Golden rush: Russia–Italy 2-2, 10-7 in overall

Two titles for Russia and Italy apiece, these were the highlights of Day 4 at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Kazan, plus another gold and a silver for Germany’s hopeful Isabel Gose. Belarus and the Czech Republic also grabbed their first wins respectively.

TURKEY SATIR Mert Ali, GUVENC Gizem, DEMIR Demirkan, OZKAN Aleyna 4×100 medley relay mixed Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) GERMANY HEIMRATH Magdalena GER, MAERTENS Lukas GER, ARMBRUSTER Luca Nik GER, TOBEHN Maya GER 4×100 medley relay mixed Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) RUSSIA MINAKOV Andrei RUS, ZHIGALOV Aleksandr RUS, SABITOVA Aleksandra RUS, VASKINA Daria RUS 4×100 medley relay mixed Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) GOSE Isabel Marie GER, COCCONCELLI Costanza ITA, NIKONOVA Ekaterina RUS 50 freestyle women Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) NEVMOVENKO Polina RUS, GOSE Isabel Marie GER, TOBEHN Maya GER 200 freestyle women Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) RUSSIA MINAKOV Andrei RUS, ZHIGALOV Aleksandr RUS, SABITOVA Aleksandra RUS, VASKINA Daria RUS 4×100 medley relay mixed Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) GERMANY, RUSSIA, TURKEY 4×100 medley relay mixed Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) ZUEV Nikolai RUS, CECCON Thomas ITA, SAMUSENKO Pavel RUS 50 backstroke men Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) GOSE Isabel Marie GER, COCCONCELLI Costanza ITA, NIKONOVA Ekaterina RUS 50 freestyle women Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) EGOROV Aleksandr RUS, SIBIRTSEV Ilia RUS, SCHWARZ Sven GER 800 freestyle menMedal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

TURKEY SATIR Mert Ali, GUVENC Gizem, DEMIR Demirkan, OZKAN Aleyna 4×100 medley relay mixed Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) TURKEY SATIR Mert Ali, GUVENC Gizem, DEMIR Demirkan, OZKAN Aleyna 4×100 medley relay mixed Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) GOSE Isabel Marie GER, COCCONCELLI Costanza ITA, NIKONOVA Ekaterina RUS 50 freestyle women Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) SABITOVA Aleksandra RUS, SHKURDAI Anastasiya BLR, BIASIBETTI Helena ITA 100 butterfly women Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) NEVMOVENKO Polina RUS, GOSE Isabel Marie GER, TOBEHN Maya GER 200 freestyle women Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) TOMAC Mewen FRA, CEJKA Jan CZE, DOLOMANOV Egor RUS TOMAC Mewen FRA, CEJKA Jan CZE, DOLOMANOV Egor RUS Medal Ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

RICHARDS Matthew GBR 200 freestyle men LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

DJAKOVIC Antonio SUI 200 freestyle men LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

CECCON Thomas ITA 50 backstroke men LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 4 06/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

Champions, Day 4

Men. 800m free: Ilia Sibirtsev (RUS) 7:54.83 CR. 50m back: Thomas Ceccon (ITA) 25.24. 200m back: Jan Cejka (CZE) 1:57.51

Women. 50m free: Constanza Cocconelli (ITA) 25.25. 200m free: Marie Isabel Gose (GER) 1:57.51 CR. 100m fly: Anastasia Shkurdai (BLR) 57.39 CR.

Mixed. 4x100m medley: Russia 3:49.13

Italy and Russia are the leading forces in this edition of the junior Europeans. The hosts are the frontrunners in collecting silverware, already bagged 28 medals while Italy got 13 (just as the Germans) but the Italians keep up at least in gold-mining.

Today Ilia Sibirtsev and Alexandr Egorov delivered a 1-2 for the home nation, it was a brilliant duel in the 800m free. Sibirtsev led all the way and even though Egorov staged a late surge but couldn’t get closer than the 0.51sec separated them. Another gold arrived in the mixed relay but these were only the victories as the team amassed nine medals on the penultimate day, 2 golds, 4 silvers and 3 bronzes.

For the Italians it took less time to grab two golds: Constanza Cocconelli stormed to a fine win in the 50m free, and just minutes later Thomas Ceccon won the 50m free (he also won the 100m on Day 2). Interestingly, these two triumphs required almost identical times (25.25 and 25.24sec), and both Italians managed to out-touch the respective runners-up by 0.05sec.

For those in love with the numbers, another interesting fact that Czech Jan Cejka won the 200m back with exactly the same time (1:57.71) what Isabel Gose clocked in the 200m free. The German was just that 0.05sec away from making another brilliant double: she did the 100m-400m on Day 2 and almost repeated that over the 50m-200m. After her fine with in the 200m (with a new CR), she earned a silver in the dash behind Cocconelli.

Another CR was smashed in the 100m fly, Anastasia Shkurdai lowered her own best effort clocked in the semis, though the Belorussian was still dissatisfied saying she would need much more to excel among the seniors.

Quotes from the winners

Jan Cejka (CZE), 200m back

“It’s amazing. I could never imagine that I am able to swim as fast like this. By far my best time ever. Well, when I qualified in the first place to the final I thought I could win but what was really amazing was the time. Everything really came together.”

Marie Isabel Gose (GER), 200m free

“I’m absolutely satisfied with this day! I’ve never imagined I could beat the Championship Record in the 200m and you see, it’s there. So I’m really happy. The 50m was a bonus. And I’m second. No, I don’t mind that it was only 0.05 (between her and the winner). I’m really happy now!”

Anastasia Shkurdai (BLR), 100m fly

“I’m not really happy with this result. It’s good to win this race but this result counts good only among the juniors. At senior level I need much better times. So I have to work really hard to achieve something big among the seniors.”

Ilia Sibirtsev (RUS), 800m free

“We’ve been swimming together with Sasha (Alexandr Egorov, silver medallist) for five years, finishing 1-2 every time. He is not my rival, but like my brother. Now it was my turn. There was no specific plan, just swim. Making every 100m harder and harder. It’s a great feeling to win this gold.”

Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 50m back

“Since the 50m is not my main event I am happy with the gold. My PB is 25.1, so the time is OK after all. Too bad that the relay came right after the final.”

Constanza Cocconelli (ITA), 50m free

“That’s such a great feeling to achieve this time. I did my personal best in the semi-final in the afternoon and I’ve never thought that I could do that much better in the final. When I looked at the scoreboard I couldn’t believe my time. That’s so important, it shows that it’s good to do the hard work in the trainings.”

Medal table after Day 4

For detailed results, please visit http://ejc2019.microplustiming.com/indexEJC2019_web.php

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

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 Italy’s Giulia Salin completed the 800-1500m double.

RICHARDS Matthew GBR 100 freestyle men LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

SALIN Giulia ITA 400 freestyle women LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

PAPASTAMOS Apostolos GRE 200 Individual Medley men LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

50 breaststroke men medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

200 Individual Medley men medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

200 butterfly men medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

200 breaststroke women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

100 freestyle men medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

50 backstroke women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

1500 freestyle women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

4×200 freestyle relay men medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

russia 4×200 freestyle relay men medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

4×100 medley relay women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

4×100 medley relay women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

Russia 4×100 medley relay women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day 3 05/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

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 – 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 Gerasimenko’s golden touch at the wall in the breaststroke (0.12sec ahead of GB’s 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.

Ukraine’s Igor Troyanovskyy halted Hungary’s three-year golden run in the 200m fly, he staged a great finish to leave the Magyars’ 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 Israel’s 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 women’s 50m back.

Italy’s 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 – the women’s medley quartet even set a new Championship Record.

Quotes from the winners

Igor Troyanovskyy (UKR), 200m fly

“The 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.”

Evgeniia Chiunova (RUS), 200m breast

“I don’t have too many words to say. I think I did much better in the semi-finals. Now I was much slower. Still won.”

Matthew Richards (GBR), 100m free

“I’m 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 I’m really happy.”

Apostolos Papastamos (GRE), 200m IM

“To be honest, my big event is the 400m IM on the last day, that’s what I’m preparing for so it’s a kind of surprise for me. Until 150m I didn’t see the others then turning on the last leg I saw I’m ahead and I told myself, this is you have to win now. I’m happy that I could do just that.”

Daria Vaskina (RUS), 50m back

“It was a good race though it’s not a personal best for me. But I’m still satisfied to win here in Kazan.”

Vladislav Gerasimenko (RUS), 50m breast

“I think it was a good race and a good swim. For me it’s not a problem to swim this event twice within one session and usually my second swim is always better, just as today. I’m really happy, though my speed and technique was so-so but the win matters.”

Giulia Salin (ITA), 1500m free

“It was a good race, I knew the others are strong but I tried to focus on my swim. I’m happy with my time, and quite satisfied with the two gold and one silver medals. In fact, that’s much better then I expected before.”

Medal table after Day 3

For detailed results, please visit http://ejc2019.microplustiming.com/indexEJC2019_web.php

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

Marie Gose clinches three golds in a day, Italy, Russia march on

Marie Isabel Gose was the star of the second day at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Kazan: the German claimed a rare 100m-400m free double before anchoring the mixed free relay to another win. Italy added two more titles and the Russians also landed their first two individual golds at home, while Hungary delivered the first 1-2 of the meet.

CECCON Thomas ITA 100 backstroke men final LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

GOSE Isabel Marie GER 400 freestyle women final LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

GOSE Isabel Marie GER 400 freestyle women final LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) ZUEV Nikolai RUS, CECCON Thomas ITA, CEJKA Jan CZE 100 backstroke men Medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) SALIN Giulia ITA, GOSE Isabel Marie GER, KURTSEVA Yana RUS 400 freestyle women Medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

GAETANI Erika Francesca ITA 200 backstroke women FINAL LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) TOBEHN Maya GER, GOSE Isabel Marie GER, SABITOVA Aleksandra RUS 100 freestyle women Medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) CORBEAU Caspar NED, ZHIGALOV Aleksandr RUS, MARCHAND Leon FRA 200 breaststroke men Medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) OSRIN Honey L GBR, GAETANI Erika Francesca ITA, SHKURDAI Anastasiya BLR 200 backstroke women Medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) SIBIRTSEV Ilia RUS, MARTYNYCHEV Kirill RUS, SCHWARZ Sven GER 1500 freestyle men Medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

(L to R) RUSSIA, GERMANY, ITALY 4×100 freestyle relay mixed Medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

GERMANY gold medal 4×100 freestyle relay mixed Medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day2 04/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

Champions, Day 2

Men. 1500m free: Kirill Martynychev (RUS) 15:01.59 CR. 100m back: Thomas Ceccon (ITA) 54.13. 200m breast: Aleksandr Zhigalov (RUS) 2:11.25.

Women. 100m free: Marie Isabel Gose (GER) 54.86. 400m free: Marie Isabel Gose (GER) 4:07.96. 200m back: Erika Francesca Gaetani (ITA) 2:10.28. 200m fly: Blanka Berecz (HUN) 2:09.80.

Mixed. 4x100m free: Germany 3:28.43 CR

Marie Isabel Gose had a busy evening in Kazan. The German stepped onto the blocks first at 18:05, four minutes later she won the 400m free, way ahead of 800m champion Italian Giulia Salin. Some 45 minutes later – right after taking part in her first victory ceremony of the session – she came back to the pool and this time delivered the only sub-55sec swim to add the 100m gold to her tally. And in just a bit more than an hour she was the anchor swimmer for the Germans and secured the title in a new Championship Record time. Quite a day for a 17 year-old – no wonder that she has already been selected for the senior team travelling to the World Championships in three-week time.

Italy enjoyed another fine day as Thomas Ceccon won a brilliant race ahead of Russia’s Nikolai Zuev in 100m back though he burnt too much energy and couldn’t bounce back in ten minutes for the 100m semis where he failed to go through despite having produced the best time in the morning. Still, he was a happy winner and later contributed a 48.62 split as Italy rushed to a bronze medal in the mixed relay. The second Italian gold of the day came in the women’s 200m back where Erika Gaetani even surprised herself as she out-touched Britain’s Honey Osrin for the gold by 0.02sec.

After the relay win on the opening day, the first individual triumphs also arrived for the hosts. Aleksandr Zhigalov retained his title in the 200m breast though Caspar Corbau of France pushed from behind very hard and only 0.16sec separated them at the wall. Soon Kirill Martynychev joined the golden circle by an absolutely dominant swim in the 1500m free, he gained almost 7sec on his team-mate Ilia Sibirtsev.

This wasn’t the first ‘national 1-2’, though: the young Hungarian ladies Blanka Berecz and Fanni Fabian claimed the top two spots to maintain their country’s rich traditions in the 200m fly.

Quotes from the winners

Marie Isabel Gose (GER), 100m free, 400m free, 4x100m mixed free

“I expected to win the 400m free, the gold in the 100m free was a kind of extra. In fact, this whole championships serve my preparations as my real test will be the World Championships in Gwangju. I just wanted to jump in and enjoy the atmosphere of the event, I’m quite happy that I came off with three gold medals.”

Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 100m back

“I had good sensations during the race, it’s a very good pool so it was a great way to prepare for Gwangju. Yesterday I clocked great times in the 100m free, especially in the relay but now the ten-minute interval was too short to be ready for the semi-final. Anyway, I’m happy with my gold, I’m really waiting the 50m back and the medley relay on Sunday.”

Blanka Berecz (HUN), 200m fly

“I felt some pressure as I wanted to defend my title but at the end I managed to do what we had planned with my coach. This is my fourth junior Europeans so I have plenty of experience which I was able to use today as well. I know exactly what are my weaknesses, now I will work very hard to make further improvements until the junior Worlds in August as it will take place at home in Budapest.”

Aleksandr Zhigalov (RUS), 200m breast

“It was a very hard race, I felt the pressure as everybody wanted to see me winning this event. It did not went that well, I think, I could have done better but I am happy now.”

Erika Gaetani (ITA), 200m back

“I had a plan before the race and I could swim according to it. I wanted to push the second half very hard and managed to do that. I am really happy now as I didn’t expect this gold medal at all!”

Kirill Martynychev (RUS), 1500m free

“I didn’t expect to swim such a good race. I just wanted to swim out fast and then control the race. I think I just managed to achieve this. I’m really happy, especially because this a great personal best for me.”

For detailed results, please visit http://ejc2019.microplustiming.com/indexEJC2019_web.php

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

No words for the Swiss as they land two titles, and Italy claims two, too

Swiss champions were lost for words on the opening day at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Kazan after Antonio Djakovic and Noe Ponti claimed astonishing wins in the 400m free and 50m fly respectively. While this double was unexpected, Italy’s one didn’t come out of the blue as both wins were convincing ones in the women’s 50m breast and 800m free. Russia and Germany triumphed in the relays.

LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day0 02/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

PILATO Benedetta ITA 50 breaststroke women LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

50 Breaststroke women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

MIHALYVARI FARKAS Viktor HUN 400 Individual Medley women LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

VAZQUEZ RUIZ Alba ESP 400 Individual Medley women LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

DJAKOVIC Antonio SUI 400 freestyle men LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

400 Individual Medley women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

400 Freestyle men medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

400 Freestyle men medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

PONTI Noe SUI 50 butterfly men LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

SALIN Giulia ITA 800 freestyle women LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

50 Butterfly men medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

800 freestyle women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

4×100 freestyle relay men medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

4×100 freestyle relay women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

4×100 freestyle relay women medal ceremony LEN European Swimming Junior Championships 2019 Aquatic Palace Kazan Day1 03/07/2019 Photo G.Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

Winners of Day 1

Men. 400m free: Antonio Djakovic (SUI) 3:47.89. 50m fly: Noe Ponti (SUI) 23.48. 4x100m free relay: Russia 3:18.48.

Women. 400m IM: Alba Vazquez Ruiz (ESP) 4:40.64 CR. 50m breast: Benedetta Pilato (ITA) 30.16 CR. 800m free: Giulia Salin (ITA) 8:29.19 CR. 4x100m free relay: Germany 3:41.24 CR.

A historical day for Switzerland: two golds on the same day at big events are not a rarity up in the snow-covered mountains but it is definitely in swimming where the nation doesn’t belong to the powerhouses. Since the inaugural 1967 edition the Swiss managed to earn two titles in the history of the junior Europeans – now they clinched as many in 50 minutes as in the previous 52 years.

Both victories came in nailbiting races. Antonio Djakovic staged a brilliant duel with Russia’s Aleksandr Egorov in the 400m free, it was a great neck-by-neck swim and the Swiss managed to gain 0.39sec on the home favourite at the end. Compatriot Noe Ponti’s win was a stunner in the 50m fly and in fact couldn’t have been any tighter as he out-touched Germany’s Luca Nik Ambuster by 0.01sec at the wall.

The meet’s first title landed in Spain as Alba Vazquez Ruiz did a clean job in the women’s 400m IM. The next two female golds went to Italy, convincing performances earned these triumphs for Benedetta Pilato in the 50m breast (a full second was her winning margin) and Giulia Salin in the 800m free (the gap was 5.37sec here).

The session concluding relays offered contrasting battles, while Russia and Italy produced a thriller which saw the hosts reaching for the wall first, by 0.06sec. The women’s sprinters missed the same excitements, here the Germans stormed to a fine victory – apparently, that was a new CR too so all four women’s finals produced a new Championship Record.

Quotes from the winners

Alba Vazquez Ruiz (ESP), 400m IM

“Last year I was fourth in this event. Since then I gained a lot of experience and tried to build my race based on that. I’m happy that it worked.”

Antonio Djakovic (SUI), 400m free

“Amazing it was… No words… I mean, I though I might get a medal here. Perhaps silver. Gold only in my dreams. Then you saw it. It was a great race, neck-to-neck. I pushed the last 50m as hard as I could.”

Noe Ponti (SUI), 50m fly

“Men, that’s great. Two golds for Switzerland in one day, that never happened in history I guess. I didn’t think I could be that fast. I know these guys, Luca (Ambuster) and Andrei (Minakov), they were the favourites. But things happen sometimes. I have no words to describe my feelings!”

Benedetta Pilato (ITA), 50m breast

“It was a great race, everything went according to plans, I’m very happy now.”

Giulia Salin (ITA), 800m free

“It was a really emotional win for me. To swim in this fantastic pool in this great atmosphere was really special. The race was great, I swam well so I’m very-very happy now.”

For detailed results, please visit http://ejc2019.microplustiming.com/indexEJC2019_web.php

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