European Championships, Day Seven Prelims: Lukas Märtens Grabs Last Berth In 400 Free, Marchand In Lane 6
Lukas Märtens made the cut for the 400 free final by a hair’s breadth on the final day of prelims at the European Championships in Paris.
Oliver Klemet led the way ahead of 16-year-old Oliver Papai with Märtens grabbing the final berth after finishing fourth in the last prelim from which Leon Marchand also progressed.
Maya Werner head the women’s 400 free with Germany teammate Isabel Gose booking lane five alongside her.
Italy led the women in the medley relay with the NAB heading the men’s qualifier.
The session ended with a second swim-off in the women’s 50m breaststroke after Kotryna Teterevkova and Ralina Giliazova couldn’t be separated in the semi and then the first swim-off which ended with both women going 30.43. Neutral Athlete Giliazova eventually prevailed against the Lithuanian.
Women’s 400 Free
German women occupied three of the top five slots led by Maya Werner (4:05.40) ahead of 2022 champion Isabel Gose (4:06.37). Linda Roth posted the fifth fastest time of the morning in 4:08.42 but won’t progress under the two-per-nation rule.
Francisca Martins of Portugal was third through in 4:08.01, two years after bronze at Belgrade 2024, with Quadarella confirming her place in the final in 4:08.07.
Also through: Kseniia Misharina (4:09.78), Sarah Dumont (4:11.03) and Artemis Vasilaki (4:11.70) with 2024 silver medallist and 200 free champion Barbora Seemanova clinching the eighth and final spot in 4:12.05.
Men’s 400 Free
The final is set to be a nailbiting thriller if the prelims were anything to go by.
The hard action started in the fifth of seven heats when Oliver Papai of Hungary – the youngest in the entire field with a December 2009 birthday – posted 3:45.32 ahead of Sauveur Cristofini, the November 2009-born Frenchman going 3:46.98.
Oliver Klemet and Johannes Liebmann lined up in the next heat where the former – who won 1500 bronze on Saturday night – posted 3:45.22 ahead of Victor Johansson (3:46.14) and Zalan Sarkany (3:46.17) who returned to the pool after winning 1500 free silver.
You didn’t need to look at the start sheets to know who’d arrived on poolside for the final prelim as Leon Marchand took his place behind the lane two blocks. The Frenchman went out fast and traded the lead with Märtens in the opening 300m as the cries of Léon! Léon! rose to a crescendo.
However, Lucas Henveaux and Bulgarian Peter Mitsin got in on the act down the final 50 with the Belgian taking top spot in 3:45.78 ahead of Marchand (3:45.85), Mitsin (3:46.28) and Märtens (3:46.33).
There was a long wait for the world record-holder before his place in the final was confirmed as he clinched the last spot with Cristofini the first reserve in 3:46.98. Liebmann posted the 11th-fastest time overall and was the fourth German home.
Qualifiers:
3:45.22: Oliver Klemet
3:45.32: Oliver Papai
3:45.78: Lucas Henveaux
3:45.85: Leon Marchand
3:46.14: Victor Johansson
3:46.17: Zalan Sarkany
3:46.28: Petar Mitsin
3:46.33: Lukas Märtens
Women’s 4×100 Medley Relay
Sara Curtis led the Italian quartet off in 58.75 as they booked lane four in 3:57.11, 0.01 ahead of Germany who posted 3:57.12.
Angharad Evans split 1:04.67 on the breaststroke leg as Great Britain went 3:57.77 with France, the Neutral Athletes, Netherlands – with Marrit Steenbergen going 1:08 on breaststroke – Ireland – featuring a 1:04.75 breaststroke split by Mona McSharry – and Spain all progressing.
Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay
Pavel Samusenko led the NAB off in 52.58 as the quartet booked lane four in 3:30.81 alongside Great Britain (3:31.19).
Italy – featuring 100m breaststroke champion Nicolo Martinenghi – clocked 3:31.62 ahead of Germany (3:32.18).
Also through were France, Spain – featuring a 47.10 anchor by Luka Hoek – Denmark and Switzerland, featuring a 49.70 fly split by Noè Ponti.
