Andrej Barna Blasts 46.86 Anchor Leg Propelling Serbia To Gold In Men’s 4×100 Free Relay

By Anya Pelshaw on SwimSwam

2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 17-23, 2024
LCM (50 meters)
Belgrade, Serbia
Prelims: 9:30 am local time
Finals: 6:30 pm local time
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MEN’S 4×100 FREESTYLE  RELAY – FINAL

World Record: 3:08.24 – USA (2008)
European Record: 3:08.32 – France (2008)
Championship Record: 3:10.41 – Russian Federation (2021)

Top 8:

Serbia – 3:12.90
Poland – 3:13.25
Greece – 3:13.73
Croatia – 3:13.91
Romania – 3:14.02
Germany – 3:14.56
Israel – 3:17.14
Sweden – 3:17.72

David Popovici of Romania led the team off in a 47.22, the fastest flat start of the night to put them in the lead at the first exchange. That time was just off his time of a 46.88 that he swam last night to win the European title. His 46.88 marks the #3 performance ever and only 0.08 seconds off of the World Record. Popovici was not the only Romanian with a big split tonight as incoming Princeton freshman Patrick Dinu split a 47.83 on the anchor.

Serbia’s Velimir Stjepanivic had the team in 2nd at the first exchange after swimming a 47.99. Nikola Acin split a 48.64, in the middle of the flying start splits pack, to put the team out in front for the time being.

With a 48.04 flying start, Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk had the 4th fastest flying start split of the night, which put the relay in the lead at the final exchange. Then, Serbia’s Andrej Barna delivered a huge split with a 46.86 putting the team from 5th to 1st even after the first 50. Barna was able to hang on splitting a 21.99 going out and a 24.87 coming home.

Greece captured the bronze after four consistent 48-point splits were good enough for a spot on the podium as they finished just ahead of Croatia who was fueled by a 47.77 flying start from Jere Hribar.

Fastest Flat Starts

Popovici ROU
47.22

Stjepanivic SRB
47.99

Chowaniec POL
48.45

Wrede GER
48.75

Chrisou GRE
48.82

Miljenic CRO
48.94

Kartavi ISR
49.89

Seeliger SWE
49.98

Fastest Flying Starts

Barna SRB
46.86

Hribar CRO
47.77

Dinu ROU
47.83

Masiuk POL
48.04

Gkolomeev GRE
48.04

Dragoja CRO
48.11

Varjasi GER
48.15

Sieradzki POL
48.16

Vazaios GRE
48.37

Bilas GRE
48.5

Dudys POL
48.6

Glivinskiy ISR
48.6

Eidam GER
48.63

Acin SRB
48.64

Persson SWE
48.87

Kammann GER
49.03

Sivec CRO
49.09

Loktev ISR
49.25

Eliasson SWE
49.28

Polonsky ISR
49.4

Cvetkov SRB
49.41

Ratiu ROU
49.48

Szilagyi ROU
49.49

Holmquist SWE
49.49

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