European Championships: Teen Lana Pudar Claims Gold in 200 Fly for Bosnia and Herzegovina
In a meet dominated by traditional swimming powers, Lana Pudar made her mark for Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, surging to the gold medal in the women’s 200 meter butterfly at the European Championships in Rome.
Pudar competed in the Tokyo Olympics and finished 19th in the 100 butterfly. Just a few weeks ago, the 16-year-old won the 200 butterfly at European Juniors. Now, she has an even more prestigious and impressive victory under her belt at the European Championships.
Pudar touched the wall in 2:06.81, the only swimmer in the field to break 2:07. She started strong with a 28.03 first 50 to take the lead. She remained in the lead the rest of the race with splits of 31.83, 33.27 and 33.68 on the final 50 to earn the gold medal. Earlier in the week, Pudar was the bronze medalist in the 100 fly.
“I’m overjoyed. This is my first senior European title and a new personal best,” Pudar said. “I really don’t know what to say. I’m lacking the words. I felt great in the water today. After the 100 fly, I felt really tired and exhausted both physically and psychologically. I didn’t really believe myself that I could perform like this today. This is the best possible end of this very long and successful season. It has been my first with such intensity. I hope there will be many more.”
Denmark’s Helena Rosendahl Bach claimed the silver medal with a swim of 2:07.30, just a half second behind Pudar.
Italy’s Ilaria Cusinato won the bronze medal with a 2:07.77.
Great Britain’s Laura Stephens took fourth (2:08.48), followed by Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos (2:09.03), one of the most decorated swimmers in the field.
Great Britain’s Keanna MacInnes was sixth (2:09.59), followed by Portugal’s Ana Catarina Monteiro (2:10.79) and Italy’s Antonella Crispino (2:10.97).
But it was the teen sensation from Bosnia and Herzegovina that had her breakout performance at the European Championships.
