The European Short Course Championships in Lublin began with the first batteries.
The twenty-third edition of the European Short Course Swimming Championships opened in Lublin, Poland, where until next Sunday, thirty blue and blue athletes will take to the pool, with as many as seven debutants.
In the morning the first batteries were held, starting with those of the 400 sl, in which Simona Quadarella and Anna Chiara Mascolo got a pass for the final with the second and sixth times respectively; instead, 14-year-old Alessandra Mao, the youngest of the expedition, was eliminated. Same fate for Marco De Tullio among the men.
In the batteries of the 50 butterfly, Silvia Di Pietro and Sara Curtis, who were fourth and sixth in times, reached the semifinals, as opposed to Costanza Cocconcelli and Paola Borrelli. Passes obtained among the men for Simone Stefanì with the fifth and Michele Busa with the eighth time. Out went Francesco Lazzari and Federico Burdisso.
The place in the 100 breaststroke semifinal was taken by Simone Cerasuolo and Nicolò Martinenghi, leaving out Ludovico Blu Art Viberti and Gabriele Mancini. In the women’s breaststroke, Irene Burato hit the semifinals with a ninth-place time tally. Two Italians also advanced in the 200 backstroke, Lorenzo Mora and Christian Bacico.
The event stipulates that only two swimmers per nation can enter the semifinals, a rule that resulted in the exclusion of many of the Azzurri despite favorable chronometric records. Tonight from 7 p.m. the first medals will be awarded, including those in the men×men’s and women’s 50 sl, with Italy qualified and therefore present in both.
