Finals day 4. Flash quotes

Below the statements of the winners and the best athletes of the fourth day of the 47th European Junior Championships, in Rome.

Men's 50m breaststroke - Final
Gold medalist. Simone Cerasuolo (Ita) 27"29 pp: I am satisfied with the time and the work done, it's my first european gold. Although I felt tired in the water I managed to get the medal. Besides swimming, I like spending time with friends and teammates.

Men's 100m butterfly - Final
Gold medalist. Josif Miladinov (Bul) 52"00: I was lucky, I didn't feel very well in the water. Training is tough but I couldn't live outside the pool. The organization of this Championship and this pool are perfect.

Women's 200m breaststroke - Final
Gold medalist. Justine Delmas (Fra)  2'25"54: I'm very happy with my result. It's not my first international medal, it's always a pleasure to stand on the podium. I know this pool, I have already swum here.

Men's 50m backstroke - Final
Gold medalist. Aleksei A. Tkachev (Rus) 25"14 pp: I expected to win, I'm happy to have swum my personal best but I know I can still improve. I'm not going to Tokyo but Olympics are the biggest dream for everyone. I hope to compete there one day.

Women's 200m freestyle - Final
Silver medalist. Tamryn Van Selm (Gbr) 1'59"50: I feel well and full of energy. It's the first high-level international competition for me. I'm very happy with how it's going. In Great Britain we have a great tradition in freestyle, so I will have to work hard to become part of the future Olympic team.

Men's 4x200m relay - Final
Gold medalist. Russia (Daniil Kosenkov 1'50"96, Maksim Khadanovich 1'50"71, Aleksandr Chiknaikin 1'50"91, Vladislav Reznichenko 1'48"48) 7'21"06: The race was not easy, it was a head-to-head until the end, but we won. The organization is super, it was a bit weird for us to compete in an outdoor pool because in Russia we usually swim in indoor ones. 

Photo Credits Andrea Masini / DBM

European in progress. Statement by Paolo Barelli

We are now halfway through the European Junior Swimming Championships, taking place at the Stadio del Nuoto in Rome, and I would like to express, on behalf of the Ligue Europeenne de Natation and the Italian Swimming Federation, my full satisfaction. The efforts made to organise such a prestigious international event, despite the pandemic that led the Federation Internationale de Natation to cancel the junior events, are repaid by the passion of the 600 swimmers from 48 countries who are competing in the pool. To see in their eyes the happiness of having returned to compete for an important medal, of having returned to experience an event together with other excited athletes, is a source of pride and joy and means that we made the right choice. The experience gained in LEN with the organisation of the Champions League and the European Water Polo Cups and with the European Championships in Budapest, as well as in FIN with the management of national and international championships and events in the last 15 months, has given us knowledges that demonstrates how to carry out sporting events of the highest level in complete safety. But all this would not have been possible without the scrupulous observance of strict rules of conduct and prevention by all delegates, managers, coaches, athletes, judges, media and staff, that I would like to thank for the strong sense of responsibility they demonstrate each days.
This European Junior Championship, which follows the successes of the European Championships in Budapest and the Sette Colli Trophy / International Swimming Championships, is also a window on the 36th edition of the next European Championships in water disciplines scheduled from 11 to 22 August 2022 in Foro Italico, Ostia and a location in downtown that will host the high diving.
With the hope that the pandemic will be overcome and the vaccination work completed, we expect more than 100.000 spectators in 12 days of competitions for 74 finals and 1.500 athletes representing 52 countries. It will be an exceptional event which will gather the strongest European athletes who will hine at the Tokyo Olympics and World Championships in Fukuoka, but also from the touristic and promotional point of view, thanks to receptivity, the artistic, sociocultural and enogastronomic offer of Rome, the Lazio Region and the national territory. I would like to thank Roma Capitale and the Lazio Region, and the italian Governament, for their support of the complex organisation.
In the meantime, at the Stadio del Nuoto, the next generation of European Championships are going on, and they have attracted the interest of the media and the public, numerous also indirectly through the streaming of the competitions. We are witnessing exciting races, with a high technical content, as demonstrated by the 47"30 swam in the 100 free style by the 16-year-old Romanian David Popovici, a rising star of speed who will arrive at the Tokyo Olympics with the best time of the year to challenge Russian Kliment Kolesnikov (47"31), the American star Caeleb Dressel (47"39) and the Italian Alessandro Miressi (47"45). We looked at vice-champion and world record holder and European champion Benedetta Pilato winning the 50 breaststroke and many other Olympic outsiders who show how the top of swimming can be represented either by young and over 30 champions. 
The show will continue for the next three days. Have a good fun with great swimming.

the President Paolo Barelli

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Heats day 4. Shanahan aims for third medal. Tuncel record-woman

Fourth day of the 47th European Junior Championships at the Stadio del Nuoto in Rome.

The heats started with women's 50m butterfly, in which Daria Klepikvova (Rus), gold medalist in 100m freestyle and 4x100m medley mixed, is first in 26"60. Bosnian Lana Pudar, silver in 200m butterfly, gets the second time in 26"70.
In men's 200m freestyle, Lorenzo Galossi (Ita) qualifies to semifinals with the first time (1'49"27) ahead of bosnian Jovan Lekic (1'49"28) and romanian David Popovici (1'50"01), gold medalist and new WJR in 100m freestyle.
Serbian Nina Stanisavljevic is first in 50m backstroke in 28"66.
In men's 200m breaststroke, Aleksas Savickas (Ltu) gets the fastest time in 2'14"79.
In 200m individual medley british Katie Shanahan, gold in double distance and silver medalist in 100m backstroke, is first in 2'16"77. Behind her russian Viktoriia Starostina (2'16"96) and Anastasiia Sorokina (2'17"12).
At the end, in 1500m freestyle, turkish Merve Tuncel, gold and EJ record in 800m, is the fastest in 16'10"28, setting the new Championship record. Second time for her teammate Deniz Ertan (16'18"55).

Shown below the best results of the heats.

Women's 50m butterfly
1. Daria Klepikova (Rus) 26"60 

Men's 200m freestyle
1. Lorenzo Galossi (Ita) 1'49"27 

Women's 50m backstroke
1. Nina Stanisavljevic (Srb) 28"66

Men's 200m breaststroke 
1. Aleksas Savickas (Ltu) 2'14"79

Women's 200m individual medley
1. Katie Shanahan (Gbr) 2'16"77

Women's 1500m freestyle
1. Merve Tuncel (Tur) 16'10"28 CR

Photo Credits Andrea Masini / DBM 

EuroJrs. Popovici star, first time of the year in the 100 freestyle!

No limits for David Popovici. The talented romanian dominates the 100 freestyle in 47"30 and breaks his Junior World Record (previous 47"56 swam in the first lap of the final in the relay). Popovici becomes the faster of the season, better than Russian Kliment Kolesnikov (47"31), American Caeleb Dressel (47"39) and Italian Alessandro Miressi (47"45). Tenth all-time performer, in 47"30 Popovic would be gold medalist at the recent European Championships in Budapest and the 2016 Rio Olympics, silver medalist at the 2017 Budapest World Championships and bronze medalist at the 2019 Gwangju World Championships. Behind the 16-year-old romanian there are the british Edward Milderd, second in 48"77, and the polish Mateusz Chowaniec, third in 49"37. 
The afternoon program of the third day of the European Junior Championships in Rome opens with the 100 breaststroke final. The winner is the ukrainian Volodymyr Lisovets' in 1'00"28, who wins ahead lithuanian Aleksas Savickas in 1'01"29 and italian Simone Cerasuolo, bronze medalist in 1'01"56.
In the 100 backstroke Erika Gaetani thrilled the audience at the Swimming Stadium. The Italian wins gold with a personal best time of 1'00"65; with her on the podium, second ex-aequo in 1'00"93, french Mary-Ambre Moluh and british Katie Shanahan, the winner of 400 mixed. 
Turkish Berke Saka got gold medal in 200 medley in 2'00"04; with him on the podium were ukrainian Vadym Naumenko in 2'00"65 and german Cedric Buessing in 2'01"84.
Super performance for russian Anastasia Markova, who won 200 butterfly setting the Championship Record by 2'08"41; silver went to Bosnian Lana Pudar with the time of 2'09"59 and bronze to french Lucie Delmas in 2'10"42.
The 1500 freestyle was won by turkish Mert Kilavuz in 15'02"22; behind him hungarian David Betlehem in 15'02"28 and another turkish, Yigit Aslan, who took bronze in 15'05"08.
At the end, russian Aleksei Tkachev (54"84), Georgii Glazunov (1'01"86), Daria Klepikova (58"89) and Daria Tatarinova (54"66) won the 4x100 medley mixed in 3'50"25. The silver went to british team composed by Katie Shanahan (1'01"75), Harvey Freeman (1'02"62), Edward Mildred (52"14) and Davis Evelyn (54"97) in 3'51"48 and the bronze to ukrainian one with Oleksandr Zheltyakov (54"44), Volodymyr Lisovets' (1'01"55), Viktoriya Kostromina (1'01"62) and Karyna Snitko (56"42) in 3'54"03.

Semi-finals. Russian Josif Miladinov and transalpine Justine Delmas were the fastest respectevely in 100 butterfly by 51"86 and 200 breaststroke in 2'25"12. In 50 backstroke the best time was set by Polish Ksawery Masiuk in 25"21, aiming the second gold after winning the 100 backstroke. This was followed by 200 freestyle with the best time set by hungarian Laura Veres in 1'59"03. After taking bronze in 100 at the start of the day, italian Simone Cerasuolo swam the best time in 50 breaststroke by 27"61.

Podiums of the third day 

Men's 100m breaststroke
1. Volodymyr Lisovets' (Ukr) 1'00''28
2. Aleksas Savickas (Ltu) 1'01''29
3. Simone Cerasuolo (Ita) 1'01''56

Women's 100m backstroke
1. Erika Gaetani (Ita) 1'00''65
2. Mary-Ambre Moluh (Fra) 1'00''93
2. Katie Shanahan (Gbr) 1'00''93

Men's 200m medley
1. Berke Saka (Tur) 2'00''04
2. Vadym Naumenko (Ukr) 2'00''65
3. Cedric Buessing (Ger) 2'01''84

 Women's 200m butterfly
1. Anastasiia Markova (Rus) 2'08''41 CR
2. Lana Pudar (Bih) 2'09''59
3. Lucie Delmas (Fra) 2'10''42

Men's 100m freestyle
1. David Popovici (Rou) 47''30 WJ-EJ-CR
2. Edward Mildred (Gbr) 48''77
3. Mateusz Chowaniec (Pou) 49''37

Mixed 4x100 medley
1. Russia 3'50''25
Aleksei Tkachev 54''84, Georgii Glazunov 1'01''86, Daria Klepikova 58''89, Daria Tatarinova 54''66
2. Great Britain 3'51''48
Katie Shanahan 1'01''75, Harvey Freeman 1'02''62, Edward Mildred 52''14, Davis Evelyn 54''97
3. Ukraine 3'54''03
Oleksandr Zheltyakov 54''44, Volodymyr Lisovets' 1'01''55, Viktoriya Kostromina 1'01''62, Karyna Snitko 56''42

Shown below the best results of the third day's semi-finals

Men's 100m butterfly
Josif Miladinov (Rus) 51''86

Women's 200m breaststroke
Justine Delmas (Fra) 2'25''12

Men's 50m backstroke
Ksawery Masiuk (Pol) 25''21

Women's 200m freestyle
Laura Veres (Hun) 1'59''03

Men's 50m breaststroke
Simone Cerasuolo (Ita) 27''61

Credit Photo Andrea Masini / DBM

Finals day 3. Flash quotes

Below the statements of the winners and the best athletes of the third day of the 47th European Junior Championships, in Rome.

Men's 100m breaststroke - Final
Gold medalist. Volodymyr Lisovets' (Ukr) 1'00"28 pp: I am satisfied with my race. I felt a little weighted in the water but in the end it went well. It is my second international experience so I am happy with the result. Unfortunately I could not visit the city due to Covid restrictions, but this pool is wonderful.
Bronze medalist. Simone Cerasuolo (Ita) 1'01"56: I am not satisfied, I hoped to swim faster. In the water I felt tired but I still have the 50m semifinal and the medley mixed relay to do.

Women's 100m backstroke - Final
Gold medalist. Erika Gaetani (Ita) 1'00"65 pp: I have been aiming for victory since two years ago, after the silver medal. I wanted to win today and I knew I could do it. I am hoping for a pass to next year's European Championship here in Rome. I am happy to have honored the name of my region, Puglia.

Men's 200m individual medley - Final
Gold medalist. Berke Saka (Tur) 2'00"04 pp: After this medal I can focus on Tokyo. The training is very tough but I am happy to compete in Olympic Games with great champions. I am swimming in this beautiful pool for the first time and I am very excited.

Women's 200m butterfly - Final
Gold medalist. Anastasiia Markova (Rus) 2'08"41 CR: I am very happy to have set the new Championships record. I didn't expect to do so well but I still have to work hard because I am wishing to get good results at the Olympics. This is my first international gold.

Men's 100m freestyle - Final
Gold medalist. David Popovici (Rou) 47"30 WJR-CR: I am excited by today's result. This time confirms that I am training well for Tokyo. I am not going to stop here. I am aiming for the Olympic podium. I am glad that my parents were here tonight and could see my result. It is important to me to receive the support of my family before and after the races. That's why I hope my parents will be able to be in Tokyo too.

Men's 1500m freestyle - Final
Gold medalist. Mert Kilavuz (Tur) 15'02"22 pp: I am grateful to my coach, it's my first gold medal. I still have a lot of work to do. I think Rome is the most beautiful city in the world. I would like to visit and discover it better in the future.

4x100m medley mixed - Final
Gold medalist. Russia (Aleksei A. Tkachev 54"84, Georgii Glazunov 1'01"86, Daria Klepikova 58"89, Daria Tatarinova 54"66) 3'50"25. Tatarinova: It is the first gold we won in this relay. The championships are well organized and we would like to come back to Rome for other races.

Photo Credits Andrea Masini / DBM

Heats day 3. Masiuk aims for double in back, Italy first in relay

Third day of the 47th European Junior Championships at the Stadio del Nuoto in Rome.
The heats started with 100 butterfly, which Englishman Edward Mildred swam with the first time of 52"75.
In women's 200m breaststroke Justine Delmas (Fra) is first in 2'28"50 and the russian Elena Bogomolova - silver medalist in 50m - is second (2'29"60). 
The ukrainian Kryzhanivs'kyy wins the heats of the 50 breaststroke, ahead of his teammate Volodymyr Lisovets' (third in 27"92) and the russian Georgii Glazunov (second in 27"82).
In the 200 freestyle the hungarian Laura Veres qualifies to afternoon semifinals with the first time (2'00"12).
Ksawery Masiuk confirm himself also in the 50 backstroke after gold medal in the 100, swimming in 25"28.
At the end, in the 4x100 medley mixed the italian team composed by Chiara Fontana, Benedetta Pilato, Ettore Nanetti, Samuele Congia done the first time in 3'54"64. 

Shown below the best results of the heats.

Men's 100m butterfly
1. Edward Mildred (Gbr) 52"75

Women's 200m breaststroke 
1. Justine Delmas (Fra) 2'28"50

Men's 50m breaststroke
1. Rostyslav Kryzhanivs'kyy (Ukr) 27"57

Women's 200m freesyle
1. Laura Veres (Hun) 2'00"12

Men's 50m backstoke
1. Ksawery Masiuk (Pol) 25"28

4x100m medley Mixed 
1. Italy (Chiara Fontana 1'02"80, Benedetta Pilato 1'06"58, Ettore Nanetti 54"70, Samuele Congia 50"56) 3'54"64

Photo Credits Andrea Masini / DBM 

Tuncel gold and junior european record on 800 freestyle

Six finals in second afternoon of the 47th European Junior Swimming Championships at Stadio del Nuoto in Rome. 
Polish Ksawey Masiuk won the first of them, the 100 backstroke, with time of 53''91, followed by Ukrainian Oleksandr Zheltyakov on 53''98 and Russian Aleksei Tkachev, who took in third position on 54''34.
The 100 freestyle if of Daria Klepikova that won in 54''75; the silver medal went to her teammate Daria Tatarinova in 55''12 and the bronze to British Evelyn Davis in 55''25.
Instead on 50 butterfly win the Bulgarian Josif Miladinov with 23''59; on the podium the Germanian Tobias Schulrath, in 23''72, and Czech Daniel Gracik, in 23''79, too.
Benedetta Pilato has no rivals in the 50 breaststroke confirming the title she won in Kazan in 2019. The 16-year-old  won in 30''13, beating Elena Bogomolova, from Russia, in 30''68 and Estonian Eneli Jefimova in 30''91. Pilato is European champion, vice world champion and world record holder in 29''30.
Lots of excitement from the 800 freestyle. The gold was won by Turkish Merve Tuncel with a European record of 8'21''91, which cancelled out the 8'22''01 set by the magical Ajna Kesely. Other medals went to her teammate Beril Boecekler in 8'33''52 and Italian Giulia Vetrano, who took bronze with a personal best of 8'35''84.
The daily programme ended with the mixed 4x100 freestyle relay. Russian team, composed by Vladislav Reznichenko (49''61), Danil Kosenkov (50''41), Daria Tatarinova (54''56) and Daria Klepikova (55''13), won in 3'29''71; Matteo Oppioli (50''25), Davide Dalla Costa (49''12), Matilde Biagiotti (56''07) and Viola Petrini (56''26), from Italian team, took silver in 3'31''70; bronze was won by the Hungarian team, with Daniel Meszaros (50''42), Boldizsar Magda (50''48), Nikoletta Padar (55''49) and Panna Ugrai (55''46) in 3'31''85.
Semifinals. David Popovici confirmed himself as the fastest in the 100 freestyle. The Romanian 16-year-old, who had set the junior world record (47''56) in the first lap of the 4x100 relay finished with a championship record of 48''08. Russian Anastasia Markova was the fastest in the 200 individual medley in 2'09''85, the only one of the semi-finalists to go under 2'10. Best time in the 100 breaststroke for Simone Cerasuolo. The 18-year-old, the only one to go under 1'01 in the afternoon, swam in 1'00''89, not far from his personal best done in the morning (1'00''78). The fastest time in the 100 backstroke was Russian's Aleksandra Kurilkina in 1'01''18, five hundredths ahead of Britain's Katie Shanahan, gold medalist in the 400 medley on Tuesday, who finished in 1'01''23. At the end of the programme, Turkish Berke Saka set the best time in the 200 individual medley in 2'01''11.

Podiums of the second day 

 Men's 100m backstroke
1. Ksawery Masiuk (Pol) 53''91
2. Oleksandr Zheltyakov (Ukr) 53''98
3. Aleksei Tkachev (Rus) 54''34

 Women's 100m freestyle
1. Daria Klepikova (Rus) 54''75
2. Daria Tatarinova (Rus) 55''12
3. Evelyn Davis (Gbr) 55''25

Men's 50m butterfly
1. Josif Mladinov (Bul) 23''59
2. Tobias Schulrath (Ger) 23''72
3. Daniel Gracik (Cze) 23''79

Women's 50m breaststroke
1. Benedetta Pilato (Ita) 30''13
2. Elena Bogomolova (Rus) 30''68
3. Eneli Jefimova (Est) 30''91

Women's 800m freestyle
1. Merve Tuncel (Tur) 8'21''91 EJ
2. Beril Boecekler (Tur) 8'33''52
3. Giulia Vetrano (Ita) 8'35''84

Mixed 4x100 freestyle
1. Russia 3'29''71
Vladislav Reznichenko 49''61, Danil Kosenkov 50''41, Daria Tatarinova 54''56, Daria Klepikova 55''13
2. Italy 3'31''70
Matteo Oppioli 50''25, Davide Dalla Costa 49''12, Matilde Biagiotti 56''07, Viola Petrini 56''26
3. Hungary 3'31''85
Daniel Meszaros 50''42, Boldizsar Magda 50''48, Nikoletta Padar 55''49, Panna Ugrai 55''46

Shown below the best results of the second day's semi-finals

Men's 100m freestyle
David Popovici (Rou) 48''08 CR

Women's 200m butterfly
Anastasia Markova (Rus) 2'09''85

Men's 100m breaststroke
Simone Cerasuolo (Ita) 1'00''89

Women's 100m backstroke
Aleksandra Kurilkina (Rus) 1'01''18

Men's 200m individual medley
Berke Saka (Tur) 2'01''11

Credit Photo Andrea Masini / DBM

Finals day 2. Flash quotes

Below the statements of the winners and the best athletes of the second day of the 47th European Junior Championships, in Rome.
 
Men's 100m Backstroke - Final
Gold Medalist. Ksawery Masiuk (Pol) 53"91 pp: Obviusly I'm very happy for the result because it's the first time that I swam in this pool. It's nice to see and hear the audience in the Stadium. I'm not very hopeful, but i hope to be selected for Tokyo.

Women's 100m Freestyle - Final
Gold Medalist. Daria Klapikova (Rus) 54"75 pp: I'm happy of my race. I really like Rome.

Men's 50m Butterfly - Final
Gold Medalist. Josif Miladinov (Bul) 23"59: The race went well, considering that the physical form is not best. I hope to finish the Europeans with better results. Then swimming here, in Rome, is a beautiful experiience. It's one of the most comfortable pools.

Women's 800 Freestyle - Final
Gold Medalist. Merve Tuncel (Tur) 8'21"91 EJ: I confirmed the medal won at the last European Championships. I'm very happy for the medal and the record. This is the first time that i swim here. The trainings for Tokyo are going very well.
Bronze Medalist. Giulia Vetrano (Ita) 8'35"84 pp: I improved my personal best of five seconds. I could have swum faster, but I still made the time for bronze. I found my opponent Tuncel who I had already met at the Comen Cup in Bulgaria in 2019. In ten days I'm going to Tokyo Olympics and I hope to qualify the relay for the final together with my teammates.

Heats day 2. Russian team first in mixed freestyle relay

Immediately a confirm in the second morning of heats of the 47th European Junior Championships at the swimming stadium in Rome. In the 100 freestyle the new junior record holder  (47"56 in the first fraction of the 4x100 relay yesterday), the Romanian David Popovici, qualifies with the first time (49"50) to the semifinals this afternoon. In the women's 100 backstroke, Spain's Carmen Weiler Sastre set the best time in 1'01"37, while Italian Simone Cerasuolo is the best of the morning in the 100 breaststroke, setting his new personal best in 1'00"78. The Russian Anastasiia Markova dominates the 200 butterfly, and accesses with the first time to the semifinals (2'10"63) ahead of the French Delmas and the Hungarian Csulak. Saka Berke (Tur), who will also race in the 100 backstroke final tonight, advances to the afternoon round of the 200 individual medley with the first access time, in 2'01"57. Russian team is first in the mixed freestyle reley with 3'33"34 and is the favourite in tonight's final. In the last race Aleksandr Stapanov (Rus) closed the morning's batteries swimming 15'15"59 in the 1500m freestyle.

Shown below the best results of the heats.

Men's 100m freestyle
1. David Popovici (Rou) 49"50

Women's 100m backstroke
1. Carmen Weiler Sastre (Esp) 1'01"37

Men's 100m breaststroke
1. Simone Cerasuolo (Ita) 1'00"78 pp (prec. 1'01"17)

Women's 200m butterfly
1. Anastasiia Markova (Rus) 2'10"63

Men's 200m individual medley
1. Berke Saka (Tur) 2'01"57

Mixed 4x100m freestyle
1. Russia (Levchenko 51"48, Nazipov 50"91, Trofimova 55"13, Kurilkina 55"82)

Men's 1500m freestyle
1. Aleksandr Stapanov (Rus) 15'15"59

Credit Photo Andrea Masini / DBM

Popovic marks the junior world record on 100 freestyle