Helena Rosendahl Bach Takes Down 200 Fly Meet Record in Luxembourg
Helena Rosendahl Bach downed the eight-year 200 fly championship record as the Euro Meet got underway in Luxembourg.
The 2024 world silver medallist led throughout to touch in 2:08.03, slicing 0.15 from the standard of 2:08.18 that stood to Franziska Hentke since 2018.
Emily Richards came through strongly on the second half of the race for second in 2:08.65 with Ciara Schlosshan third in 2:09.65.
Martine Damborg made it a women’s Danish fly double with a 26.44 victory in the 50 followed by Kornelia Fiedkiewicz (26.63) and Jeanne de Murcia (26.64).
John Shortt: Photo Courtesy: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
John Shortt was in command of the men’s 100 back throughout with the Irishman stopping the clock in 54.48. It was the fourth-fastest time of the Irishman’s career with the 18-year-old’s PB standing at 53.80 in the semis at the 2025 world juniors where he’d go on to win the 100/200 double.
Mathys Chouchaoui (55.09) and Noah Verreth (55.72) were second and third.
European junior champion Amalie Smith pulled away from Cyrelle Duhamel in the second half of the 400IM to claim a comprehensive victory. The British swimmer, who also won silver at the world juniors last year, stopped the clock at 4:40.70 with Duhamel well behind in 4:47.33.
Max Litchfield made it a British IM double with victory in the men’s race in 4:21.04 ahead of Christian Mantegazza (4:21.91) and Emilien Mattenet (4:22.10).
Grace Davison edged out Laura Bernat in a close women’s 100m backstroke race. The pair were neck and neck throughout with the Irishwoman always holding a slight advantage which she maintained into the wall in 1:02.55. Bernat was 0.05 behind in 1:02.60 with Lou-Anne Guiton third in 1:02.71 as the first three women were separated by 0.16.
Luca Armbruster won the men’s 50 fly in 23.43 ahead of Gabriel Shepherd (23.66) and Thomas Verhoeven (23.73).
Alessandro Ragaini took the men’s 200 fly title in 1:58.23 followed by Adrian Jaskiewicz (1:59.14) and Ihor Troianovskyi (1:59.18).
Sacha Velly, the double world junior open water champion, enjoyed a clear win in the men’s 1500 free in 15:07.76 and Giorgia Tononi headed the fastest heat of the women’s 800 free in 8:45.45.
