2022 EUROPEAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, July 5th – Sunday, July 10th
- Otopeni Olympic Swimming Complex, Bucharest, Romania
- LCM (50m)
- Start Times
- Prelims: 10 a.m. local / 3 a.m. ET
- Finals: 5 p.m. local / 10 a.m. ET
- Meet Central
- Entries
- Live Results
- Live Stream
It’s the penultimate night of finals at the 2022 European Junior Championships in Bucharest. Day 5 finals features a whopping eight semi-finals. There are also five events with medals on the line, headlined by David Popovici in the boys’ 100 freestyle semifinal looking to keep ahead of Great Britain’s Jacob Whittle.
Girls’ 200 Butterfly Final
- World Record: 2:01.81 – Liu Zige, CHN (2009)
- European Record: 2:04.27 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2009)
- World Junior Record: 2:05.20 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2022)
- European Junior Record: 2:06.71 — Target Time
- European Junior Championship Record: 2:08.41 — Anastasiia Markova, RUS (2021)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: Anastasiia Markova, RUS – 2:08.41
GOLD: Lana Pudar (BIH), 2:08.92
SILVER: Tabatha Avetand (FRA), 2:12.06
BRONZE: Anna Porcari (ITA), 2:12.20
2022 World Championship finalist Lana Pudar won the girls’ 200 fly handily. She led from the start, as she was the only one to take the race out under 29 seconds. By the 100 mark, the World Championships finalist was over a second ahead of the field. She extended her lead through the final, eventually touching in 2:08.92, over three seconds ahead of the field. She was .42 off the championship record set by Anastasiia Markova last year.
There was a tight race for second, with Tabatha Avetand holding off Anna Porcari to grab silver, getting her hand on the wall .14 seconds ahead of the Italian.
Boys’ 100 Freestyle Semifinal
- World Record: 46.91 – Cesar Cielo, BRA (2009)
- European Record: 47.11 – Kliment Kolesnikov, ROC (2021)
- World Junior Record: 47.13 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
- European Junior Record: 47.13 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
- European Junior Championship Record: 47.30 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: David Popovici (ROU) – 47.30
Top Qualifiers:
- David Popovici (ROU), 48.31
- Jacob Whittle (GBR), 48.68
- Nikolas Antoniou (CYP), 49.98
- Alexander Painter (GBR), 50.01
- Daniil Panceveras (LTU), 50.14
- Ignacio Campos Beas (ESP), 50.26
- Nans Mazellier (FRA), 50.33
- Krzysztof Matuszewski (POL), 50.40
To no one’s surprise, it’s David Popovici who logged the top time in the boys’ 100 free semifinal, qualifying comfortably with a 48.31. Popovici has been under 48 seconds five separate times this championship season, including twice at these European Junior championships. Popovici showed in Budapest that he excels at pacing himself through the rounds, so watch for him in tomorrow’s final–without the wash from the bigger swimmers, he could produce something special.
Great Britain got two boys into the final; rising star Jacob Whittle and Alexander Painter. Whittle was the only one other than Popovici to break 49 seconds. Cyprus’s Nikolas Antoniou qualified third in 49.98, the only other boy under 50 seconds. This swim was a Cypriot record for Antoniou, who shaved .01 off his old record set last year.
Girls’ 100 Freestyle Final
- World Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2017)
- European Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2017)
- World Junior Record: 52.70 – Penny Oleksiak, CAN (2016)
- European Junior Record: 53.61 – Freya Anderson, GBR (2018)
- European Junior Championship Record: 53.97, Marrit Steenbergen, NED (2015)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: Daria Klepikova (RUS) – 54.75
GOLD: Nikoletta Padar (HUN), 54.69
SILVER: Dora Molnar (HUN), 55.20
BRONZE: Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL), 55.34
Nikoletta Padar claimed her second individual gold medal of the meet, winning the 100 free in 54.69. She also won the girls’ 200 free earlier in the meet, and also factored on Hungary’s relay wins in the girls’ 4×200 free relay and the mixed 4×100 free relay.
Dora Molnar made it a Hungarian 1-2, as she touched in 55.20. The Hungarians flipped third and fourth, respectively but were among the fastest in the field on the way home. Padar had the fastest back-half by almost three-tenths in 28.05. Roos Vanotterdijk rounded out the medals, claiming bronze.
Boys’ 100 Backstroke Semifinal
- World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, ITA (2022)
- European Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, ITA (2022)
- World Junior Record: 52.53 – Kliment Kolesnikov, ROC (2018)
- European Junior Record: 53.61 – Kliment Kolesnikov, ROC (2018)
European Junior Championship Record: 53.52, Martin/Kolesnikov (2018)- 2021 European Junior Champion: Ksawery Masiuk, POL – 53.91
Top Qualifiers:
- Ksawery Masiuk (POL), 53.11 CR
- Oleksandr Zheltyakov (UKR), 54.77
- Jonathon Marshall (GBR), 54.83
- Inbar Danziger (ISR), 55.01
- Matthew Ward (GBR), 55.20
- Alexandre Desangles (FRA), 55.57
- Miroslav Knedla (CZE), 55.88
- Nicolo’ Accadia (ITA), 55.93
Ksawery Masiuk continued the outstanding season he’s having in the boys’ 100 back semifinal. He set a new championship record in 53.11, obliterating the previous record of 53.52. At the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, the 17-year-old surprised many by earning bronze in the men’s 50 back and also setting a Polish record (52.58) in the 100 back semifinals.
Oleksandr Zheltyakov qualified through in second, over a second and a half behind Masiuk. For the second boys’ semifinal in a row, the Brits qualified two boys for the final; Jonathon Marshall and Matthew Ward will be the third and fifth seeds for the final.
Girls’ 100 Breaststroke Semifinal
- World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King, USA (2017)
- European Record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)
- World Junior Record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)
- European Junior Record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)
- European Junior Championship Record: 1:05.48 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: Eneli Jefimova, EST – 1:07.24
- Eneli Jefimova (EST), 1:07.37
- Ida Skov Kragh (DEN), 1:09.22
- Olivia Klint Ipsa (SWE), 1:09.32
- Irene Mati (ITA), 1:09.40
- Justine Delmas (FRA), 1:09.46
- Sienna Robinson (GBR), 1:09.67
- (T-7) Chiara Della Corte (ITA), 1:09.80
- (T-7) Natalie Jandikova (CZE), 1:09.80
Eneli Jefimova took control of the second semifinal, leading by over a second at the 50 meter mark and extending her lead on the second half to touch about two seconds ahead of the field. She’s also secured lane four for tomorrow night’s final by almost two seconds, a good sign for her as she looks to defend her title from last year.
Behind her, there’s a close race brewing for second, as the other seven swimmers are separated by .58 seconds. Ida Skov Kragh has the edge right now, holding onto the second seed in 1:09.22. Jefimova seems like a lock for gold, but watch for a seven-way fight for silver and bronze in the final.
Boys’ 100 Breaststroke Semifinal
- World Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2019)
- European Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2019)
- World Junior Record: 59.01 – Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA (2017)
- European Junior Record: 59.01 – Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA (2017)
- European Junior Championship Record: 59.23 – Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA (2017)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: Volodymyr Lisovets, UKR – 1:00.28
Top Qualifiers:
- Volodymyr Lisovets (UKR), 1:01.50
- Uros Zivanovic (SRB), 1:01.69
- Steijn Louter (NED), 1:01.89
- Koen De Groot (NED), 1:01.91
- Luka Mladenovic (AUT), 1:01.98
- Ralf Roose (EST), 1:02.18
- Davin Lindholm (FIN), 1:02.33
- David Kyzymenko (UKR), 1:02.41
Like the Jefimova in her 100 breast semifinal, 2021 Champion Volodymyr Lisovets took care of business in his semifinal, securing the top qualifying time in 1:01.50. Like Jefimova, he led the race from the start, but he had much less of a lead–Steijn Louter finished only .39 behind him to qualify third overall.
Louter’s countrymate Koen De Groot swam 1:01.91 in the second semifinal, .02 slower than Louter to give the Netherlands’ two boys in the final. De Groot was out in front at the 50, but Serbia’s Uros Zivanovic came home strong in the final 50. He split 32.78 to pass De Groot and take the win in the second semifinal.
Girls’ 50 Butterfly Semifinal
- World Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2014)
- European Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2014)
- World Junior Record: 25.46 – Rikako Ikee, JPN (2017)
- European Junior Record: 25.66 – TARGET TIME
- European Junior Championship Record: 26.14 – Daria Klepikova, RUS (2021)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: Daria Klepikova, RUS – 26.14
Top Qualifiers:
- Jana Pavalic (CRO), 26.50
- Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL), 26.76
- Lillian Slusna (SVK), 26.84
- Lana Pudar (BIH), 26.88
- Paulia Cierpialowska (POL), 26.94
- Amelia Marek (POL), 27.02
- Anastasiyaa Yermishyna (UKR), 27.15
- Julia Ullmann (SUI), 27.16
We had several swimmers pulling successful doubles in these semifinals. First, Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk won the first semifinal in what turned out to be the second-fastest time–26.76. Earlier in the session, Vanotterdijk earned bronze in the 100 freestyle.
Qualifying fourth was Lana Pudar, who won the session’s first event, the girls’ 200 fly. Pudar holds her national record in 26.29, so she could have more to give in the final tomorrow night.
Jana Pavalic tied her Croatian record in this event to post the top time of the event in 26.50.
Boys’ 50 Butterfly Semifinal
- World Record: 22.27 – Andriy Govorov, UKR (2018)
- European Record: 22.27 – Andriy Govorov, UKR (2018)
- World Junior Record: 23.05 – Andrei Minakov, RUS (2020)
- European Junior Record: 23.05 – Andrei Minakov, RUS (2020)
- European Junior Championship Record: 23.48 – Noe Ponti, SUI (2019)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: Josif Miladinov, BUL – 23.59
Top Qualifers
- Casper Puggaard (DEN), 23.84
- Daniel Gracik (CZE), 23.87
- Ethan Dumesnil (FRA), 24.10
- Elia Codardini (ITA), 24.21
- Daniel Krichevsky (ISR), 24.30
- Martins Zabothens (GER), 24.36
- Tobias Kerns (CZE), 24.37
- Lars Riisgaard-Jensen (DEN), 24.43
With Casper Puggaard and Daniel Gracik separated by .03, there should be a great race for gold in the middle of the pool in the final. As the only two under 24 seconds, they’re the favorites to go 1-2 in some order. Third through seventh place are separated by .17, so the whole field should be in the action in the final. Ethan Dumesnil sits third, qualifying through in 24.10, with Elia Codardini a tick behind in 24.21.
Lars Riisgaard-Jensen snuck into the final in eighth, giving the Danes two swimmers in the final.
Girls’ 200 IM Semifinal
- World Record: 2:06.12 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2015)
- European Record: 2:06.12 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2015)
- World Junior Record: 2:08.91 – Leah Hayes, USA (2022)
- European Junior Record: 2:11.03 – TARGET TIME
- European Junior Championship Record: 2:13.03 – Ilaria Cusinato (2016)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: Katie Shanahan, GBR – 2:13.13
Top Qualifiers:
- Leah Schlosshan (GBR), 2:14.43
- Lisa Nystrand (SWE), 2:15.37
- Lilla Minna Abraham (HUN), 2:15.93
- Phoebe Cooper (GBR), 2:16.09
- Emma Carrasco Cadens (ESP), 2:15.37
- Zinke Delcommune (BEL), 2:17.29
- Saskia Blasius (GER), 2:17.77
- Angelina Patt (SUI), 2:17.88
In the first semifinal, Lisa Nystrand established a lead on the backstroke leg and held it all the way through to the end, touching the wall first in 2:15.37. Emma Carrasco Cadens also made her move on the backstroke, the only one across the two semifinals to split under 34 seconds. The gap between the two remained about two-tenths as the two turned for home, but Carrasco Cadens couldn’t match Nystrand on the freestyle, and ended up second in 2:16.13.
The second semifinal was much faster overall, with five of the finalists coming from that heat. Leah Schlosshan exploded on the breaststroke leg with a 37.19 split to take over the race, and also had the second-fastest freestyle leg to win comfortably, 1.5 seconds ahead of Hungary’s Lilla Mina Abraham.
Girls’ 100 Backstroke Semifinal
- World Record: 57.45 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2021)
- European Record: 58.08 – Kathleen Dawson, GBR (2021)
- World Junior Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith, USA (2019)
- European Junior Record: 59.08 – Anastasi Shkurdai, BLR (2020)
- European Junior Championship Record: 59.62 – Polina Egorova (2017)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: Erika Gaetani, ITA – 1:00.65
Top Qualifiers:
- Mary-Ambre Moluh (FRA), 1:00.97
- Dora Molnar (HUN), 1:01.64
- Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL), 1:01.76
- Lora Komoroczy (HUN), 1:02.00
- Evie Dilley (GBR), 1:02.25
- Sara Curtis (ITA), 1:02.55
- Estella Tonraht Nollgen (ESP), 1:02.63
- Sudem Denizli (TUR), 1:02.68
Roos Vanotterdijk showed no sign of fatigue in her third race of the session, winning the first semifinal of the girls’ 100 back in 1:01.76.
It was Mary-Ambre Moluh who recorded the top time though, in 1:00.97. Moluh has had a strong meet so far, she won the girls’ 50 back and set two championship records throughout the rounds. Given that and her performance here, she’ll be the favorite heading into the final tomorrow night. However, with at least one less swim before this race tomorrow, Vanotterdijk could challenge her, as could Dora Molnar.
Boys’ 800 Freestyle Final
- World Record: 7:32.12 – Zhang Lin, CHN (2009)
- European Record: 7:39.27 – Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA (2019)
- World Junior Record: 7:45.67 – Mack Horton, AUS (2013)
- European Junior Record: 7:45.92 – Franko Grgic, CRO (2019)
- European Junior Championship Record: 7:51.20 – Yigit Aslan, TUR (2021)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: Yigit Aslan, TUR – 7:51.20
GOLD: Lorenzo Galossi (ITA), 7:52.04
SILVER: Vlad-Stefan Stancu (ROU), 7:54.02
BRONZE: Krzysztof Chmielewski (POL), 7:56.81
Lorenzo Galossi made his move at the 400-meter mark, moving up from where he had been sitting in second place to pass leader Krzysztof Chmielewski. He led the rest of the way, splitting 29s the whole race. His time of 7:52.04 is off the Italian junior record of 7:49.76 that he set in April, but he still adds a gold medal to his haul.
Spurred on by a hometown crowd, Vlad-Stefan Stancu passed Chmielewski in the final 100 meters to grab the silver medal in 7:54.02 and add another medal to Romania’s haul. That’s a new Romanian record for Stancu, breaking Dragos Coman‘s record of 7:54.37, which had been on the books since 2008.
Girls’ 800 Freestyle Final
- World Record: 8:04.79 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2016)
- European Record: 8:14.10 – Rebecca Adlington (2019)
- World Junior Record: 8:11.00 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)
- European Junior Record: 8:21.91 – Merve Tuncel (2021)
- European Junior Championship Record: 8:21.91 – Merve Tuncel (2021)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: 8:21.91 – Merve Tuncel (2021)
GOLD: Merve Tuncel (TUR), 8:28.32
SILVER: Alexa Reyna (FRA), 8:38.04
BRONZE: Giulia Vetrano (ITA), 8:40.71
2021 European Junior Champion Merve Tuncel defended her title in the girls’ 800 free, clocking an 8:28.32. Though she was well off her championship record of 8:21.91 that she set last year, she was still almost ten seconds ahead of the field, as silver-medalist Alexa Reyna touched in 8:38.04.
The top three of Tuncel, Reyna, and Guilia Vetrano held those places through the entire race. France’s Valentine Leclerq moved up from seventh at the 350 meter mark to finish fourth.
Boys’ 4×200 Freestyle Relay Final
- World Record: 6:58.55 – USA (2009)
- European Record: 6:58.58 – Great Britain (2021)
- World Junior Record: 7:08.37 – USA (2019)
- European Junior Record: 7:10.95 – Hungary (2017)
- European Junior Championship Record: 7:15.46 – Hungary (2021)
- 2021 European Junior Champion: 7:21.06 – Russia (2021)
GOLD: Italy (Ragaini, Bertoni, Chiarioni, Galossi), 7:17.45
SILVER: Turkey (Oktar, Malgil, Tolga, Filiz), 7:20.99
BRONZE: Poland (Masiuk, Matuszewski, Zdybel, Walter), 7:21.33
Ksawery Masiuk got the Polish team off to a fast start with a 1:49.12 for the fastest lead-off in the field.
However, it was Italy who had the strongest quartet. None of their swimmers split over 1:51, and they won gold three and a half seconds ahead of the Turkish silver medalists. Notably, less than half an hour after winning gold in the boys’ 800 free, Lorenzo Galossi had the fastest anchor leg to seal the victory for the Italians, splitting 1:48.76.
Turkey’s silver medal time of 7:20.99 is a new national record.
If Popovici improves upon 47.34 tomorrow, it’ll be very impressive considering its 2 weeks past when his taper was targeted, and it’s at the end of a very long week for him. If he goes faster than that, it likely suggests that he has better than a 47.13 in Rome if he nails his taper again.
What ages are allowed in this meet? Are boys turning 18 this year allowed?
2004 last year allowed.. same for the World Junior Championships in Peru later this year if I am not mistaken
17 is max age for girls , 18 max age for boys
Yes. Chlorine Kid will turn 18 in Sept.
Popovici will PR 100free tomorrow. I think he will be somewhere between 46.95 and 47.10
Padar and Molnar must begin to feel just a bit tired, what a busy schedule they have endured this week.
And 400 free is tomorrow for Pádár. I dont know why she even starts, her time are pretty slow compared to Tuncel or even to Vetrano.
And she swam the medley relay after the 400 free, just like Dóra, who has the 100 back final in the afternoon, while Moluh could rest, I can’t understand why they risk her individual medal?!
Especially for Padar it wasn’t really necessary to put her in the relay – at least for the morning session. There are other sprinters who where free this day? But again this is the dum captain , mr Sós: relay ahead, even for a price of an individual gold😟😟😟
It’s not Mr. Sós who is the captain of the juniors. Fortunately Dóra won the 100 back gold in the end!
Quite interesting performances from Italian 4×200 with the three guys born in 2006 Ragaini-Bertoni-Galossi very likely being the backbone of this relay by 2028 Olympic Games.
Ragaini (DOB Aug 2nd 2006): Entry Time=1:50.89, PB set today=1:50.06
Bertoni (DOB Feb 12th 2006): Entry Time=1:49.75, didn’t swim the individual event but went in a good 1:48.25 rolling start today
Galossi (DOB May 25th 2006): Entry Time=1:48.26, PB set in the individual event=1:47.71 and he went 1:48.7 anchoring today 20 minutes after racing in the 800 final.
Expecting Galossi to be part of the this relay already in Rome at European Championships, would really like the other two guys can progress as fast to fight for a spot for the relay in 2024…
Italy would have won this relay even if, in the final, had swum the other 2006 (and born in November 2006) Emanuele Potenza. The depth of Italian Swimming is there.
Right. Potenza swam the prelims in a 1:52 so that he wasn’t picked for tonight, but I’m looking at him in the medleys – especially the 200 where he dropped a full second from his entry time – where he was if not the youngest one of the youngest and where he missed finals for handful of hundredth. But luckily for him he has other chances at Nats in a couple of weeks and Jr Worlds in late August
Galossi will be already part of the backbone this year in Rome or next year at the latest.
I expect him to slay in the 400 free.
And I said I’m expecting him in this relay next month for Euros 😉
How does Kliment Kolesnikov hold the EJR and WJR with 2 different times? 52.53 vs 53.61.
Like Milak in the 200 butterfly. The WJR had a strict rules few years ago.
Wrong, Kolesnikov holds the WJR 52.53
FINA ratified Kolesnikov’s WJR, but did not ratify Milak’s 200 fly which happened at the same meet (Euros).
Braden said a while ago that some federations are too lazy to do the necessary paperwork fo it to be ratified.
Claire Curzan’s 24.17 from the TAC Titans meet has never appeared in the FINA Rankings last year, until Tim Hinchey requested the ratification 2 months ago. Now, she is the new WJR holder.
Meaning once the hungarian federation does the necessary work, FINA will ratify Milak’s 1:52 as a new WJR.
Ábrahám had the fastest freestyle leg, and she is from Hungary.
While Stancu is the new romanian NR-holder is 800 free as well.
How tall is Lana Pudar?
About 1.90
Insane, but by the height difference at the podium after 200 fly is more then possible.
And in general the south slavic people are the tallest in the World.
She is no taller than 1.85m.