European Championships, Budapest, Day 1 Finals:
400m freestyle men
Teenager Yannick Agnel (FRA) claimed the crown in 3:46.17, 0.13sec ahead of Paul Biedermann (GER), bronze to Gergo Kis (HUN) in 3:48.14.
Agnel was out first in 26.02, 0.51sec ahead of Biedermann. By 100m, the Frenchman was on 54.58, 0.07sec behind Nikita Lobintzev (RUS). From the 150m mark, the Frenchman never looked back (see splits below). The world champion and record holder of 2009, Biedermann held back until the 300m mark, came off the wall determined to put the heat on the young challenger ahead of him. The next 50m splits went 28.09 to 28.57 in Biedermann's favour but Agnel was not done yet, and while the German star produced the fastest homecoming split of the race, on 26.67, a 26.84 for the French European junior champion was enough, the crown his by 0.13sec. Lucky for some.
"It's just incredible," said Agnel, coached by Fabrice Pellerin in Nice. "I thought I'd have a good race but I never anticipated that. I knew he was coming back at me but I focussed on my technique and stayed strong." He looked sublime, his stroke unbroken. No muscle to speak of. More to come. His victory drew France level with the USSR on historic gold-medal count in the 400m free.
The speed of 2009 was understood but the headlines will reflect the surface: within minutes of the race Die Welt was running with "Biedermann wins only silver...". Only. Biedermann, graceful in defeat, just as he had been in victory, said of Agnel: "He deserved to win ... he led all the time." The world champion added: "The 400m is not my thing this year. But I'm happy with how I performed and very glad with the silver. I started out too slowly, perhaps, and left my late spurt too late."
Biedermann acknowledged his changed status as a result of last summer's sizzlers: "The public pressure is a new situation for me but I think I can handle it."
Immediately after the race in which he showed swimming intelligence, poise and pace, Agnel said: "Great! I wanted a perfect race for my first race at this level. The competition was tough throughout the whole race. We battled against each other. I only had an inkling that I might win."
The battle for bronze went to Kis after he swept through the ranks from 6th on the last length, the prize for him and the home crowd by 0.32sec over Lobintsev, Sebastien Rouault not far from giving Frence two slots on the podium, on 3:48.84.
For Agnel, victory marked a French record. For Biedermann, silver represented the third best time of his career and his best in a textile suit. A splendid effort. In Rome, Biedermann's homecoming X-Glide split was otherwordly. From another sport in fact: 52.90, compared to the 54.65 of Thorpe at his best.
Agnel's development is thrilling for swimming: at the same age, the two kings of mid-distance to distance free swimming as teenagers, Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett (both AUS) had best times of 3:40.59 and 3:44.88 respectively.
Meanwhile, rhe fastest so far in 2010 remains the 3:44.91 clocked by Zhang Lin (CHN).
Splits compared:
- Agnel 2010: 54.58; 1:52.56; 2:50.76; 3:46.17
- Biedermann 2010: 55.13; 1:53.39; 2:51.54; 3:46.30
- Biedermann 2009: 54.42; 1:51.02; 2:47.17; 3:40.07 WR
- Thorpe 2002: 53.02; 1:49.57; 2:45.43; 3:40.08 WR
History unfolding:
Effect on race on all-time top 10: none
Euro podiums
- 2010: 3:46.17 - 3:48.14
- 2008: 3:45.10 - 3:46.75
- 2006: 3:45.73 - 3:47.04
Euro finals
- 2010: 3:46.17 - 3:51.54
- 2008: 3:45.10 - 3:49.96
- 2006: 3:45.73 - 3:51.40
- Most Euro wins: Emiliano Brembilla (ITA) 4
- Most Titles/Nation: USSR 4; FRA, 4 courtesy of Agnel's win
- Tightest Podium: 1985 - gold to bronze - 0.27sec
From the archive: As Britain approaches a home Games in 2012 with healthy financial backing for those aiming for the Olympic podium, it has a star of European swimming to thank. In 1991, Paul Palmer became the first to win the 200m, 400m and 1,500m European junior titles at the same championships. Five years on he won silver in the 400m at the 1996 Olympic Games. Coached by Ian Turner, Palmer emerged from his race to appeal to the British media for a better deal for swimmers and others aiming to win Olympic medals for Queen and Country: he trained in a 25-yard pool and had achieved what he had “against the odds” and it was time athletes succeeded because of the system not despite it. Prime Minister John Major responded: after Atlanta, he declared that a part of the proceeds from the new National Lottery would be ring-fenced for sport. Palmer won two European senior crowns, 200m in 1997 and 400m in 1999, the latter after having won silver in 1993 and 1995 and bronze in 1997.
Records
- Shiny suit era
- WR/ER: 3:40.07 Paul Biedermann (GER) Jul 2009
- February 1 2008
- WR: 3:40.06 Ian Thorpe (AUS) Aug 2002
- ER: 3:43.40 Massimiliano Rosolino Sept 2000
