Singapore has broken its away-from-home gold medal record in swimming at the SEA Games. The tally rose to 23 on Dec 9. Team Singapore’s previous best performance was 19 when Malaysia hosted the Games two years ago.

Relive some of the action from the Swim England National Winter Championships 2019.

Russia storms to 13 gold, Morozov finishes with 7 titles, Italy clinches Championship Trophy

Russia added 6 gold medals to its tally on the closing day in Glasgow to top the medal charts with 13, almost tying Germany’s all-time record of 14 titles from the very first edition in Rostock 1996. Vladimir Morozov indeed set a  new record by clinching 7 titles (he won the 100m free and was part of the  victorious medley relay on Sunday) – this is the best-ever single-edition individual haul in history. Team-mate Kliment Kolesnikov and Netherlands’  Kira Toussaint received 20.000 euros each as the top performers of the meet, while Italy claimed the Championship Trophy.

TEMNIKOVA Mariia Russia RUS Gold Medal RENSHAW Molly Great Britain GBR Silver Medal CARRARO Martina Italy ITA Bronze Medal 200 breaststroke women Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

MOROZOV Vladimir Russia RUS Gold Medal 100 freestyle men Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

MOROZOV Vladimir Russia RUS Gold Medal MIRESSI Alessandro Italy ITA Silver Medal GRINEV Vladislav Russia RUS Bronze Medal 100 freestyle men Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

VAZAIOS Andreas Greece GRE Bronze Medal 100 Individual Medley men Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

SHKURDAI Anastasiya Belasus BLR Gold Medal DI LIDDO Elena Italy ITA Bronze Medal NTOUNTOUNAKI Anna Greece GRE Bronze Medal 100 butterfly women Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

KOLESNIKOV Kliment Russia RUS Gold Medal FESIKOV Sergei Russia RUS Silver Medal VAZAIOS Andreas Greece GRE Bronze Medal 100 Individual Medley men Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

QUADARELLA Simona Italy ITA Gold Medal GOSE Isabel Marie Germany GER Silver Medal KESELY Ajna Hungary HUN Bronze Medal 400 freestyle women Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

VAZAIOS Andreas Greece GRE Gold Medal KLENZ Ramon Germany GER Silver Medal GUY James Great Britain GBR Bronze Medal 200 butterfly men Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

KAMENEVA Maria Russia RUS Gold Medal HENIQUE Melanie France FRA Silver Medal BLUME Pernille Denmark DEN Bronze Medal 50 freestyle women Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

KOLESNIKOV Kliment Russia RUS Gold Medal DIENER Christian Germany GER Silver Medal RYAN Shane Ireland IRL Bronze Medal 50 backstroke men Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Team Poland Gold Medal 4×50 medley relay women Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Team Poland Gold Medal Team Italy Silver Medal Team Russia Bronze Medal 4×50 medley relay women Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Team Russia Gold Medal Team Hungary Silver Medal Team Belarus Bronze Medal 4×50 medley relay men Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

KOLESNIKOV Kliment Russia RUS, TOUSSAINT Kira Netherlands NED Best Performers Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Italy Championships Trophy Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

MOROZOV Vladimir Russia RUS Gold Medal MIRESSI Alessandro Italy ITA Silver Medal GRINEV Vladislav Russia RUS Bronze Medal 100 freestyle men Final Glasgow 08/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Russia stood with 7 gold medals before the closing day then almost doubled that number amassing six in the last session thanks to a series of remarkable swims.

Vladimir Morozov pulled off his third individual title by winning the 100m free with ease, then he was part of Russia’s triumphant medley relay, together with Kliment Kolesnikov who bagged two individual golds in an hour (100m IM, 50m back). Morozov finished the meet with 7 golds, eclipsing Katinka Hosszu’s record of 6 gold and 1 silver (though the Hungarian claimed all in individual events in Netanya 2015). Kolesnikov was just one shy with six titles.

The Russian women brought two more to the treasury this evening: Mariia Temnikova won the 200m breast with a great finish ahead of GB’s Molly Renshaw and Maria Kameneva touched in first in the 50m free – this was  Russia’s first-ever medal in the dash, stylishly a gold.

So six out of 10 went to the Russians – the remaining four were won by four different nations. Italy’s Simona Quadarella came first in a brilliant race in the 400m free, ahead of Germany’s Isabel Gose and Hungary’s Ajna Kesely. It was a neck-by-neck battle from the halfway turn but in the end, Quadarella managed to add this one to her crown in the 800m free – and snatch the firstever Italian win in this distance.

Greece also enjoyed an exceptionally great evening with Andreas Vazaios leading the charge. The Greek hero earned a bronze in the 100m IM and 20 minutes later he left everyone’s behind in the 200m fly, to claim his second gold and third medal here. Another bronze went to Hellas, courtesy of Anna Ntountounaki who was third in the 100m fly. In this latter event, the 16-year-old Belorussian Alexandra Shkurdai hit the wall first and she set a new junior European record (56.21).

The meet-closing medley relays produced fantastic thrillers. The women’s race saw arguably the biggest upset of the week as the Polish quartet managed to out-touch the Italians and the Russians – the top three hit the wall within 0.11sec. This was the first-ever gold for Poland in this event, so far a bronze was their best showing back in 2011, at home in Szczecin.

Then came the men, here the Russians were a cut above the rest – but behind them, it was an incredible tussle for the podium. Hungary’s Maxim Lobanovskii, after a 0.02sec take-over, clocked a world-class 20.29sec anchor leg, pushing his team from 6th to 2nd. However, for unusually long minutes almost all the teams stared at the scoreboard, swimmers tried to recall whether they had risky takeovers while the referees were watching the overhead replays on the screen in the timekeepers’ room. Tensions ran high then it turned out why the officials had needed a bit more time: no less than three quartets had to be disqualified, including third-placed Germany (the butterflier jumped too early, –0.08sec) so the bronze landed at the Belorussians’ neck who celebrated so wildly as if they had been the champions.

Russia finished the event with 13 titles (22 medals altogether), ahead of Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary and Great Britain. Interestingly, the individual best performances came in the 100m back both among the men and the women, Kliment Kolesnikov’s (986 FINA points) and Kira Toussaint’s (992) effort is worth a bonus of 20.000 euros respectively.

Though the Russians’ achievement has a golden lining, the Championship Trophy went to Italy – they amassed 20 medals (also an all-time best effort) and scored the highest number of points, 1186, 140 more than the Russians.

In two years’ time the top medal collectors can swim at home, as the European Short-Course Swimming Championships will return in 2021 in Kazan (RUS).

Press release from LEN, images courtesy of Deepbluemedia / Giorgio Scala

At its meeting in Glasgow, the LEN Bureau allocated both the 2021 European Short-Course Swimming Championships and the 2024 European Aquatics Championships to the city of Kazan (RUS).

With a unanimous vote, the LEN Bureau chose Kazan as the host of the next European Short-Course Swimming Championships and also supported the city’s bid for the 2024 European Aquatics Championships in swimming, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, high diving and masters in all disciplines.

“We are happy to award both events to Kazan as the city has become a home of aquatics in recent years where the highest standards are guaranteed for our athletes” LEN President Paolo Barelli said. “Kazan has hosted a series of major events in aquatics including the 2015 World Championships and our junior European Championships this summer which were outstanding by all means. They have world-class facilities and an experienced organising team, today a federation cannot wish for more.”

Press release from LEN

Russian relay breaks ER, title No. 20 for Hosszu, Anderson stuns Pellegrini

Russia holds a 7-5 lead over Italy and the Netherlands on the medal chart after landing two more titles on Day 4 in Glasgow, including a mixed free relay gold which came with a new European record. Katinka Hosszu wrote history by claiming her 20th individual gold medal at the short-course Europeans – that put her on the top of the all-time rankings and she also extended her unbeaten run in the 200m IM at major events to 66 races, an incredible feat. The golden pair of Kira Toussaint and Arno Kamminga delivered wins for the Netherlands again, while Freya Anderson completed a 100-200m free double as she stunned world champion Federica Pellegrini  over the longer distance.

CARRARO Martina Italy ITA, CASTIGLIONI Arianna Italy ITA 100 breaststroke women Final Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

CARRARO Martina Italy ITA Gold Medal CASTIGLIONI Arianna Italy ITA Silver Medal LAUKKANEN Jenna Finland FIN Bronze Medal 100 breaststroke women Final Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

HOSSZU Katinka Hungary HUN Gold Medal UGOLKOVA Maria Switzerland SUI Silver Medal O CONNOR Siobhan Marie Great Britain GBR Bronze Medal 200 Individual Medley women Final Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

KOSTIN Oleg Russia RUS Gold Medal 50 butterfly men Final Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

KAMMINGA Arno Netherlands NED Gold Medal SHYMANOVICH Ilya Belasus BLR Silver Medal SCOZZOLI Fabio Italy ITA Bronze Medal 100 breaststroke men Final Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

KOSTIN Oleg Russia RUS Gold Medal SZABO Szebasztian Hungary HUN Silver Medal GUERES Uemitcan Turkey TUR Bronze Medal 50 butterfly men Final Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

TOUSSAINT Kira Netherlands NED Gold Medal GASTALDELLO Beryl France FRA Silver Medal TCHORZ Alicja Poland POL Bronze Medal 50 backstroke women Final Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Team Russia Gold Medal 4×50 freestyle relay mixed Final Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Team Russia Gold Medal Team Great Britain Silver Medal Team France Bronze Medal 4×50 freestyle relay mixed Final Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

PELLEGRINI Federica Italy ITA Silver Medal ANDERSON Freya Great Britain GBR Gold Medal HEEMSKERK Femke Netherlands NED Bronze Medal Women’s 200m Freestyle Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

TOUSSAINT Kira Netherlands NED Gold Medal Women’s 50m Backstroke Final Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

KAMMINGA Arno Netherlands NED Gold Medal Men’s 100m Breaststroke FINAL Glasgow 07/12/2019 XX LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 Tollcross International Swimming Centre Photo Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Italy opened the day with a brilliant 1-2 in the women’s 100m breast – just like in the 50m. This time the runner-up in the dash Martina Carraro came first, ahead of compatriot Arianna Castiglioni while Finland’s Jenna Laukkanen finished third after being second in 2017 and first in 2015.

The Italians expected at least another gold some ten minutes later in the women’s 200m free as world champion Federica Pellegrini – who also won this event four times in this meet, first in 2008 – was a clear favorite but  GB’s Freya Anderson just came up with another devastating homecoming leg. Just like in the 100m, she turned 6th before the last lap but then she blew the field away. In fact she gained 1.1sec on Pellegrini over the last 50m and completed her brilliant 100-200m free double –something only Belorussia’s  Alena Popchanka had been capable of in the meet’s history back in 2002.

Soon Katinka Hosszu accomplished what no other swimmer could before at the short-course Europeans: she clinched her 20th individual title (the 4th here in Glasgow), surpassing Martina Moravcova (SVK) and compatriot Laszlo Cseh who had led the all-time ranks before Glasgow with 19 victories apiece. By finishing atop in the 200m IM she also completed the IM treble at the third straight edition after 2015 and 2017 and extended her unbeaten run in this event to 66 races at major events (Olympics, Worlds, Europeans, World Cups)  – for seven years no one could beat her in the 200m IM, an unparalleled feat in the world of swimming. Interestingly, the first-ever international medal Katinka Hosszu grabbed came at the short-course Europeans, in Vienna, when she finished third as a 15-year old in the 400m IM – celebration of the 15th anniversary is due in five days.

The Dutch title-delivery service run by Kira Toussaint and Arno Kamminga was on time again – just like on Day 2. Kamminga added the 100m breast crown to the one he had in the 200m, and this was even more precious as he managed to finish off Belorussia’s Ilya Shymanovich who had set a new ER in the semis but in the final, where only racing matters, he couldn’t come up with the same effort. He was 0.53sec off his record-breaking pace while  Kamminga’s killing second 50 proved to be a winning effort.

Toussaint won the self-declared ‘fun-race’, the 50m back, so she snatched medals in all three backstroke events, gold in the 100m and bronze in the  200m. France’s Beryl Gastaldello managed to put together a never-seen-before silver collection as she finished runner up in this 50m back, just like in the 50m fly and the 100m free.

Russia didn’t leave the Tollcross complex without triumphs this day either. Towards the end of the session Oleg Kostin touched in first in the 50m fly, the next four stormed in within 0.07sec but Florent Manaudou was the last in the line to finish 5th a bit surprisingly. On the contrary, faith paid something back to Turkey’s Umitcan Gures who missed the podium by 0.02sec in the 100m  but this time the tiniest difference (0.01sec) helped him to get the bronze.

Soon the Frenchman showed something special, though, as he threw in an amazing 20.09 split over the second leg of the mixed 4x50m free relay which helped his team go finish third – the Russians were too fast for the rest and after setting a new WR in the mixed medley, here they break the ER  (1:28.31). Vlad Morozov was on fire as usual and claimed his fifth gold in  Glasgow.

Press release from LEN, images courtesy of Deepbluemedia / Giorgio Scala