The final day of the 2025 European Short Course Championships is here, and it’s shaping up to be a thrilling conclusion! But here’s where it gets controversial: with only four events left—two individual and two relays—every stroke, every second, and every strategy will be under the microscope. Will the favorites hold their ground, or will underdogs steal the spotlight? Let’s dive into the action.
Event Details at a Glance:
- Dates: December 2-7, 2025
- Location: Lublin, Poland
- Pool Length: 25 meters (SCM)
- Essential Links:
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Live Recaps
Day 6 Prelims Heat Sheet: Download Here
Today’s Events:
1. Women’s 400 IM
2. Men’s 400 IM
3. Women’s 4×50 Medley Relay
4. Men’s 4×50 Medley Relay
Women’s 400 IM: A Race Within the Race
Ellen Walshe of Ireland is the undisputed favorite, seeded nearly ten seconds ahead of the competition with a time of 4:22.97. But here’s the twist: while she’s already shattered Irish records in the 100 IM and snagged silver in the 200 IM, her prelims performance today was surprisingly conservative, finishing 4th overall. Is she holding back for the finals, or is there more to this strategy? Katie Shanahan, fresh off a silver in the 200 back, is lurking as the 7th seed but has a history of peaking at the right moments. And this is the part most people miss: Shanahan was pushed out of the final two years ago due to the ‘2 per nation’ rule—will she break through this time?
Men’s 400 IM: Records on the Line
Alberto Razzetti of Italy leads the pack with a time of 3:58.83, just shy of his own Championship record. But the real story? Jakub Bursa (CZE) and Lucas Henveaux (BEL) smashed their national records this morning, claiming the top two spots. Razzetti, however, cruised to 4th, seemingly saving energy for his double-final night. Controversial question: With Razzetti’s tight schedule—just 46 minutes between the 200 fly and 400 IM finals—is he biting off more than he can chew?
4×50 Medley Relays: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Italy and the Netherlands have dominated the relays so far, but Poland, the host nation, has consistently placed 4th or higher. Bold prediction: Don’t count out Germany and Sweden in the women’s relay—their prelims battle was electric, with Germany edging out Sweden by a hundredth of a second. Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands, meanwhile, is on fire, breaking European Records left and right. Thought-provoking question: Can anyone stop the Dutch juggernaut, or will they sweep another gold?
Women’s 400 IM Prelims Results:
1. Alba Vazquez Ruiz (ESP) – 4:32.56
2. Emma Carrasco Cadens (ESP) – 4:34.18
3. Paula Gonzalez Miralles (ESP) – 4:34.34 (missed semi-finals by 0.16 seconds)
4. Ellen Walshe (IRL) – 4:34.60
5. Justina Kozan (POL) – 4:34.68
Men’s 400 IM Prelims Results:
1. Jakub Bursa (CZE) – 4:04.68 (NR)
2. Lucas Henveaux (BEL) – 4:05.04 (NR)
3. Diego Mira Albaladejo (ESP) – 4:05.25
4. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 4:05.29
Women’s 4×50 Medley Relay Prelims Results:
1. Netherlands – 1:44.75
2. Germany – 1:45.15
3. Sweden – 1:45.16
Men’s 4×50 Medley Relay Prelims Results:
1. Germany – 1:32.48
2. Czechia – 1:32.53
3. Italy – 1:32.64
As the curtain falls on this championship, one thing is clear: every race today is a must-watch. Final question for you: Which athlete or team do you think will pull off the biggest upset? Let the debates begin in the comments!
