Swimmer's Daily

  • After the French domination in the past two years, Hungary took over the reigns at the European Junior Open Water Swimming Championships, held in Racice. The Magyar team finished atop in the medal table and in the Championship Trophy as well. Still, the landscape was more balanced than in the previous editions: six more nations could clinch a title apiece.

    France was overwhelming in 2017 and 2018 grabbing four golds both in Marseille and in Malta. Now the field became more balanced, seven nations shared the medals and each could have one title, only the Hungarians got two.

    Similar to the scenes being witnessed at senior levels, the best young open water swimmers produced outstanding battles during the three days event in Racice, where the competitions were held in the regatta course, site of the 2017 flat-water kayak-canoe World Championships. In most of the races a couple of tenths of seconds separated the medallist, big margins were only recorded in the men’s 7.5km and the women’s 10km event.

    In the latter one, Oceane Cassignol delivered another gold for France: the young talent had already been part of France’s World Championship winning mixed relay in 2017 among the seniors and claimed gold two years ago over the 7.5km distance among the juniors. She is one of the brightest talents in the sport who is set to enjoy a brilliant career in the years coming.

    In the men’s field, Britain’s Nathan Hughes won an outstanding battle in the 10km ahead of his Hungarian rivals David Huszti and Peter Galicz (the latter one’s younger brother Laszlo also got a bronze medal among the 14-15 year-olds: a rather rare scenario in this tough sport to see siblings being equally successful).

    Among the youngest ones, Hungary’s Mira Szimcsak seems to be a promising competitor as she managed to win the 5km event once again after 2018. She was part of the gold medallist relay on the closing day so finished the event as the only participant with two titles to her name.

    Medallists

    5km, 14-15yrs

    Women

    1. Mira Szimcsak (HUN) 57:07.0
    2. Ella Dyson (GBR) 57:08.2
    3. Marlene Blanke (GER) 57:08.3

    Men

    1. Linus Schwedler (GER) 54:05.5
    2. Pasquale Giordano (ITA) 54:07.8
    3. Laszlo Galicz (HUN) 54:11.0

    7.5km, 16-17yrs

    Women

    1. Maria Claro (ESP) 1:25:19.7
    2. Vivien Balogh (HUN) 1:26:19.2
    3. Madelon Catteau (FRA) 1:26:23.8

    Men

    1. Aleksandr Stephanov (RUS) 1:20:31.7
    2. David Betlehem (HUN) 1:20:43.9
    3. Pol Yagues (ESP) 1:20.48.6

    10km, 18-19yrs

    Women

    1. Oceane Cassignol (FRA) 2:01.28.3
    2. Lea Boy (GER) 2:01:32.3
    3. Ekaterina Sorokina (RUS) 2:01:42.6

    Men

    1. Nathan Hughes (GBR) 1:55:49.9
    2. David Huszti (HUN) 1:55:51.1
    3. Peter Galicz (HUN) 1:55:51.4

    Mixed relays

    5km, 14-16yrs

    1. Hungary 57:01.1
    2. Russia 57:05.9
    3. Germany 57:38.2

    5km, U19

    1. Italy 56:24.9
    2. Germany 56:33.0
    3. France 56:44.8

    Medal table

     

    Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
    HUN 2 3 2 7
    GER 1 2 2 5
    RUS 1 1 1 3
    GBR 1 1 0 2
    ITA 1 1 0 2
    FRA 1 0 2 3
    ESP 1 0 1 2


    Championship Trophy (Top 10)

    1. Hungary 212,
    2. Germany 193,
    3. Russia 163,
    4. Italy 152,
    5. Spain 128,
    6. France 113,
    7. Great Britain 70,
    8. Poland 55,
    9. Czech Republic 46,
    10. Israel 39

    For detailed results, visit the LEN’s website

    Press release from LEN, photos courtesy of the Local Organizing Committee

  • Springfield Police officer, Aaron McNab, died in a swimming accident in Vermont.

  • Over 200 swimmers gathered at Hampton Cove pool for the 14th annual Swim for Melissa NICU fundraiser.

  • Reece Whitley long had the pedigree, and the backstory, to portend swimming success. He realized it at the U.S. Championships this week.

    The 6-foot-9 19-year-old made his first career summer nationals finals in Palo Alto, Calif. He won the 200m breaststroke and finished third in the 100m breast with personal-best times to establish himself as a contender for the 2020 Olympic team.

    “I haven’t been as fast as I wanted to be the past couple of years,” said Whitley, who broke 23 national age-group records through high school before matriculating at Cal last year. “I feel like I’ve always been on the outside looking in.”

    See NBC Sports

     

  • In Korea, Regan Smith set two world records and won two world championships. Then in California, she won a national championship in a completely different event.  After a worldwide trip that saw her burst onto the world stage the 17-year-old phenom finally came home to Minnesota on Saturday night.

    See KSTP

  • Emergency personnel responded to a report of a swimmer in distress at China Walls Saturday afternoon.

    The call came in around 4 p.m.

    Emergency Medical Services said the injured 19-year-old man jumped into the water at the infamous spot. Witnesses said he was then smashed into the rocks by a large wave.

    Bystanders pulled him out of the water and took him to a safe place where first responders eventually arrived and treated the man.

    EMS said he suffered serious injuries to his head and upper body.

    Read Hawaii News Now

    Photo by jijake1977

  • A 15-year-old boy and a 38-year-old garda, both from Co Meath, were the winners of this year’s Liffey Swim.

    Teenager Mark Hanley, who is a member of the North Dublin Swimming Club, claimed first place in the men’s event.  Sinead Delaney, who swims with the Phoenix Club in Clondalkin, won the women’s event.

    Billy Keogh (61) of Sandycove Swimming Club finished second in the men’s event. Sarah Keane, Olympic Council of Ireland president and chief executive of Swim Ireland, from Clontarf Swimming Club, finished second in the women’s  race.

    Read the Irish Times

  • Winners to qualify for Tokyo

    Kyiv is ready to stage another memorable edition of the European Diving Championships. The event kicks off on Monday and will feature a great line-up of European stars who all seek qualification for the 2020 Games: winners of the respective events on the Olympic programme shall book their spots in Tokyo.

    (L to R) Igor Lysov Ukrainian Diving Federation President Oleksiy Sereda UKR Tamara Tokmachova Team Ukraine Head Coach Press Conference Kyiv, Ukraine UKR 04/08/2019 Diving Len European Diving Championships 2019 Sport Arena Liko Kyiv, Ukraine Photo © Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
    Igor Lysov Ukrainian Diving Federation President Press Conference Kyiv, Ukraine UKR 04/08/2019 Diving Len European Diving Championships 2019 Sport Arena Liko Kyiv, Ukraine Photo © Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
    (L to R) Georgia Fyrigou Consolo LEN TDC Chairman Marco Birri LEN Operation Manager Andriy Vlaskov LEN Vice President Igor Lysov Ukrainian Diving Federation President Oleksiy Sereda UKR Tamara Tokmachova Team Ukraine Head Coach Press Conference Kyiv, Ukraine UKR 04/08/2019 Diving Len European Diving Championships 2019 Sport Arena Liko Kyiv, Ukraine Photo © Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

    Two years after the first quite successful meet in the Liko Sports Centre in Kyiv, everything is set to witness another outstanding edition of the European Diving Championships. This one has even more at stake: winners of the Olympic events (individual and synchro events in 3m and 10m in both genders) will qualify for Tokyo.

    “We are very happy to welcome back the diving family and very proud that Kyiv can host this event for the second time” said Igor Lysov, President of the Ukrainian Diving Federation, the man behind the entire showcase who also built the magnificent Liko complex, venue of the competition.

    LEN Vice-President Andriy Vlaskov also welcomed the media and all athletes, coaches and officials. “Kyiv is a great city and the fans love diving here so we will enjoy an outstanding event” he said.

    LEN Operational Manager Marco Birri and Chair of the LEN Technical Diving Committee Georgia Fyrigou-Consolo both praised the efforts of the hosts. “We are always keen to come here as we can’t wish for any better venue and more professional organisation” Mrs. Consolo added.

    As a highlight of the press conference, the locals greeted the new-born star of the discipline, 13 year-old Oleksiy Sereda who had offered a stunning performance at the World Championships in Gwangju and finished 4th both in the individual and the synchro events in the 10m platform. His appearance will surely be a highlight of the event and the young prodigy said that he would not crack under the mounting pressure since he was suddenly regarded a hot favourite to win titles here.

    The championships start with the Mixed Team Event on Monday at 17.00hrs local time. LEN shall provide free live streaming on the event on its website.
    Press release from LEN, images courtesy of Deepbluemedia / Giorgio Scala

  • Water polo team THE SHINY SHRIMPS have little hope of achieving their goal to compete in the world’s biggest LGBTQ+ sporting event, the Gay Games. Along comes World Silver Medalist swimmer Matthias Le Goff who, after making a homophobic remark on live TV, is offered redemption by means of training and reigning in the flamboyant Shrimps.

    The Shiny Shrimps, however, have other ideas. They prefer partying to serious practice. Should Matthias quit for selfish reasons or hit the road to Croatia with this uncoordinated shoal of water divas and ensure that THE SHINY SHRIMPS will become Queens Of The Pool?