Kotryna Teterevkova has already pressed the gas pedal.
After the qualifying races, admitting that she could afford to save energy in the morning, on Thursday evening in the semifinal she gave it her all.
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“The swim was tough, but I’m glad I made it to the final. So for now, I’m happy,” said the 24-year-old swimmer.
The Vilnius native, who has been training in Kaunas in recent years, swam the semifinal in 2 minutes 24.08 seconds.
The Lithuanian record she holds (2 minutes 22.86 seconds) was set three years ago.
“Maybe I wanted a slightly better result, but maybe this is what I need now. This time there was no lightness like in the morning, my legs probably felt heavier,” said K. Teterevkova.
So far in her career, the Lithuanian swimmer who has won two bronze medals in the 200 m breaststroke at the European Championships is convinced – anything can happen in the final on Friday evening, but she singled out two swimmers among the favorites who were also the fastest in the semifinal.
“It will definitely be the Brit (Angharad Evans), because she has improved a lot over the years. Last year at the World Championships we swam the 200 m together, and now she is already 3 seconds faster. Or the Russian (Evgeniya Chikunova), who holds the world record,” said K. Teterevkova.
She will have to endure another hot day in Paris before the final.
If on Thursday the heat rose to 38 degrees, on Friday it will climb to 39.
“Before the championship, some of us were at a camp in Mallorca, where it was even hotter. So we got somewhat used to it and here it’s not as stuffy anymore. But it’s still hot, you always need to sit down and rest. But the conditions are the same for everyone,” said K. Teterevkova.
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