European Juniors: Robert-Andrei Badea Dominates 400IM To Clinch Medley Double
Robert-Andrei Badea dominated the 400IM in Romanian and Championship records to complete the medley double at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The 16-year-old stopped the clock at 4:14.37 to down the long-standing Championship mark that had stood since 2013 while adding the long medley to his 200IM title.
Badea was more than 1.5secs ahead after the opening butterfly leg, a lead he extended to almost 2.5secs over Italian Domenico de Gregorio following the backstroke.
He swam away on the breaststroke, moving onto the freestyle leg with a 3.67 lead over Italian Emanuele Potenza.
A final 100m of 58.94 guided him home to take more than two seconds off the national standard of 4:16.43 he set at the Romanian Championships in April.
He also cut 0.28 from Semen Makovich’s Championship record of 4:14.65 that had stood since 2013.
Emanuele Potenza of Italy was DQd meaning De Gregorio won silver in 4:21.02 with Onur Ege Oksuz of Türkiye in bronze in 4:22.73.
Shortt Makes Irish History
John Shortt: Photo Courtesy: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
John Shortt was the fastest seed into the men’s 200m backstroke final as Ireland sought its first medal of the championships.
Fourth at the 2023 edition, Shortt took the lead on the second 50 and was 0.40 ahead at the 150m mark.
A superb turn and underwater phase propelled him into clear water and into the wall in 1:57.66 as he cut 0.24 from his Irish senior record of 1:57.90 set at the national championships in May.
Shortt also became the first Irishman to win a European Junior title with Conor Ferguson having won silvers in 2016 and 2017.
Daniele del Signore of Italy took silver in 1:58.81 with Romania’s Alexandru Constantinescu third in 1:58.91.
Elsewhere, Lena Ludwig edged out 15-year-old Theodora Taylor to win the 200m breaststroke, the German clocking 2:28.70 to the Briton’s 2:28.71.
Hannah Schneider made it a Germany 1-3 in 2:29.30.
Lorenzo Ballarati defended his 50 free title in 22.20, Daniele Momoni claimed the men’s 100 fly in 52.20 and Doruk Yogurtcuoglu of Türkiye took the men’s 200m breaststroke in 2:12.66.
Estella Llum Tonrath won the women’s 200 back in 2:10.78 and a 54.38 anchor by Hollie Widdows guided Great Britain to the mixed medley relay title in 3:49.55.
- Link to results
- Day 1 report
- Day 2 report
- Day 3 report
- Link to EuroAquaticsTV.com (subscription)
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