European Championships, Day 5 Prelims: Krzysztof Chmielewski & Kristof Milak Go 1:55 In 200 Fly
Kristof Milak got his 200 fly title defence under way at the European Aquatics Championships as he returned to the pool the morning after leading a Hungarian 1-2 in the 100m event.
The 24-year-old is seeking a fourth straight gold over four lengths following success in 2018, 2020 and 2022.
Before Milak, Laszlo Cseh topped the podium in two of the previous three Europeans with Viktor Bromer of Denmark the only non-Hungarian to claim gold in that time with victory at Berlin 2014.
The Olympic champion and world record-holder went in the third and final heat at the Sports and Recreational Center Milan Gale Muškatirović having seen 2023 world silver medallist Krzysztof Chmielewski of Poland go 1:55.65.
Milak posted 1:55.71 for the second-swiftest time of the morning with the pair the only men inside 1:56 followed by Hungarian Richard Marton (1:56.44) and Michal Chmielewski, the elder of the twins by seven minutes who clocked 1:56.51.
Elsewhere, Anastasia Gorbenko headed the women’s 200IM in 2:13.58 with the Israeli seeking her third straight title, Theodora Drakou led three women inside 25secs in the 50 free, the Greek swimmer clocking 24.89 and Danielle Hill, fresh from winning the 50 back, led the way over 100m in 1:00.62.
Mykhailo Romanchuk led the way in the 1500, the Ukrainian going 15:01.20 with 16-year-old European junior champion Kuzey Tuncelli matching the Ukrainian stroke for stroke in the centre lanes to book second spot in 15:01.53.
Tuncelli went 14:54.16 at the 2023 European Youth Olympic Festival for one of two Turkish senior records along with 7:48.53 at the Doha worlds in February.
He had a proper tussle with Romanchuk, who is 11 years the teenager’s senior, and told Swimming World:
“I want a good lane in the final.
“I wanted to test myself and I am so proud of being in the final and because I go with him. Romanchuk is such a big swimmer.”
Also through was Nathan Wiffen, twin brother of world champion Daniel.
Noel de Geus led the men’s 50m breaststroke in 27.09 with the final spot taken by Lyubomir Epitropov, the Bulgarian back in the pool the morning after sharing 200 breaststroke gold with Erik Persson to go 27.99.
Hungary headed the mixed 4×1 free in 3:29.57, lane order the sole thing to be decided with only seven teams contesting the prelims.
- Link to results/start sheets
- 2024 Olympic Games Coverage – Paris
- European Championships Day 1 Prelims
- European Championships Day 1 Finals
- European Championships Day 2 Prelims
- European Championships Day 2 Finals
- European Championships Day 3 Prelims
- European Championships Day 3 Finals
- European Championships Day 4 Prelims
- European Championships Day 4 Finals