By Nick Hope
Aquatics correspondent in Dublin
World championship medallists and a host of Olympians have been sampling the “fantastic” competition venue in Ireland’s capital city ahead of the inaugural LEN European U23 Swimming Championships.
Around 400 of the sport’s rising star athletes from 42 nations will battle it out for 37 gold medals across three days of competition, beginning on Friday 11 August.
Among those aiming to challenge for a podium place is Isabelle Gose of Germany who claimed the senior 400m freestyle European title at Roma 2022.
“I love to represent Germany and I’m really proud to be here at the first-ever European U23 Championships,” she told LEN on the eve of the event.
“I have a European Championship medal and to get this one (in Dublin) would make me very proud. We will see what my body is able to do after the Worlds in Japan (last month), but I’m feeling good and ready to race.”
In July Great Britain’s 18-year-old Leah Schlosshan successfully defended her European Junior 200m individual medley title and will now look to demonstrate her progress against older opponents.
“I’m really excited for this one as it’s my first senior meet,” she told LEN.
“It feels special, especially in Dublin because I love this city and also because when I first heard about the event I thought it was a great idea because U23’s helps bridge the gap between juniors and seniors which is exactly what we need.”
Another looking to make her mark at Dublin 2023 is Juliette Marchand of France. She is no relation of world record holding countryman Leon Marchand, but has been motivated by his achievements, as well as those of new World champion Maxime Grousset.
“They swim so fast and I think it’s really good for the French team, especially next year for the Olympic Games in France and it inspires us to know what is possible,” said Marchand.
“The team (in Dublin) want to do the best we can and we’re really prepared and fired up for these championships.”
In addition to leading European athletes, swimmers from the United States of America, South Africa and Zimbabwe will also compete as guests at the inaugural European U23 Championships.
real honour to be here and race in European competition which is a first for all of us,” South African Pieter Coetze told LEN.
“We’re all very excited and hyped up for this one.”
USA’s 2021 World championship (25m) bronze medallist Isabelle Stadden added; “We’re very grateful to get the invite and just here to represent the US against great competition in Europe.”
For start-lists and results throughout Dublin 2023 bookmark the following link:
https://results-ws.microplustimingservices.com/U23DUBLIN/index_web.php
Follow the @LENAquatics and @SwimIreland social media channels throughout Dublin 2023 for all of the latest action, reaction and behind-the-scenes videos from what promises to be three incredible days of competition.
