European S/C Championships, Day 3 Prelims: Ollie Morgan Takes Down British 100 Back Record
Day three of the European Short Course Championships got underway in Lublin, Poland, with Ollie Morgan taking down the long-standing British 100 back record.
Morgan became the first Briton inside 50secs as he booked top spot for the semis in 49.55. That followed his teammate Filip Nowacki’s European junior record of 2:03.75 in the 200m breaststroke.
Isabel Gose and Simona Quadarella booked the centre lanes for the 800m final on a busy morning in Lublin.
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. Ellen Walshe also made it through but won’t be taking her place in the semis.
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 Ellie McCartney (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.
Men’s 200m Breaststroke
The reigning world and European short course champions are set to go head to head in Lublin. Carles Coll claimed the world title in Budapest a year ago and he posted the fastest time into semis of 2:03.32. Filip Nowacki, the world junior long-course champion, went 2:03.75 for a European junior record at his senior GB debut, with Corbeau third through in the defence of his title in 2:03.87. Netherlands teammate and double Olympic silver medallist Arno Kamminga was fourth in 2:05.10 as he continues his return to competitive waters following a long time out of the mix after Paris 2024 and his subsequent move to Hong Kong. Tom Dean, the 200 free champion at the Tokyo Olympics, was sixth in 2:05.37 meaning Greg Butler missed out as third Briton in 2:05.91.
Women’s 100m Backstroke
Kira Toussaint won three straight titles over four lengths but with the Dutchwoman’s retirement comes the crowning of a new champion. Lauren Cox, of Great Britain, is first into the semis in 57.03 ahead of Nina Holt (57.29) and Carmen Weiler Sastre – winner of the 200 – in 57.43.
Men’s 100m Backstroke
Ollie Morgan missed out in the 200 back because of the two-per-nation rule. The Olympic and world finalist made absolutely no mistake in the shorter race where he posted a British record of 49.55, as he took a 0.59 chunk from the 50.14 standard that stood to Liam Tancock since April 2008. Miroslav Knedla also went inside 50secs by the merest of slivers in 49.99 Italian duo Lorenzo Mora (50.15) and Thomas Ceccon (50.18) went safely through but Tokyo 200 back bronze medallist Luke Greenbank was the Briton to miss out as he posted 50.71 to Jack Skerry’s 50.39. Mewen Tomac and Yohann Ndoye Brouard enjoyed a French 1-2 in Otopeni with the pair advancing safely. Shortt also made it through in 11th in 50.84.
Women’s 800m Freestyle
Isabel Gose led the way in 8:13.70 ahead of Simona Quadarella who clocked 8:14.99 as the pair book the centre lanes once more for Friday’s final. The German set a European record of 3:54.33 en-route to the 400 title on the opening night in Poland with Quadarella taking silver.
Mixed 4x50m Freestyle
Kasia Wasick split a 23.07 anchor leg to propel Poland to top spot and lane four in 1:29.27 ahead of Italy (1:29.31) and the Netherlands (1:29.81).
