Some of the top young European stars competed today at the inaugural European Games.
The Baku 2015 European Games have uploaded all of the day 4 race videos to their YouTube account. Click on playlist drop down menu to view all the races.
Original report:
Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank unleashed a World Junior Record in the men’s 200-meter back finals at the 2015 European Games in Baku.
FINALS
Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank crushed the field in the men’s 200-meter back with a top time of 1:56.89. That swim vaulted him to eighth in the world rankings, and broke the World Junior Record of 1:56.94 set by China’s Li Guangyuan last summer.
Belarus’ Mikita Tsmyh placed second in 1:59.46 with Russia’s Roman Larin earning bronze in 1:59.60.
Russia’s Arina Openysheva won yet another gold medal as she clocked a 1:58.22 in the women’s 200-meter free. That swim put her ahead of fellow meet MVP Marrit Steenbergen of The Netherlands, who finished second in 1:58.99. Germany’s Leonie Kullmann snared bronze in 1:59.77.
That’s Openysheva fifth gold medal with wins in the women’s 400 free relay, 400 free, mixed 400 free relay, women’s 400 medley relay and 200 free. She also took silver behind Steenbergen in the 100 free.
Russia’s Polina Egorova powered her way to gold in the women’s 100-meter fly with a 59.36. Great Britain’s Amelia Clynes claimed silver in 1:00.12, while Greece’s Ilektra Varvara Lebl and Great Britain’s Laura Stephens shared bronze with 1:00.54s.
France’s Nicolas D’Oriano raced his way under 8:00 to win the men’s 800-meter free in 7:59.87. Spain’s Marcos Rodriguez Mesa placed second in 8:01.73 with Germany’s Henning Muehlleitnertaking third in 8:04.33.
In a bit of a surprise, considering just how much Marrit Steenbergen of The Netherlands dominated the 100-meter free, Russia’s Mariia Kameneva touched out Steenbergen, 25.23 to 25.27, for the women’s 50-meter free title. Denmark’s Julie Jensen placed third in 25.41.
Russia’s Filipp Shopin nipped Germany’s Marek Ulrich, 25.40 to 25.44, in the men’s 50-meter back finale. Ukraine’s Andrii Khloptsov rounded out the podium with a third-place time of 25.71.
The foursome of Mariia Kameneva, Anton Chupkov, Daniil Pakhomov and Arina Openyshevasnagged the gold in the mixed 400-meter medley relay with a time of 3:49.53. That’s Openysheva’s sixth gold medal of the meet now. Great Britain (3:52.03) and Germany (3:54.27) took silver and bronze.
SEMIFINALS
Russia’s Mariia Kameneva hit the wall in 25.44 to top the women’s 50-meter free, while 100 free sprint queen Marrit Steenbergen of The Netherlands qualified second in 25.56.
Kameneva returned in the next women’s event to top the 100-meter back semis in 1:01.57. Teammate Polina Egorova qualified second in 1:01.97.
Russia’s Filipp Shopin took the top seed in the men’s 50-meter back with a time of 25.67. Germany’sMarek Ulrich posted a second-seeded 25.73.
Russia’s Daniil Pakhomov turned in a 52.13 to lead the way in the men’s 100-meter fly semis. Spain’s Alberto Lozano Mateos took the second seed in 53.23.
Italy’s Ilaria Cusinato chased down the top seed in the women’s 200-meter IM with a time of 2:14.35. Germany’s Julia Mrozinksi put up a second-seeded time of 2:15.02.
Russia’s Elisei Stepanov claimed the top seed in the men’s 200-meter free in 1:49.43 with Great Britain’s Cameron Kurle qualifying a close second in 1:49.50. Russia’s Nikolay Snegirev snared the third seed in 1:49.57 as the other 1:49 of semis.
Russia’s Anton Chupkov clipped Lithuania’s Andrius Sidlauskas, 1:00.95 to 1:00.99, for the men’s 100-meter breast top seed.
Russia’s Maria Astashkina, who set a World Junior Record in the 200-meter breast yesterday, led the way in the 100-meter breast with a 1:07.88 this evening. Italy’s Giulia Verona posted a second-seeded 1:09.44.
I am very impressed with the 16 yo Pakhomov who swam 52.13 and 1:57.0 in 100 and 200 fly. Is he going to be Russia’s answer for a new fly ace, after a long to time since Dennis Pankratov?
All of the young guns out of Russia are extremely impressive right now. The main thing that really hurts them right now is all the doping issues coming out of Russia.
I am fully aware of the Russian doping scandal what with swimmers tested positive, other athletes, and the ADN report.
Also, this dramatic rise of their juniors across the board is kinda worrying as a tell tale sign.
I have followed swimming long enough to always have back in my mind this other shady possibility.