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Rupprath and De Bruijn Top Performers, Germany Top Team
Dec 16, 2001 - Nick J. Thierry
ANTWERP - The annual European Short Course Championships came to a fitting climax as 12 events had their final on this last day of the four day competition.
As top women's performer Inge de Bruijn (NED) said it best "The atmosphere was truly fantastic, and my race in the 50 free was very exciting and thrilling. I was ready for the battle against Therese Alshammar (SWE) and Johanna Sjoberg (SWE)."
The winning time was 23.89 with Alshammar 24.09 and Sjoberg 24.61. It was the highest rated performance of the four day competition for de Bruijn, worth 1029 points earning her 6,000 DM. She also picked up an additional 1,000 DM for her 100 freestyle win two days ago.
The competition was fast with three World, a world best relay, 13 European in 11 events, and 30 championship records in 23 events.
The top men's performance was the world record swim in the 100 fly by Thomas Rupprath (GER) of 50.26 worth 1027 points and 6,000 DM. He added another 4,000 DM for his win in the 100 backstroke with 50.99, the third best men's performance.
Up to seven performances for men and women shared in 54,000 DM.
Top Newcomers Awards for Male and Female, chosen by the attending media each won 3,000 DM. They were Robin Francis, 19, (GBR) for his second place in the 400 IM with 4:08.49 a national record, and Anja Carnan, 16 (SLO) was won the female selection, as she won the 400 free yesterday with 4:02.72 and was second in the 800 free earlier.
Germany won the competition both in medal totals 21 (8-8-5) and in team points with 226. Sweden, second in medals with 17 (7-4-6) but only third in points with 179. Great Britain was second in points with 186 and a total of 13 medals (2-6-5) for a strong team effort.
Highlights for the final day:
Peter van den Hoogenband (NED) left nobody in doubt about his 200 freestyle. He was under pressure to win something here, after missing the gold in the 50 and 100. He took off and split (23.95, 50.07, 1:15.54) and his final time of 1:42.46 was a new European record, bettering his old record of 1:44.00 from 1998. "It was what I needed," van de Hoogenband said. "I was looking to win something here."
Thomas Rupprath (GER) and Stev Theloke (GER) went first and second in the 100 backstroke. Rupprath with 50.99 and Theloke 51.92. "I was aiming at the world record," Rupprath said. "My legs were too tired and I was ill a week ago, probably that's why I missed it."
Max Prodopigora (AUT) and Ian Edmond (GBR) battled for most of the eight lengths of the 200 breaststroke. Prodoprigora touched in 2:07.79 with Edmond in 2:08.03. "Not bad," the Austrian said. "I have been ill for four weeks and the fast start didn't hurt me too much at the finish."
It was small consolation for Lars Frolander (SWE) who beat Mark Foster (GBR) in the 50 fly 23.07 to 23.11. "I expected to win," Frolander said, "but the time is diappointing."
Peter Mankoc (SLO) won the 100 individual medley by a body length but didn't improve on world record time from the semis yesterday. His winning time was 52.94 over a second ahead of second place. The biggest winning margin in a 100 event at the competition.
The Ukraine won the men's 4x50 free relay in a European record of 1:26.09 just 2/10ths off the world best.
Martina Moravcova (SVK) put on another virtuose performance with double wins in virtually back-to-back swims. First up was the 200 freestyle where she bettered the European record with 1:54.74 then she added the 100 butterfly with a 57.20 a championship record. "These have been very good championships for me," she said in a classic understatement. She won three golds, (200 free, 100 IM, 100 fly) and a silver (100 free). Slovakia's four medals were by Moravcova.
Sarah Price (GBR) was out to take-back her world record in the 200 backstroke which she established in August with 2:04.44 only to have it bettered three weeks ago in the USA to 2:03.62. She was ahead of the record pace until the 150 but lacked the finish and won with 2:04.59, a championship record.
Nicole Hetzer (GER) uspet Yana Kloochkova (UKR) in her best event the 400 IM. Hetzer took the lead after backstroke and had the race in the bag after the 300. Her final time of 4:29.46 was an European record with Klochkova in 4:31.31 under the 12-year old mark of 4:31.36 from 1989.
"I can hardly believe it," Hetzer said. "It really is a big surprise and it went so fast, unbelievable. I was hoping for a national record. I knew Klochkova's weak stroke was breaststroke so I put on the pressure.
The splits:
| Hetzer | 1:02.72 | 2:09.03 | 3:28.00 | 4:29.46 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klochkova | 1:01.82 | 2:09.89 | 3:28.73 | 4:31.31 |
| Rating Summary of Top Performances | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | |||||
| 1) | 1027 | 50.26 | 100 fly M | F | RUPPRATH Thomas,77,GER |
| 2) | 1025 | 52.63 | 100 IM M | S | MANKOC Peter,78,SLO |
| 3) | 1019 | 50.99 | 100 back M | F | RUPPRATH Thomas,77,GER |
| 4) | 1018 | 50.58 | 100 fly M | F | FROLANDER Lars,74,SWE |
| 5) | 1017 | 52.94 | 100 IM M | F | MANKOC Peter,78,SLO |
| 6) | 1015 | 1:42.46 | 200 free M | F | vdHOOGENBAND Pieter,78,NED |
| 7) | 1013 | 21.15 | 50 free M | F | NYSTRAND Stefan,81,SWE |
| 8) | 1012 | 26.71 | 50 breast M | F | LISOGOR Oleg,79,UKR |
| 9) | 1010 | 26.75 | 50 breast M | F | WARNECKE Mark,70,GER |
| 10) | 1006 | 50.99 | 100 fly M | S | FROLANDER Lars,74,SWE |
| 11) | 1005 | 26.85 | 50 breast M | F | MEW Darren,79,GBR |
| 13) | 1003 | 21.31 | 50 free M | S | NYSTRAND Stefan,81,SWE |
| 1003 | 23.13 | 50 fly M | S | FROLANDER Lars,74,SWE | |
| 15) | 1001 | 1:52.93 | 200 fly M | F | HICKMAN James,76,GBR |
| Women | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1) | 1029 | 23.89 | 50 free W | F | DE BRUIJN Inge,73,NED |
| 2) | 1023 | 57.75 | 100 back W | F | HLAVACKOVA Ilona,77,CZE |
| 3) | 1023 | 2:04.59 | FBK0200S | F | PRICE Sarah,79,GBR |
| 4) | 1021 | 27.06 | 50 back W | F | HLAVACKOVA Ilona,77,CZE |
| 5) | 1017 | 24.09 | 50 free W | F | ALSHAMMAR Therese,77,SWE |
| 6) | 1016 | 4:29.46 | 400 IM W | F | HETZER Nicole,79,GER |
| 7) | 1011 | 52.65 | 100 free W | F | DE BRUIJN Inge,73,NED |
| 1011 | 1:54.74 | 200 free W | F | MORAVCOVA Martina,76,SVK | |
| 1011 | 57.20 | 100 fly W | F | MORAVCOVA Martina,76,SVK | |
| 10) | 1010 | 30.56 | 50 breast W | F | IGELSTROM Emma,80,SWE |
| 11) | 1007 | 25.73 | 50 fly W | F | ALSHAMMAR Therese,77,SWE |
| 12) | 1006 | 4:31.31 | 400 IM W | F | KLOCHKOVA Yana,82,UKR |
| 13) | 1004 | 25.78 | 50 fly W | F | KAMMERLING Anna K.80,SWE |
| 14) | 1003 | 52.95 | 100 free W | S | DE BRUIJN Inge,73,NED |
| 1003 | 30.72 | 50 breast W | S | IGELSTROM Emma,80,SWE | |
| 1003 | 8:17.20 | 800 free W | F | RIGAMONTI Flavia,81,SUI | |
| MEDAL TOTALS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTAL | |
| GER | 8 | 8 | 5 | 21 |
| SWE | 7 | 4 | 6 | 17 |
| UKR | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| NED | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| SLO | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| SVK | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| GBR | 2 | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| CZE | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| ITA | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| AUT | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| CRO | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| SUI | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| POL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| FIN | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| RUS | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| FRA | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| DEN | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| ISR | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | 38 | 39 | 115 | |
