Molly Renshaw on 2:21.3 200 BR Gold: “I Didn’t Expect to Swim as Fast As I Did”

2021 LEN EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Swimming: Monday, May 17th – Sunday, May 23rd
• Budapest, Hungary
• Prelims at 10:00 am local/Finals at 6:00 pm local
• Event Site
• Entry List
• Live Stream

Following a convincing victory in the women’s 200 breaststroke, Great Britain’s Molly Renshaw explained that she’s “extremely happy” with the swim. Touching first in 2:21.34, Renshaw added that “I’m really satisfied because I didn’t expect to swim as fast as I did in the final.”

Renshaw was just off her season best of 2:20.89, which is also her lifetime best and the British Record in the event. She swam that 2:20.89 back in April, at the British Swimming Trials, and with it, Renshaw currently stands as the #2 performer in the world this year.

It’s been a productive meet for Renshaw, who already broke the British Record in the 100 breast. Swimming the 3rd-fastest time in the semi-finals, Renshaw clocked a 1:06.21, giving her a personal best and British Record as the Tokyo Olympics approach.

Women’s 200 breaststroke Silver medalist Lisa Mamie of Switzerland said of her national record-breaking performance, “I don’t even know what to say right now. I’m so happy, I never expected that. This is a dream come true and I don’t think I’m realising everything right now. I have no words…”

Here is our recap of the women’s 200 breast, as reported by James Sutherland:

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST FINAL

• European Record: 2:19.11, Rikke Moeller Pedersen (DEN), 2013 – WR
• European Championship Record: 2:19.84, Rikke Moeller Pedersen (DEN), 2014
• FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:25.52

1. Molly Renshaw (GBR), 2:21.34
2. Lisa Mamie (SUI), 2:22.05
3. Yuliya Efimova (RUS), 2:22.16.

British star Molly Renshaw took control of the women’s 200 breaststroke final on the second 50, opening up an eight tenths of a second lead on the field to ultimately earn the victory by a similar margin in 2:21.34.

Renshaw, 25, now has a full set of medals in this event at the European Championships, having won silver in 2014 and bronze in 2018. She owns a best time of 2:20.89, the British Record, set in April.

In an incredibly tight battle for silver, Switzerland’s Lisa Mamie had yet another massive drop to claim second in a National Record time of 2:22.05, lowering her mark of 2:23.15 set in the semis. Mamie edged out defending champion Yuliya Efimova (2:22.16), who held off her 16-year-old Russian teammate Evgeniia Chikunova (2:22.17) by a mere hundredth. Mamie’s medal marks Switzerland’s first-ever in this event.

Abbie Wood, who had hit a 2:21.86 in the semis, fell to fifth in 2:22.78. Spain’s Jessica Vall‘s streak of three straight medals (bronze in 2014, silvers in 2016 and 2018), ends after finishing eighth in 2:25.84.

Other Quotes:

• Following his victory in the men’s 200 free, Martin Malyutin said “I feel tired but at the same time I also feel comfortable and confident because of my finish and my strategy which worked very well.”
• Simona Quadarella, after winning the women’s 1500, told the press that, “I’m satisfied, I was hoping for a little bit better time. But I’m happy for the win and content with taking home the gold once more from the Europeans.”

You can read the full flash quotes post from LEN here.