European S/C Championships, Day 3 Prelims: Caspar Corbeau Launches Bid For Breaststroke Double
Day three of the European Short Course Championships got underway in Lublin, Poland, with newly-crowned champions returning to the water in a bid to add to silverware.
Among them was Caspar Corbeau, who has already won the 100m breaststroke title, and who was set to launch his bid for the double in the 200. The Netherlands swimmer became the first man through the 2min barrier when he went 1:59.52 at the Toronto stop of the World Cup tour in October.
Eneli Jefimova returns the morning after winning the women’s 100 breast title to go in the 200 while John Shortt, of Ireland, is back in the water for the 100 back after setting a WJR en-route to the 200 title the previous evening.
Women’s 100m Butterfly
Laura Lahtinen and Louise Hansson were the sole women to post sub-56 times when they went 55.39 and 55.81 respectively. Hansson is the defending champion in this event with gold in Otopeni, Romania, two years ago ahead of Angelina Köhler and Anna Ntountounaki who also progressed in third and fourth respectively. Also through was Roos Vanotterdijk of Belgium, the silver medallist in the 50 fly on Wednesday and Martine Damborg, who won the two-length race in a EJR and who progressed in 15th.
Men’s 100m Butterfly
Maxime Grousset returned to the water the morning after winning 50 fly bronze. The Frenchman, who won silver behind Noè Ponti in Otopeni, led the way into the semis in 49.58 ahead of Michał Chmielewski (49.61) and Ponti (49.68) with the first three men separated by just 0.10. Ponti won the 100 two yeas ago in a then European record of 48.47 which he subsequently lowered to 47.71 to go inside Caeleb Dressel’s WR en-route to gold at the 2024 short-course worlds. Josh Liendo of Canada then shaved a further 0.03 from that time at the World Cup stop in Toronto. Chmielewski led home three Polish swimmers inside the top six ahead of Ksawery Masiuk (50.21) and Adrian Jaskiewicz who was the man to miss out in the two-pear-nation rule after finishing in 50.27.
Women’s 200m Breaststroke
Otopeni champion Tes Schouten hasn’t competed in 2025 after experiencing a loss of power and function on the left side of her body whichh left her with severe fatigue and pain. There’ll be a new champion crowned and Great Britain’s Angharad Evans led the way as the only woman inside 2:21, clocking 2:20.83. The Singapore world finalist was followed by Ellen Walshe (2:21.39), Daria Asaftei (2:21.50) and 2023 bronze medallist Kristyna Horska (2:21.86). Jefimova progressed in 13th in 2:24.75.
