Noah De Schryver Lowers Own Belgian 200 Breaststroke Record as Open Championships End in Antwerp
The Open Belgian Championships ended with a national record and tickets booked for Europeans in Paris this summer.
Olympic and world bronze medallist Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands wrapped up the breaststroke treble with a 2:09.17 victory over 200m. Behind him Noah De Schryver wrote a new entry in the Belgian record books in 2:10.15 to slice 0.68 from his standard of 2:10.83 set at the 2023 edition.
It was also enough to seal a place on the team for the European Championships in the French capital in August.
Florine Gaspard has also rewritten the record books in Antwerp as she twice lowered the 50 breast standard to go top five in the world rankings in 30.26.
She returned on the final day to win the 50 free in 24.94, 0.85 ahead of Fleur Bussels (25.79) and Nore Michiels (25.98).
Tes Schouten headed the women’s 200 breast in 2:24.60 to seal the 100/200 double. The Netherlands swimmer has been on a long road to recovery after being hospitalised with nerve pain, loss of power and function on the entire left side of her body in November 2024.
Along with Corbeau, she moved to Antwerp last summer to reunite with former coach Mark Faber and trains alongside the likes of Roos Vanotterdijk and Gaspard.
Grace Palmer was second home to take the Belgian title in 2:27.77 ahead of Zinke Delcommune (2:29.82) and Vanotterdijk returning to the pool after injury to clock 2:32.97.
Noah Verreth has been rewriting the Belgian backstroke books this year going 24.98 in the 50 at the Lausanne Cup in March and 53.62 over 100m at the Flanders Cup the same month.
He led from start to finish to take the 100 in Antwerp in 54.41 with Noe Pantskhava of Georgia second to touch in 54.91.
Sarah Dumont completed the 200-400-800 treble with a 4:08.42 win over eight lengths, more than 6.5secs ahead of Siri Vanderlinden (4:14.99).
Lucas Henveaux – already on the plane to Paris – eased to a 15:16.95 victory in the 1500.
- Daniel Laureyssens dominated the men’s 200 free in 1:48.90
- Simon Laviolette added the 200IM to his 400IM title – in which he booked a Paris ticket – in 2:02.15
- Vincent van Hooydonck won the men’s 50 fly in 24.04
- Ana Nizharadze of Georgia was first to touch in the women’s 100 back in 1:02.64 with Fleur Bussels the first Belgian home in 1:03.36
- Rozeboom of the Netherlands won the women’s 200 fly in 2:15.19, more than seven seconds of Sam de Bont who won the Belgian title in 2:22.93