Russia starts rolling with five titles in two hours
The host nation, dominant force in recent years at the European Junior Swimming Championships, jumped to the top of the medal table with three individual titles and two relay golds in Kazan. Great Britain, Greece and Ukraine also opened their respective golden accounts while Italyรขโฌโขs Giulia Salin completed the 800-1500m double.
Champions, Day 3
Men. 100m free: Matthew Richards (GBR) 48.88. 200m fly: Igor Troyanovskyy (UKR) 1:57.86. 50m breast: Vladislav Gerasimenko (RUS) 27.77. 200m IM: Apostolos Papastamos (GRE) 1:59.93. 4x200m free: Russia 7:16.49
Women. 1500m free: Giulia Salin (ITA) 16:13.59. 50m back: Daria Vaskina (RUS) 27.82 CR. 200m breast: Evgeniia Chiunova (RUS) 2:23.06. 4x100m medley: 4:01.83 CR
Russia ruled the juniors so far this year in artistic swimming and diving and their swimmers also started rolling รขโฌโ just as they did in the previous years. Evgeniia Chiunova became their first female individual winner as she won the 200m breast by a mile (exactly 3sec) though she was not really happy as she was almost 2sec slower than in the semis… Soon came a second title among the women, Daria Vaskina reached for the wall first in the 50m back while setting a new Championship Record. And the other dash event of the day also went for the hosts thanks to Vladislav Gerasimenkoรขโฌโขs golden touch at the wall in the breaststroke (0.12sec ahead of GBรขโฌโขs Archie Goodburn).
Three nations could celebrate their respective first titles in Kazan. Mathew Richards claimed gold for Great Britain, where else than in the blue-ribband event, his time (48.88) was promising and secured him a fine a win in the 100m free.
Ukraineรขโฌโขs Igor Troyanovskyy halted Hungaryรขโฌโขs three-year golden run in the 200m fly, he staged a great finish to leave the Magyarsรขโฌโข heritage-keeper Dominik Torok behind.
Greece also enjoyed a great day as Aposotolos Papastamos earned a brilliant win in the 200m IM, just 0.05sec ahead of Israelรขโฌโขs Ron Polonski. The Greeks clinched a bronze in the 100m free, while Israel had a 2-3 in the medley and a silver in the womenรขโฌโขs 50m back.
Italyรขโฌโขs Giulia Salin completed the 800m-1500m free double, she came up with a convincing performance over the longest distance and note that she also got a silver in the 400m free on the previous day.
The session concluded with two more titles for the host nation as they hunted down both relay titles รขโฌโ the womenรขโฌโขs medley quartet even set a new Championship Record.
Quotes from the winners
Igor Troyanovskyy (UKR), 200m fly
รขโฌลThe final differed from the semis for only pushing even harder. I think it was a great race, my tactics worked, I really geared up for the last 50m, my arms were aching but managed to keep my speed.รขโฌย
Evgeniia Chiunova (RUS), 200m breast
รขโฌลI donรขโฌโขt have too many words to say. I think I did much better in the semi-finals. Now I was much slower. Still won.รขโฌย
Matthew Richards (GBR), 100m free
รขโฌลIรขโฌโขm quite happy, it all went well. I just wanted to keep up with the others till the turn as I knew my turn and my second 50m are good enough to be in a good position. It ended up gold, this a second best time for me so Iรขโฌโขm really happy.รขโฌย
Apostolos Papastamos (GRE), 200m IM
รขโฌลTo be honest, my big event is the 400m IM on the last day, thatรขโฌโขs what Iรขโฌโขm preparing for so itรขโฌโขs a kind of surprise for me. Until 150m I didnรขโฌโขt see the others then turning on the last leg I saw Iรขโฌโขm ahead and I told myself, this is you have to win now. Iรขโฌโขm happy that I could do just that.รขโฌย
Daria Vaskina (RUS), 50m back
รขโฌลIt was a good race though itรขโฌโขs not a personal best for me. But Iรขโฌโขm still satisfied to win here in Kazan.รขโฌย
Vladislav Gerasimenko (RUS), 50m breast
รขโฌลI think it was a good race and a good swim. For me itรขโฌโขs not a problem to swim this event twice within one session and usually my second swim is always better, just as today. Iรขโฌโขm really happy, though my speed and technique was so-so but the win matters.รขโฌย
Giulia Salin (ITA), 1500m free
รขโฌลIt was a good race, I knew the others are strong but I tried to focus on my swim. Iรขโฌโขm happy with my time, and quite satisfied with the two gold and one silver medals. In fact, thatรขโฌโขs much better then I expected before.รขโฌย
Medal table after Day 3
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | |
| Russia | 8 | 6 | 5 | 19 | |
| Italy | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 | |
| Germany | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | |
| Switzerland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Hungary | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| Great Britain | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | |
| Greece | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ukraine | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Israel | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Turkey | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sweden | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Lithuania | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| France | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Czech Rep | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Belarus | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Finland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
For detailed results, please visit http://ejc2019.microplustiming.com/indexEJC2019_web.php
Press release from LEN, photos courtesy of Deepbluemedia / Giorgio Scala
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