European Short-Course, Day 2 Prelims: Wiffen Twins Reach 1500 Free Final
Twins Daniel and Nathan Wiffen reached the final of the 1500 free on day two of prelims at the European Short-Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania.
Daniel – who made history on Tuesday when he became the first Irish swimmer to win a European short-course title – returned to head the field with Nathan through in seventh on his international debut.
The Chmielewski twins – Krzysztof and Michal – won 200 fly gold and silver in the same Otopeni pool at the 2022 European Junior Championships with the former claiming silver at the Fukuoka worlds in July.
Ben Proud, Arno Kamminga, Medi Harris, Keanna MacInnes and the Italy men’s 4×50 medley quartet all topped their heats.
Women’s 200m Backstroke
British women posted three of the four top times topped by Medi Harrcis (2:03.77) ahead of Katie Shanahan (2:04.61).
Gabriela Georgieva was third in 2:05.15 with Kathleen Dawson the third Briton in 2:05.44 and failing to progress because of the two-per-nation rule.
Kira Toussaint – who won the backstroke treble at the 2021 edition in Kazan – was 15th in 2:07.56 as Romanian 15-year-old Aissia-Claudia Prisecariu claimed the 16th and final semi spot in 2:08.92.
Men’s 50m Freestyle
Ben Proud returned to the Aquatics Complex of Otopeni the morning after leading off the British 4×50 free relay to victory in national record time, the first time a GB quartet has won that event.
The 2022 world, Commonwealth and European champion was in clear water until around the 30m mark when he eased down, still the only man inside 21 in 20.97.
Lorenzo Zazzeri (21.03), Lewis Burras (21.21), Kristian Gkolomeev (21.22) and Miressi (21.23) coming in behind the 2021 world short-course champion, French duo Maxime Grousset and Manaudou also safely through.
Women’s 200m Butterfly
Keanna MacInnes led the way in 2:05.51 ahead of Laura Lahtinen (2:05.60) and Emily Large (2:06.11) making it two Britons in the top three.
European long-course champion Lana Pudar – fourth at the Fukuoka worlds – was eighth through in 2:08.69.
Anja Crevar took the final spot in 2:12.47.
Men’s 100m Breaststroke
Kamminga was all control and length as he headed the prelims in 56.63 with training partner Caspar Corbeau next through in 57.26.
Martinenghi – the defending champion – progressed in 57.34 ahead of Italian teammate Simone Cerasuolo (57.50).
Women’s 100m Individual Medley
Nele Schulz was all beaming smiles when she saw her time out in lane seven in the final heat, the German slapping the water after going 59.14 to lead the prelims.
Lena Kreundl (59.35), Louise Hansson (59.37) and Charlotte Bonnet (59.56) were next through with Katie Shanahan making it into her second semi of the day as she squeaked in 16th in 1:00.77.
Men’s 4×50 Medley Relay
Defending champions Italy led the way in 1:34.07 ahead of Britain (1:34.45) and the Netherlands (1:34.89) with hosts Romania – anchored by David Popovici in 21.22, the second-fastest split in the field – also through to the final.
Men’s 1500m Freestyle
Daniel Wiffen returned to the Aquatics Complex of Otopeni the morning after a dominant 400 victory in Irish record time.
He went in the second semi with brother Nathan, the identical twins in lanes four and two, the first time the pair have appeared in the same race on the international stage.
Daniel stopped the clock in 14:34.50 to head the field ahead of Henrik Christiansen (14:36.25) and Victor Johansson (14:38.58).
David Aubry (14:38.98), Damien Joly (14:39.05), Mykhailo Romanchuk (14:39.24), Nathan Wiffen (14:39.34) and Vlad Stancu (14:40.10) all progressed to Thursday’s final.
Daniel said through Swim Ireland:
“My goal there was just to try and make it as easy as possible after last night and the toll it would have had on me, so as easy as possible to make it back and I’m happy to be first and in lane four for the final.”
For Nathan, the swim secured a first European final at his debut Team Ireland competition.
The Loughborough swimmer knocked nine seconds off his previous best of 14:48.69 and said:
“I’d said beforehand I want to make a final at my first international, and I’ve done that, very happy. I think I had a nine second pb, towards the start I had to go with everybody, but it felt comfortable in the end.”