M200 Free: Hoogie Hangover Over As Seb Verschuren Pips Stjepanovic & Guy For Gold

European Championships

London, Day 3 Finals

Four-lap freestyle waters haven’t been quite so orange in a 200m freestyle since the days of Hoogie but Sebastian Verschuren changed all that with a 1:46.02 victory ahead of two men who have know gold themselves: defending champion Velimir Stjepanovic (SRB), on 1:46.26, and World champion James Guy, on 1:46.42 for bronze.

For Verschuren the race marked his first major international title.

Stjepanovic set the pace at a testing 24.06 down the opening lap, Guy on 26.70, Verschuren 0.01sec away in fourth and fifth respectively. By the half-way turn, the defender on 50.77, Matias Kossi (FIN) and Kacper Majchrzak (POL)  were still ahead of the form, on 51.31 and 51.,33 respectively, Verschueren on 51.33, Guy 51.52.

The third lap sorted the boys from the men, Stjepanovic turning for home still first in 1:18.37, Verschuren on 1:18.68, Guy on 1:18.90, Glenn Surgeloose (BEL) just 0.07sec away.

It was Verschuren, on 1:45.87 in the semis yesterday, who then found the 27.34 home-comer that granted him gold, Guy on 27.52 but unable to overhaul Stjepanovic and a 27.89. Said Verschueren:

“I knew I would be strong enough on the final 50m. This is my first win at a major championships and it just feels amazing.”

The rankings show a tale of choices ahead of a race in Rio likely to be much faster – out and back:

Men 1500M Freestyle 1 14:34.04 Gregorio Paltrinieri ITA , 21 European Championships GBR, London …

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