Antonio Djakovic gave Switzerland its fifth medal in the long course Europeans in Belgrade, thus concluding a record harvest for Swiss Aquatics.
The Zurich native took bronze in the 400m freestyle on Sunday evening, after having conquered the same metal in the 200m freestyle in Serbia.
As in the 200 m, Antonio Djakovic broke away on the final length of the pool when he was only in 5th place at the last turn. His time (3’47”62) is nothing extraordinary, but it allows him to be 0”25 ahead of Danas Rapsys (4th). Gold went to Austrian Felix Auboeck, who topped the proceedings in 3’43”24.
Casually, Antonio Djakovic already has a remarkable track record at just 21 years old. The Zurich resident has four continental medals in the long course, after winning silver twice over the same distances during the 2022 Europeans. All that remains is to break through at the world level, where the competition is immense in freestyle swimming.
Her younger sister Vanna (18 years old), however, did not achieve any feat on Sunday for her first international final in the elite, also in the 400m. Sixth in 4’15”32, she nevertheless subtracted two seconds from her personal best established during the morning series to make an impression.
One more medal than in Rome
Swiss Aquatics can therefore be delighted to bring home one more medal than during the 2022 Europeans, where the four medals won already constituted a record. If it is worth remembering the absence of the French, Italians or British in Belgrade, it should also be noted that the Swiss are for the most part in full preparation for the Paris Olympics.
The bronze won in the 200m backstroke by double world medalist Roman Mityukov, who did not even shave for the occasion, bodes very well for Paris. Just like the time achieved in the 100m butterfly heats by Noè Ponti, forced to give up the semi-finals due to gastroenteritis which caused a fever.
If the Genevan and the Ticino will aim for the podium at the Olympics, Antonio Djakovic and the other double medalist from Belgrade Lisa Mamié will be content to eye places in the final. The name of the Zurich resident will in fact be proposed by Swiss Aquatics to Swiss Olympic for individual selection. An opportunity from which the unfortunate Jérémy Desplanches will not be able to benefit.
/ATS
