Beryl Gastaldello Clinches Golden Double At Euro Meet

Beryl Gastaldello Clinches Golden Double At Euro Meet

Beryl Gastaldello enjoyed a golden 50 fly/100 back double on the first day of the Euro Meet in Luxembourg.

The Frenchwoman appeared first in the backstroke where she led throughout, splitting 29.42/30.58 to stop the clock in 1:00.36.

Bertille Cousson was second, 1.19secs adrift in 1:01.55 with Leah Tigert next home in 1:02.43.

Gastaldello returned for the 5o fly in which she won silver among three medals at December’s short-course worlds in Budapest. She edged Tessa Giele by 0.07 in a tight race in 26.50 to 26.57 with Elisabeth Sabroe Ebbesen third in 26.82.

Yohann Ndoye Brouard made it a French backstroke double with victory in the men’s race. Ndoye Brouard, who swam the lead-off as France won medley relay bronze at Paris 2024, was out in 26.39 and back in 27.42 to clock 53.81, 0.69 off his Euro Meet mark of 53.12 from January last year.

Mathys Chouchaoui (55.00) and Roméo-César Fadda Sauvageot (56.55) were second and third respectively.

European champion and world silver medallist Helena Rosendahl Bach dominated the 200 fly.

The Dane was ahead throughout, extending her lead on each 50, before coming home in 2:08.41, 0.23 off the Euro Meet record of 2:08.18 set by Franzisca Hentke in 2018.

Laura Lahtinen of Finland was second, almost three seconds adrift in 2:11.38 with Ciara Schlossan of Edinburgh University making the third step of the podium in 2:12.19.

Denys Kesil of Ukraine won the men’s 200 fly in 1:57.96 with Bill Dongfang of Canada second in 1:58.77, the pair the only men inside 2mins, with Michael Sava next home in 2:01.91.

Thomas Verhoeven took the men’s 50 fly in 23.25 from Luca Armbruster (23.44) with world 50 free champion Vladyslav Bukhov close behind in 23.49, the trio the only men inside 24secs.

Sacha Velly: Photo Courtesy: European Aquatics

Amalie Smith produced a fine second half in the 400IM to go from third at halfway – 2.50secs behind leader Cyrielle Duhamel – to claim a comfortable victory in 4:41.70. Duhamel was second in 4:44.91 with Giada Azetta third in 4:47.07.

Heorhii Lukashev of Ukraine headed the men’s fastest heat in 4:21.66 ahead of Tom Remy (4:24.45) and Jacob Gallant (4:24.93).

Sacha Velly claimed the 1500 free, going past fellow Frenchman Damien Joly who’d led until the 300m mark. The pair were locked in a tight tussle throughout with Velly  the world and European junior 10k champion in the open water, putting in a spurt in the final 100 to come home in 15:15.39 with Joly clocking 15:17.35. Tommaso Griffante was third in 15:24.59.

Valentin Leclercq took over the lead at 700m in the fastest heat of the women’s 800 free to come home in 8:49.75 despite the attention of longtime leader Hollie Wilson (8:49.82) with Peyton Leigh third in 8:54.73.