In an electrified atmosphere at the Paris Olympic Aquatics Centre, two Lithuanian women swam in the second 50 m breaststroke semifinal.
Earlier on Saturday evening, inspired by the triumph of France’s swimming god Leon Marchand in the 200 m butterfly final and other finals, the crowd of 5,000 spectators was buzzing, but watched a bit more calmly as 16 breaststroke swimmers competed for the right to race in the final on Sunday.
In the second semifinal, R. Meilutytė splashed water on herself before the start and, using her well-trained reaction and dive, plunged into the water in lane three.
Kotryna Teterevkova started in lane eight.
The competition was fierce, as two other decorated breaststroke swimmers also swam in the second semifinal, who ultimately finished ahead – former world record holder Italian Benedetta Pilato (29.84 sec.) and last year’s European 25 m pool champion Estonian Eneli Jefimova (29.93 sec.).
R. Meilutytė finished third, swimming in 30.05 seconds, which was the third-best time overall in the semifinal.
K. Teterevkova, who swam in 30.55 seconds, shared 9th-10th places, so she will likely have to watch the fight for medals from the stands on Sunday evening and support R. Meilutytė,
“If she swims well, she’ll get a cake,” said K. Teterevkova, smiling next to R. Meilutytė.
“If I swim well, right?” – R. Meilutytė clarified.
She herself swam slightly faster than in the heats on Saturday morning, when she was also third, swimming in 30.21 seconds.
“The swims were similar, but in the evening there is more sharpness, the body is more awake,” said R. Meilutytė.
She said she was satisfied with the result.
“With my current ability, I think I managed as I wanted,” said the 29-year-old swimmer,
The four-time world champion in the 50 m breaststroke event is also the world record holder (at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, she swam in 29.16 seconds).
However, she has not competed in any events this year, last starting in December last year when she won silver in her favorite event at the European 25 m pool championships in Lublin.
The Lithuanian swimming team coaches learned of R. Meilutytė’s decision to participate in this year’s European Championships in Paris only halfway through the season – at the beginning of June.
For two and a half months, R. Meilutytė trained independently in Kaunas, following a personal plan, not with coach Tadas Duškinas, as she had for the past few years.
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“I felt it was time to do what I have been doing for a very, very long time myself. It naturally evolved this way,” explained R. Meilutytė when asked about the decision to prepare independently.
After successfully passing the semifinal stage, the final awaits, which will take place on the last day of the championship, Sunday.
The fight for the 50 m breaststroke gold will start at 19:35 Lithuanian time.
Would swimming faster than 30 seconds guarantee a place on the podium?
“That would be nice, but I am already happy with my result,” said R. Meilutytė. “I just want to do my best, perform the swim artistically, enjoy it, and be fully in the moment, not somewhere in my thoughts.”
K. Teterevkova, who finished sixth in the 200 m breaststroke final on Saturday, said the 50 m breaststroke sprint is not her main event, but she was happy about improving her personal best by 0.03 seconds.
“I’m happy not because of the place, but because of the personal best. Of course, it’s a bit sad to miss the final by a hair, but I’m still happy,” said K. Teterevkova, who missed eighth place by 0.08 seconds.
She said she would have been ready even for a swim-off if she had to fight for first reserve place. “I can swim 50 m again, it’s not hard for me,” Kotryna smiled.
Although there are reserve finalists ahead, the 24-year-old from Vilnius did not expect to have to swim again on Sunday.
“Usually everyone makes it to the final. We will consult with the coaches, but usually it happens that you probably have to come, show up before the final, in case something happens,” said K. Teterevkova. “I have been the first reserve swimmer several times, but usually nothing happened.
Only once did I get sick during the world championships when I had qualified for the final, but a few hours before it my temperature rose and I had to tell the reserve swimmer to prepare to swim instead of me. It happens rarely, but it does.”
If nothing unexpected happens, K. Teterevkova’s season is over.
“It’s not one of the best championships, but I went with fewer expectations because the season was a bit disrupted, sometimes studies were more important. We tried not to swim the 100 m event, but I hope next year will be better, and the started Olympic standards will give more motivation,” she said.
On Saturday evening, she went to the stands to support the Lithuanian team starting in the mixed 4×200 m freestyle relay final, and planned to support R. Meilutytė on Sunday.
“We always rejoice for other Lithuanians, we know what a medal means, or being first,” said K. Teterevkova. “I wish everyone to experience that.”
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