The men’s 200 free and women’s 200 breaststroke are among the prelims that await on day four of the European Championships in Parius.
David Popovici is the defending champion in the 200 free and returns to the pool the morning after his shuddering 46.56 victory over 100m. The Romanian won the 100/200 double at the previous two editions in 2022 and 2024 and is halfway to the treble treble here in Paris.
The two-per-nation rule will play its part this morning with four British men – Tom Dean, James Guy, Matt Richards and Jack McMillan – were set to line up but only two able to progress.
Angharad Evans returns after becoming the first British woman to win the 100m breaststroke to take on the 200,heats; world record-holder Kliment Kolesnikov goes in the 50 back; Simona Quadarella and Isabel Gose renew acquaintance in the 1500 free; Roos Vanotterdijk sets about the defence of the 100 fly and the men’s 4×100 free squads do battle.
Men’s 200 Free
The start lists named four British men – all of them towing Olympic and world relay titles – but Matt Richards didn’t appear in the seventh prelim where he was due to go alongside James Guy.
Guy guaranteed his progression in 1:45.40 leaving Jack McMillan and Tom Dean to battle it out for the second spot. Dean, winner of the Olympic title in 2021, posted 1:46.48 before McMillan went 0.12 quicker to progress in 1:46.36.
Christian Gieffing became the first Austrian man to break 1:45 when he topped prelims in 1:44.96 followed by Guy.
Sauveur Cristofini was third through, the 16-year-old posting 1:45.93, with Popovici next in 1:46.06.
