swim this fast tonight. Wow. I mean 50’s are like gambling, it can go well or it can go bad. I was really nervous and knew it was a 50 which could go either way. I wanted to enjoy it and obviously I did.

“I’m getting a lot of confidence from this for the longer season. This Europeans feels like what I’ve been working for in these past years and each meet something didn’t work out well, but I’m happy that I was able to keep my mental state for five days (here) and be able to perform on each of the days.”

Mixed 4x50m Freestyle Relay

Great Britain won in a Championship record of 1:27.75 ahead of Italy (1:28.28) and France (1:28.35).

Ben Proud – who blasted to a European record of 20.18 to win the individual 50 free title – went out in 20.39 with Lewis Burras going 20.69 as they reached halfway with a 0.27secs lead over Italy.

Anna Hopkin went 22.95 for the fastest woman’s split in the field before Freya Anderson anchored the quartet to gold in 23.72.

It was Burras’ second relay gold of the championships following victory in the men’s 4x50m freestyle.

He said:

“Two national anthems in four days, I couldn’t ask much more at my first-ever European Championships.

“Coming into this one, we talked about it (the world record), but we knew to let the swim come to us, be in the moment, take in the crowd and the time will be fast.

“It’s a Championship record, so pretty good.”

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