The European Masters short course championships is a relatively new event in the calendar, and the second edition was held in Lublin, Poland, 10-14 December, immediately after the Elite event. Notably, the winner of the Elite women’s 50 free, Katarzyna Wasick, stayed on to compete in the Masters event, and broke a world record or two in the 30-34 age group!
Spencer was represented by Ivan Nechunaev, who had a great meet, picking up 2 silvers and 2 bronzes in the 35-39 age group. The silvers came in the 100 IM in 57.45 and the 100 freestyle in 51.77, where a fabulous last 25 brought him within a quarter of a second of the gold. A time of 55.85 won 3rd place and a bronze medal in the 100 fly. The 50 sprints were hotly contested in all age groups, and Ivan’s second bronze came in the 50 free in a time of 23.34, just 0.12 behind the winner. He also took 6th place in the 50 fly in 25.31.
Alan Parkins, swimming for his home club, Crawley, won silver in the 65-69 100 back in a time of 1.14.55, and took 4th places in the 50 back, 50 fly and 50 free.
The next European Championships will be Long Course, 21-30 Aug 2026 in Šamorín, Slovakia, where there will also be Open Water events, to be swum in a backwater of the Danube. The short course championships will return in 2027.