Kazan 2021, Day 5 Heats: Evgeny Rylov Heads 200 Back As Two-Per-Nation Ruling Takes Its Toll

RYLOV Evgeny RUS Russia MEN - 200M BACKSTROKE - FINAL Swimming Budapest - Hungary 22/5/2021 Duna Arena XXXV LEN European Aquatic Championships Photo Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Evgeny Rylov: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Evgeny Rylov led the way in the 200 back heats and ensured there would be no repeat of the 100 where the two per-nation-rule meant he missed out on the semis at the European Short-Course Championships in Kazan, Russia.

The effect of the ruling was particularly apparent on Saturday morning when Benedetta Pilato, Kliment Kolesnikov, Florian Wellbrock and Sarah Sjostrom all progressed.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke

Ilya Shymanovich was just 0.02 outside Vlad Morozov‘s championship record of 25.51 as the Belarus swimmer headed the heats in 25.53 to hint at a speedy time to come.

Nicolo Martinenghi, the 100br champion, and European record-holder Emre Sakci both clocked 25.83 to hint at a speedy time to come.

Fabio Scozzoli of Italy (25.95) and 2019 bronze medallist Arno Kamminga (26.13) also progressed.

Women’s 200 Free

None of the medallists from 2019 – Freya Anderson, Federica Pellegrini and Femke Heemskerk – are present in Kazan meaning the podium will have a whole new look.

Marrit Steenbergen, who won bronze over 100 free, heads the field in 1:54.80 with Isabel Gose the only other woman inside 1:55 in 1:54.99.

Katja Fain was next through (1:55.65) with Anna Egorova progressing in 1:55.95.

Men’s 200 Back

Evgeny Rylov has been affected by the two-per-nation rule this week so he left nothing to chance.

The rule means that only the two fastest swimmers from a single nation can progress from the heats and Rylov missed out because of this in the 100 back.

The double Olympic champion headed qualifying in 1:51.46 as the top three men – all Russian – were separated by 0.50secs.

Aleksei Tkachev was second quickest in 1:51.51 which meant that Grigoriy Tarasevich misses out, despite being third swiftest in the field in 1:51.96.

The 2019 champion Radoslaw Kawecki moved through in 1:52.70.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke

The rule again came into play here when 0.32 separated the top three Italian women.

Benedetta Pilato, the long-course WR holder, headed the field in 29.62 ahead of Arianna Castiglioni (29.75) with Martina Carraro – the 2019 silver medallist – the one to miss out in 29.94.

Ida Hulkko (29.87) and Nika Godun made it safely through.

Men’s 100 Free

Without wanting to sound like a broken record, the two-per-nation rule again affected the outcome for the Russian men.

Kliment Kolesnikov headed the field in 45.88 with Italy’s Alessandro Miressi next swiftest in 46.00 – 0.10 off his national record – with Ivan Girev third into the semis in 46.04, one place ahead of fellow Russian Aleksandr Shchegolev (46.38) who missed out as did defending champion Morozov.

Robert-Andrei Glinta set a Romanian record of 46.74, cutting 0.03 from the David Popovici’s mark from the World Cup at the same Aquatics Palace pool.

Popovici also progressed in 47.30.

Men’s 100IM

Andreas Vazaios returned from winning the 200IM to post the fastest time over four lengths.

The 2019 bronze medallist clocked 52.10 ahead of Marco Orsi (52.27), Heiko Gigler (52.33) and Thomas Ceccon (52.51).

Women’s 50 Fly

Sarah Sjostrom won three straight titles between 2013 and 2017 and she led the field in 25.14.

Arina Surkova was second in 25.25 with Maaike de Waard (25.27) progressing.

Mixed 4×50 Freestyle Relay

Russia heads the field in 1:30.22 ahead of Poland (1:30.39) and the Netherlands (1:31.22).

Men’s 800 Free

The men’s event is being raced for the first time having been added to the programme for 2021 as with the women’s 1500 free.

Florian Wellbrock, who won the 150o, went 7:38.45 ahead of fellow German Sven Schwarz (7:39.07) and Gregorio Paltrinieri (7:39.22).

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