Mie Ø. Nielsen saved the day for Denmark, well and truly. Yuliya Efimova broke the women’s 200 meter breaststroke world record, Nielsen the women’s 100 backstroke European record, Russia an (obligatory?) world record in the mixed 4×50 medley, and Sarah Sjöström a championships record in the 50 fly.
Women’s 800 freestyle
Much to the home crowd’s delight, Lotte Friis went out fast and led by 1 growing to 3 seconds the first few hundredth meters, before Spain’s Mireia Belmonte started to reel her in, passing her at about 550 meters. Belmonte gold in 8:05.16, Lotte Friis silver in 8:08.68, and the Netherlands’ Sharon Rouwendaal bronze in 8:14.24.
Men’s 400 individual medley
Quite the race, this one, Hungary’s David Verraszto taking charge the first couple of hundreth meters, but Israel’s Gal Nevo then passing him at 350 before Verraszto somehow found the strength again to win in 4:03.48, Nevo second in 4:03.50 and Italy’s Federico Turrini third in 4:03.94.
Women’s 200 breaststroke
Again an early charge from the Danish favorite, Rikke Møller Pedersen leading by up to one second at the 100 before Russia’s Yuliya Efimova took over and won the race in a new World record time of 2:14.39, Pedersen second in 2:15.21 and Russia’s Vitalina Simonova third in 2:18.88.
Men’s 100 breaststroke
Hungary’s Dani Gyurta put his foot down here and led from start to finish, to win in 57.08, Germany’s Marco Koch second in 57.14 and Slovenia’s Damir Dugonjic bronze in 57.24.
Women’s 100 freestyle
Great Britain’s Francesca Halsall charged to lead with a time of 25.06 after the first 50 meters, but then blew up, the Netherland’s Ranomi Kromowidjojo taking the gold medal in 51.78, Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström silver in 51.99 and Belarus’ Aliaksandra Herasimenia bronze in 52.34. Home favorite Jeanette Ottesen was fourth in 52.46.
Men’s 100 freestyle semifinals
Italy’s Marco Orsi leads in 46.64, Russia’s Vladimir Morozov second in 46.66 and France’s Fabien Gilot third in 46.91, Russia’s Daniil Izotov also under 47 seconds in 46.96.
Women’s 100 backstroke
The event of the night, at least judging by the reaction of the spectators, when youngster Mie Ø. Nielsen blasted the 100 meter breaststroke in a tough race with Czech swimmer Simona Baumrtova to win in a new European record of 55.99, Baumrtova second in 56.28 and Daryna Zevina bronze in 56.94.
Men’s 100 butterfly
Germany’s Steffen Deibler took it out hard at seemed for the uninitiated as the probable winner, until he lost steam at the very end, Russia’s Evgeny Korotyshkin taking gold in 49.68, French swimmer Jeremy Stravius silver in 50.09 and Deibler bronze in 50.23.
Women’s 100 individual medley semifinals
Hungary’s world record holder Katinka Hosszu leads the field in 58.37, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte second in 58.78 and Israel’s Amit Ivri third in 58.87.
Women’s 50 butterfly
A tight race between Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström and Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen, Sjöström taking the gold in a new championships record of 24.90, Jeanette Ottesen the silver in 25.03 and the Netherlands’ Inge Dekker the bronze in 25.29.
Men’s 50 backstroke
Having sneaked into the final with a 7th place in the semifinals at the beginning of the night, France’s Jeremy Stravius won in 23.19, Germany’s Christian Diener second in 23.38 and Belarus’ Pavel Sankovich bronze in 23.45.
Mixed 4×50 medley
A fun race this one, especially at the end when Russia’s Vladimir Morozov was akin to the roadrunner in the cartoons, racing past the ladies to secure the gold medal and world record for Russia, 1:37.63 to silver winner Germany’s 1:39.32 and very happy bronze winners Czech Republic in 1:39.54.
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