Brits, Swedes highlight women’s relays
EUROPEAN AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022
Great Britain have become the team to beat in the women’s relays on the European stage, coming off the back of a sweep of all three at the 2020 edition held last May.
On the international stage, the European women have not been very competitive in recent years as Australia, USA and Canada have been dominant in collecting the medals.
Sweden had the best women’s relay among European countries at the world championships, coming fourth in the medley, while Great Britain finished fifth in the 400 free and Hungary was fifth in the 800 free.
But none of that matters at the Euros, as the nations will go head-to-head with every event up for grabs.
WOMEN’S 4X100 FREESTYLE RELAY
- World record: 3:29.69, Australia – 2021 Olympics
- European record: 3:31.72, Netherlands – WC 2009
- EC record: 3:33.62, Netherlands – 2008
- European Champions 2020: Great Britain, 3:34.17
The British are the clear favorites in the 4×100 free, as they have three of the top five seeds in the women’s 100 free in the form of Anna Hopkins, Freja Andersson and Lucy Hope.
All three swam in the World Cup relay where they finished fifth in 3:35.43, well clear of the second best European country (Netherlands, 3:38.18).
The fourth member of the relay in Budapest, Abbie Woodwill be missing in Rome, so we’ll probably see them turn to Medi Harriswhich exceeded Isabella Hindley in terms of freestyle splits at the Commonwealth Games.
The Netherlands have been a gold medal threat in this race for most of the past two decades – the Dutch have won a medal in eight of the last 10 editions of the European Championships – largely due to the presence of freestyle legends Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Femke Heemskerk. Both have recently retired, leaving the team with a weaker squad than in previous years, although still one of the best on the continent.
Marrit Steenbergen had a career-best swim leading off the Dutch relay at Worlds (53.41), and Tessa Giele, Kim Busch and Valerie van Roon give them a solid quartet to work with, although it’s hard to see them being much faster than 3:38. Kira Toussaint may also be an option depending on her from.
To the final in Budapest was also Hungary, led by a couple of 16-year-old rising stars in the Nikoletta Padar and Dora Clouds. Fanni Gyurinovics and Petra Senanszky give them two sub-55 splits, and that could be all it takes to get on the podium.
France have two top legs in Marie Wattel and Charlotte Bonnetbut the depth drops after that.
For Italy, they have four swimmers this year between 54.6 and 55.1, led by Silvia di Pietroso we could see them in the 3:38 range and fight for a medal as well.
Sweden is a bit of a dark horse, too Sarah Sjostrom does not race the individual 100 free but may be the fastest split in this field by a country kilometer. Louise Hanson and Sophie Hanson also compete, and Sara Junevik will likely slip into fourth place. If Sjöström fires a lead of 52 in the middle, Sweden can cruise to the silver medal.
Slovenia flies under the radar but has two swimmers placed in the top eight of the 100 free with Janja Segel and Neza Klankar. They have that too Katja Fainwho split 54.8 in the relay last year, but they lack a strong fourth leg.
SwimSwam’s predictions
Rank | Country | 2022 Worlds Time (Finish) | 2021 Euro Finish |
1 | UK | 5th (3:35.43) | 1st |
2 | Sweden | N/A | 5th |
3 | Netherlands | 7th (3:38.18) | 2nd |
4 | Hungary | 8th (3:38.20) | 8th |
5 | Italy | N/A | 6th |
WOMEN’S 4X200 FREESTYLE RELAY
- World Record: 7:39.29, Australia – Commonwealth Games 2022
- European Record: 7:45.51, Great Britain – 2009 World Championships
- EC record: 7:50.53, Italy – 2014
- European Champions 2020: Great Britain, 7:53.15
The Brits cruised to a three-second victory last year in Budapest, and should be able to do so again.
However, we didn’t get to see them compete in the WC finals this year as they scratched after placing eighth in the preliminaries.
But they come with a stacked lineup headlined by Freja Anderssonwho finished fourth in the 200 free at Worlds and is favorite for gold in the individual event at the Euros.
Young Freya Colbert giving them a strong 1-2, having reset their best time to 1:57.85 at the Commonwealth Games, and Lucy Hope, Holly Hibbott and Tamryn Van Selm give them a few different options to fill out the final squad.
The best Euro team at the World Cup was Hungary, as well as without Katinka Hosszu (who has only raced this relay a handful of times in her career due to her busy schedule), posted a respectable 7:57.90 for fifth.
As mentioned above, Nikoletta Padar is a rising star and is a good bet for 1:57-high/1:58-low on a diversion leg. Dora Molnar is right there, and they will probably be joined Ajna Kesely and veteran Hornbill Kapas.
Italy has four swimmers seeded at 1:59 in the 200 free, so we should expect them right around 7:58. They no longer have that Federica Pellegrini to lean on, but should be in the mix for a top-five showing.
France placed fourth last year and returns a similar list led by Charlotte Bonnetthe number 2 seed in the individual race, and the Dutch are fooling around as well Marrit Steenbergen highlight that squad.
Poland placed sixth a year ago and are led by a 21-year-old Alexandra Polanskawho swam a best of 1:58.22 in June.
SwimSwam’s predictions
Rank | Country | 2022 Worlds Time (Finish) | 2021 Euro Finish |
1 | UK | 7:59.87 (8th heat, scratched final) | 1st |
2 | Hungary | 7:57.90 (5th) | 2nd |
3 | France | N/A | 4th |
4 | Italy | N/A | 3rd |
5 | Netherlands | N/A | N/A |
WOMEN’S 4X100 MEDLEY RELAY
- World Record: 3:50.40, USA – 2019 World Championships
- European record: 3:53.38, Russia – WC 2017
- EC record: 3:54.01, Great Britain – 2021
- European Champions 2020: Great Britain, 3:54.01
The entire Swedish team that finished fourth at the WC less than two months ago will compete in Rome, with Hanna Rosvall, Sophie Hanson, Louise Hanson and Sarah Sjostrom.
Given that their breast, fly and free leg are at or at least close to the fastest in the field in their respective 100-meter races, they are heavy favorites for gold.
Sophie Hanson is the top seed in the 100 breast, Louise Hanson is the second seed in the 100 fly, and Sjöström would be ranked first by one shot if she competed in the 100 free. Rosvall may only be 17th on the 100 back, but she is only second outside the top eight.
Great Britain were dominant in last year’s Europeans, winning by more than two seconds in 3:54.01, but that came with Kathleen Dawson blasting a European record of 58.08 in the women’s 100 backstroke on the lead-off leg.
They won’t have her in Rome – the best British backstroker is Medi Harriswho owns a best time of 59.24 from earlier this year. Imogen Clark, Laura Stephens and Freja Andersson are frontrunners to fill the remaining gaps, with last year’s breaststrokers Molly Renshaw choose not to compete.
We didn’t get to see what this relay could do at Worlds after they were DQed in the prelims, so we’ll see if they have what it takes to challenge the Swedes at Euros.
The Netherlands, Italy and France also have strong squads in the mix, with each team having the same swimmers available that led them to fifth, seventh and eighth place respectively at the world championships.
The Italians should specifically see an improvement over that relay in Budapest, as breaststrokers Benedetta Pilato had a poor split, 1:07 flat, after winning the individual 100 breast in 1:05.93.
SwimSwam’s predictions
Rank | Country | 2022 Worlds Time (Finish) | 2021 Euro Finish |
1 | Sweden | 3:55.96 (4th) | 4th |
2 | UK | DQ | 1st |
3 | Italy | 3:58.86 (7th) | 3rd |
4 | Netherlands | 3:57.24 (5th) | 5th |
5 | France | 3:59.94 (8th) | 10th |