John Shortt Sets 200 Back Meet Record En-Route to Double as Euro Meet Concludes
John Shortt set a 200m backstroke meet record en-route to his second title as the 2026 Euro Meet wrapped up in Luxembourg.
The Irishman dominated the race to take the title in 1:57.84 and slice 0.19 from the previous meet mark of 1:58.03 set by Yohann Ndoye Brouard in January 2024.
The 18-year-old was the only man to break two minutes with Mathys Chouchaoui second in 2:01.16 and Luke Greenbank – the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist – third in 2:01.23.
It has been a fine meet for Shortt, who won the 100/200 double at the 2025 World Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania. He began his campaign with gold in the 100 back in 54.48 which he followed up with third in the 50 (25.52) before his 200 exploits.
Imoudu Completes Breaststroke Double; D’Ambrosio Dominates 100 Free
Melvin Imoudu: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
Melvin Imoudu and Caspar Corbeau couldn’t be separated at halfway in the 100m breaststroke with both men turning in 27.99. A second 50 of 31.86 propelled the German into the wall in 59.85 to complete the 50/100 double.
Filip Nowacki, the world junior champion, was eighth in a 10-man field at the turn. However, a second 50 of 31.68 saw him pick off his rivals to finish second in 1:00.16. It was his second silver in as many days following his runner-up spot behind Corbeau over 200m. Corbeau was third on Sunday in 1:00.22 to add to his 200 gold and 50 bronze.
Two-time Olympic relay champion Matt Richards fired off a 48.51 prelim in the 100 free but the Welshman didn’t appear for the final which featured men who’ve shone on the global and European junior scene.
Carlos D’Ambrosio took the title, splitting 23.08/25.28 for a clear victory in 48.36. The Italian won the 100/200 free double amid a seven-medal haul at last year’s world juniors in Otopeni. World and European junior relay medallist Gabriel Shepherd came from 10th at halfway to pick off the field with a 25.13 second 50 to touch in 49.16, 0.03 ahead of Mateusz Chowaniec (49.19).
A 28.30 second 50 propelled Theodora Taylor past Grace Davison to the 100 free title. The 16-year-old was the only woman to break 55secs in 54.85 to add 100 gold to her third place in the 50 free. Davison, winner of the dash, stopped the clock at 55.06 with Leah Tigert third in 55.53.
Taylor, of Swim Wales, won bronze behind Rylee Erisman at last year’s World Junior Championships as well as silver in the 50. She turns 17 in March and is one of a group of young British women, along with the likes of Amalie Smith, Blythe Kinsman and Amelie Blocksidge, who have made waves on the global and continental junior stage.
Sztandera Emerges with Gold in 100 Breast Tussle; Colbert Completes Double
The women’s 100 breast was a tight affair with the first three home separated by 0.08. Anna Morgan of Edinburgh University led at the turn before Dominika Sztandera came past to take the win in 1:08.07, 0.01 ahead of Kara Hanlon (1:08.08) and Morgan (1:08.15). Tes Schouten continued her return to competition following health issues with fourth in 1:08.19.
Freya Colbert completed the 200/400 double with a 4:10.59 victory in the longer race. The Briton was followed by Helena Rosendahl Bach with the 200 fly champion clocking 4:14.98 as Sophie Benn took third (4:17.17).
Alessandro Ragaini took the men’s 400 free in 3:50.66 ahead of Welsh duo Tyler Melbourne-Smith (3:51.21) and Keiran Bird (3:54.14).
Duhamel Edges Smith for IM Title
Cyrielle Duhamel: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Cyrielle Duhamel won the women’s 200IM title by 0.02 from Amelie Smith. The Frenchwoman was almost a second ahead of the Briton at halfway with Smith in fourth and while she ate into the deficit, Duhamel took the touch in 2:12.68 to 2:12.70. Noelle Benkler was third in 2:15.99.
It was a reversal of the finish in the 400IM where 16-year-old European junior champion and world silver medallist Smith took the title with Duhamel second.
The race for gold in the 200 back became a two-woman tussle between Lou-Anne Guiton and Laura Bernat.
Bernat was ahead at the first turn before the Frenchwoman moved to the head of the field on the second 50, maintaining her lead to touch in 2:11.22 to add 200 back to 100 silver. Guiton was second in 2:11.53 with a gap of more than five seconds to Olive Rogers in third (2:16.67).
Jack Cassin of Swim Ireland came from third at the final turn to take the men’s 200IM in 2:02.68, 0.09 ahead of Finn Kemp (2:02.77) with Vadym Naumenko – who’d led at halfway – third in 2:03.63.
