Oleksandr Zheltyakov Rattles 200 Back Rankings With 1:55.79 CR At European Juniors; Dedicates Win To Ukrainian Soldiers

Oleksandr Zheltyakov: Photo Courtesy: István Derencsény/LEN

Oleksandr Zheltyakov Rattles 200 Back Rankings With 1:55.79 CR At European Juniors: Dedicates Win To Ukrainian Soldiers

Oleksandr Zheltyakov paid tribute to the Ukrainian army after he went fourth in the 200 back rankings with a championship and national record of 1:55.79 at the European Juniors in Belgrade.

Following his victory, the 17-year-old said:

“It’s very special for me and for Ukraine, because it’s the first gold in this competition for Ukraine.

“I’m so thankful for our soldiers and my family and coach who give me this chance to swim here.”

One of those soldiers was the father of Mykhailo Romanchuk who was fighting for Ukraine at the same time the double Olympic medallist was pleading with sports organisations around the world to maintain the ban on Russia and Belarus at the World Championships in Budapest following the invasion of Ukraine.

A task force chaired by Maureen Croes, the President of Panam Aquatics, will report back to the World Aquatics Bureau on the cusp of the worlds in Fukuoka on a potential pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be invited to compete at future international aquatics events as individual neutral athletes.

Zheltyakov served notice of his intentions in the semis when he set a national mark of 1:56.49 for his first voyage inside 1:57.

Come the final and he propelled himself to fourth in the rankings, 0.76 off Ryan Murphy’s world lead of 1:55.03 from the US trials.

Evgeny Rylov currently stands second in the rankings with 1:55.50 from the Russian Championships but he’ll not be competing at the World Championships given Russia are still banned from international competition.

It sliced 0.04 from Kliment Kolesnikov’s championship record of 1:55.83 set at the Helsinki edition in 2018 with the Russian’s world and European junior mark 1:55.14 still intact for now.

It was Zheltyakov’s first gold medal in three editions of European Juniors following 50 back silver earlier in the week, second-place finishes in the 100, 200 and medley relay at Otopeni 2022 which followed 100 silver and two relay bronzes the previous year in Rome.

Splits: 27.23/56.44/1:26.24/1:55.79

Behind him came Merlin Ficher of France in 1:57.15, Greek Apostolos Siskos (1:58.37) and John Shortt, who lowered his Irish record to 1:58.63.

2023 Rankings

1:55.03: Ryan Murphy, US Trials, June 2023

1:55.50: Evgeny Rylov, Russian Championships, April 2023

1:55.63: Destin Lasco, US Trials, June 2023

1:55.79: Oleksandr Zheltyakov, European Juniors, July 2023

1:55.95: Bradley Woodward, Australian Trials, June 2023

🇺🇦🥇 Oleksandr Zheltyakov reflects on breaking the European Junior Championship Record in the Men’s 200m Backstroke, securing the fifth fastest time of 2022-2023 (1:55.79) 👏#LENEJSC2023 | #Swimming pic.twitter.com/vAsuLNhmg0

— European Aquatics (@EuroAquatics) July 7, 2023

Dora Molnar led throughout to win the girls’ event in 2:11.06 for her second straight title following gold in Romania last year.

It was the Hungarian’s third title of the meet so far having already been to the top of the podium with the girls’ 4×200 free and mixed 4×1 relay as well as claiming silver with the girls’ 4×100 free.

Holly McGill of Britain was second in 2:12.52 with Spain’s Estella Tonrath Nollgen taking bronze in 2:12.65.

Double Gold For Puggaard; Ballarati Heads Italian One-Three

Casper Puggaard got the ball rolling as he claimed the first title of the night with a 52.67 victory in the boys’ 100 fly.

Casper Puggaard: Photo Courtesy: Istvan Derencsenyi/LEN

The Dane – who won silver at the 2022 European Juniors – was the only swimmer inside 53secs, touching in 52.67 ahead of Lukas Edl of Austria (53.37) and France’s Ethan Dumesnil (53.68).

He then returned to split a 51.55 fly leg as Denmark won the mixed 4×100 medley relay in 3:50.04 with Britain taking silver in 3:53.74 and Italy winning bronze (3:53.81).

There was an Italian one-three in the boys’ 50 free with Lorenzo Ballarati claiming the title by 0.19 in 22.56 ahead of Szymon Misiak of Poland (22.75) and Davide Passafaro who clocked 22.81.

It was a third medal of the European Juniors for Passafaro after he anchored the boys’ 4×100 free to gold and swam the second leg of the Italian mixed free quartet that won silver.

Ballarati’s victory made it an Italian 50 free double with Sara Curtis having won the girls’ event.

Delmas Reclaims Gold

Justine Delmas overhauled Spain’s Olivia Klint Ipsa with a 37.68 final 50 to upgrade 200 silver to gold in the girls’ 200 breaststroke.

Justine Delmas: Photo Courtesy: Photo : KMSP/Stéphane Kempinaire

The Frenchwoman stopped the clock in 2:25.62 to claim her third straight medal in the event following 2021 gold and silver behind Eneli Jefimova last year when the Estonian swept the breaststroke events.

Jefimova – winner of the 50 – was fifth at the final turn but a last lap of 37.39 saw her pull alongside longtime leader Klint Ipsa as the pair shared silver in 2:26.20.

There was a Netherlands one-two in the boys’ 200 breaststroke with Steijn Louter leading home Collin Van Der Hoff in 2:14.11 to 2:15.39.

Emilian Hollank of Germany completed the podium in 2:15.98.

Emanuele Potenza claimed gold as completed another Italian one-three in the boys’ 400IM.

Potenza won in 4:21.90 with Oleksii Hrabarov claiming Ukraine’s second medal of the night in 4:22.94 and Domenico De Gregorio third in 4:23.67.

European Juniors: Day 4 Semi-Finals

Dora Molnar – the 2022 silver medallist – booked lane four for Saturday’s final of the girls’ 100 free in 55.91 as 0.07secs separated the top six qualifiers.

Also through was defending champion Nikolett Padar (55.97) and 50 gold medallist Sara Curtis, who was sixth in 55.98.

Britain’s Eva Okaro was locked out by 0.01 in 56.16.

Lana Pudar – who won the 100 fly in record-breaking form on Thursday – headed the 200 fly in 2:09.58 as she seeks her third straight medal in the event following 2021 silver and gold last year.

Alina Baievych of Germany will be alongside Pudar in lane five following her 2:10.98 with Laura Cabanes Garzas next through in 2:11.44.

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