As we had plenty of spare time around the Herning 2013 event itself (not), I went to Silkeborg and interviewed two very interesting persons for an hour or so. Sound and videos look okay, but I need to cut a bit, before posting.

As we had plenty of spare time around the Herning 2013 event itself (not), I went to Silkeborg and interviewed two very interesting persons for an hour or so. Sound and videos look okay, but I need to cut a bit, before posting.

Nothing really spectacular in the morning heats, I guess the Danes will have to put their hopes on Mads Glæsner in the 1500 and Mie Ø. Nielsen this afternoon, if they are to close in on their goal of at least 11 gold medals at these home championships. Me myself am of course crossing fingers for our guy Pál Joensen in the 1500 final.
So I’m getting good help from photographers Pia Ellegaard and Morten Holck here at the Herning 2013 European Short Course Championships, and Pia caught this moment yesterday of whom I think is Hungary’s David Verraszto in the men’s 200 IM final, placing fifth before taking gold in the 400 IM today. He is not rested, I heard, looking forward to the Euros to end, so that he can relax before the Duel against USA.

Mie Ø. Nielsen saved the day for Denmark, well and truly. Yuliya Efimova broke the women’s 200 meter breaststroke world record, Nielsen the women’s 100 backstroke European record, Russia an (obligatory?) world record in the mixed 4×50 medley, and Sarah Sjöström a championships record in the 50 fly.
As predicted back in November and repeated now for instance on DR.dk, tonight is supposed to be ‘the Great Danish Night’, with Jeanette Ottesen well seated in the 100 freestyle final, Mie Ø. Nielsen in the 100 backstroke final, Rikke Møller Pedersen in the 200 breaststroke final and Lotte Friis in the 800 freestyle final. But the competition is tough, and the Danish media is already a bit harsh, after the not-so-impressive performance on day 1. Politiken went as fas as to say that the 1:37.04 women’s 4×50 freestyle world record that the Danish ladies set yesterday was ‘silly nonsense’, since the Dutch’ European record is 1:33.25, and the Swedish Nordic record 1:35.46. Anyways, looking forward to a good night of racing, in a sold-out Box.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu leads the table, the women’s 200 IM and 50 breaststroke finals the big events yesterday. Sarah Sjöström the sole Scandinavian in the top-8, and Russia’s Vladimir Morozov the only male.