Each day through August 17, Swimming World\u2019s Jeff Commings and David Rieder will offer medal predictions in the 19 swimming events on tap at the European Championships, which begins August 18 in Berlin, Germany. We invite you to offer your picks in our comments section below!<\/i><\/p>\n
Commentary by Jeff Commings<\/i><\/p>\n
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 30. THE final of the men\u2019s 400 IM at the European championships will be missing the best swimmer Europe has ever produced in the event, but Hungary still has an opportunity to win both of the longer individual medley events in Berlin.<\/p>\n
Laszlo Cseh will not contest the 400 IM after winning the event at the past five European championships. It\u2019s not too shocking to see the Hungaran sitting out the event, since he hasn\u2019t swum it internationally since placing ninth in the event at the 2012 Olympics. That leaves the door open for a new European champion, and it could be countryman David Verraszto.<\/p>\n
Not so fast, though. If Daniel Wallace chooses to swim at the European championships, he\u2019ll easily be the gold medal favorite after his 4:11.04 from last week\u2019s Commonwealth Games. Wallace might not pass up the chance for another crack at 4:10, which would put him in some rare company in the textile suit rankings. Roberto Pavoni could be another British swimmer who could spoil Verraszto\u2019s plans for gold, if he also elects to represent Great Britain in Berlin.<\/p>\n
Federico Turrini of Italy and Yannick Lebherz of Germany posted times in the 4:14 range this year, but are expected to be a bit faster. At last year\u2019s worlds, the two were evenly matched, with Turrini posting a 4:15.96 to Lebherz\u2019s 4:16.23. We\u2019ll keep the Brits out of the medal conversation for now, but be advised that should Wallace announce his intentions to race at Europeans, everyone will have to jump down a step on the medal podium. And if Pavoni is on the roster, he\u2019ll give the Italian and the German a big race.<\/p>\n
Men\u2019s 400 individual medley medal prediction:
\nGold:<\/b> David Verraszto, Hungary
\nSilver:<\/b> Yannick Lebherz, Germany
\nBronze:<\/b> Federico Turrini, Italy<\/p>\n
Though Katinka Hosszu is the reigning world and European champion, don\u2019t immediately assume she\u2019s got a clear path to gold in the 400 IM. Spain\u2019s Mireia Belmonte has been impressive so far this year and has the Iron Lady in her sights. Belmonte was less than a second behind Hosszu in the 400 IM final last year in Barcelona, and the race in Berlin could be just as close, if not closer. If Hosszu doesn\u2019t burn too much energy chasing after a sub-4:30 swim, she will be able to hold off Belmonte in the final 100 meters, which is where the Spaniard excels.<\/p>\n
As is the case in the men\u2019s event, a Brit could spoil the party. That would be Hannah Miley in this instance, who won this event in 2010. After a very strong swim at Commonwealths, Miley might feel content to call it a season and begin prep for next year\u2019s world championships. But wouldn\u2019t it be great to see Miley, Hosszu and Belmonte battle it out for the gold medal? Chances are the race would be decided among these three by less than a second.<\/p>\n
Aimee Willmott, who also had a great 400 IM in Glasgow, could be a contender. Beyond Willmott, the rest of the continent falls far back. Too bad Zsuzsanna Jakabos of Hungary is not swimming this event in Berlin. If the Brits don\u2019t show up, she could have a clear path to at least the bronze medal.<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s 400 individual medley predictions:
\nGold:<\/b> Katinka Hosszu, Hungary
\nSilver:<\/b> Mireia Belmonte, Spain
\nBronze:<\/b> Stefania Pirozzi, Italy<\/p>\n
Check out our previous medal predictions for the European championships!<\/b><\/p>\n