Denmark’s reigning 50 fly world champion Jeanette Ottesen raced for the first time since a road rage assault left her with a broken finger and severe injuries for boyfriend Marco Loughran.
Ottesen swam the 50 butterfly at the Danish nationals in Copehagen on Tuesday, winning with an impressive 25.68. The time is just two tenths off the swim she posted in March to sit second in the world behind the 24.69 by Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, which shows that Ottesen has physically and mentally moved forward in the two weeks since the attack. She also gives fresh hope to Denmark’s chances of taking a medal in the 400 medley relay.
Loughran was reportedly suffering from a broken shoulder, several deep cuts to his face as well as some broken teeth after the attack. But the British backstroker raced anyway in Copenhagen, tying for gold in the 50 backstroke with a 25.85 with Magnus Jakupsson and swimming a 55.97 in the 100 back prelims. It appears Loughran scratched from the 100 back finals, allowing Jakupsson to win free and clear with a 56.35. Loughran missed out on qualifying for worlds for Great Britain, but will be looking to ramp up training for a place at the Olympics.
Mie Nielsen, who’s ranked third in the world in the 100 back with a 59.14 from back in March, won that event by more than two seconds with a 1:00.47. She also took the 50 back title with a 28.31.
Rikke Pedersen, the world record holder in the 200 breast, cruised to an easy victory in that event with a 2:25.31. Pedersen is also a worlds medal hopeful in the 100 breast, but skipped out on that event at nationals.
Viktor Bromer, another Dane with medal hopes at the world championships, won the 200 fly with a 1:55.69, just missing his ninth-ranked 1:55.39 from last March. He also posted a respectable 52.83 in the 100 fly to win that title.
Full results: 2015 Danish long course nationals