France: French teenager Yannick Agnel is having a good year all-round. After his French record of 1:46.30 for a 200m victory at the French Open, the Nice-based talent yesterday celebrated passing his Baccalauréat with flying colours. Next target: the European Junior Championships in Helsinki July 14-18.
Italy: hope that Alessia Filippi, world 1,500m free champion, will make it to European Championships in Budapest is fading after MRI scans on her injured right shoulder confirmed that severe inflammation continues to prevent her from enduring the heaviest type of work necessary to be competitive come the big day, according to reports in Italy this morning. Italian championships in Rome from July 21 to 24 present the last opportunity to access Filippi's condition before a decision is made on Budapest, with the 1,500m, backstroke and medley ace focussing on the 200m free with a view to Italy's 4x200m quartet. Filippi's on-form presence is needed to keep the Italian squad on track for a medal in the long relay.
Germany: Britta Steffen, Olympic and world sprint free champion, has confirmed that she will not race at the European Championships in Budapest after a troubled season in which she has not been able to "string together more than 10 days of training" because of injury and illness. Steffen denied that she was quitting the sport, however, telling the German media that she will return to full training in the autumn.
