The Spanish swimming arena witnessed a thrilling display of talent as the Campeonato de España Open de Primavera got underway, with several athletes making a splash on the first day of the competition. One of the standout performers was Andalusian swimmer Carlos Garach, who smashed the championship record in the 400-meter freestyle final with a remarkable time of 3:47.69. Meanwhile, Emma Carrasco led the charge for CN Sant Andreu, dominating the women’s events and claiming victory in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:28.12.
The Centro Can Llong del Club Natació Sabadell played host to the first of five action-packed days, which saw the CN Sant Andreu team assert their dominance. Alba Guillamon (26.89) and Carla Carrón (4:12.13) added to the team’s medal tally, winning the 50-meter butterfly and 400-meter freestyle finals, respectively. The cherry on top came when the CN Sant Andreu team took the top spot in the mixed 4×100 medley relay. As I reflect on these impressive performances, I’m reminded of the grit and determination required to excel in this demanding sport – a quality that I’ve also seen in my own experiences coaching my local soccer team.
World champion Hugo González, the main attraction of the competition, finished fifth in the 200-meter breaststroke final, an event outside his specialty. Alex Castejón (2:12.83) took the top spot, followed by Biel Martín (2:14.02) and Nil Cadeval (2:14.10). In contrast, Olympic swimmer Emma Carrasco showed her class in the 200-meter breaststroke final, touching the wall in 2:28.12, ahead of Aina Fernández (2:28.46) and Alba Vázquez (2:30.96). Carlos Garach also demonstrated his superiority, breaking the championship record in the 400-meter freestyle final with a time of 3:47.69, outpacing Alonso González (3:50.72) and Cristóbal Vargas (3:53.33).
The 50-meter butterfly events saw Sergio de Celis live up to expectations, winning the men’s final in 23.78, followed closely by Teo del Riego (23.91) and Alberto Lozano (23.94). In the women’s final, Alba Guillamon (26.89) emerged victorious, with Ana Margarida Guedes (27.19) and Naiara Sobreviela (27.20) completing the podium. Olympic swimmer Paula Juste finished seventh in the same event. As I analyze these results, I’m struck by the fine margins that often separate victory from defeat in swimming – a testament to the athletes’ rigorous training and mental toughness.
The 50-meter backstroke finals were won by Mireia Pradell (28.61) in the women’s category and Ulises Sarabia (25.07) in the men’s category. Carla Carrón secured victory in the women’s 400-meter freestyle final with a time of 4:12.13. The day’s action concluded with the mixed 4×100 medley relay, where the CN Sant Andreu team, comprising Adrián Santos, Nil Cadevall, Alba Guillamon, and Ainhoa Campabadal, took the top spot with a time of 3:52.79, ahead of CN Terrassa (3:56.08) and CN Barcelona (3:56.36). With the competition heating up, it will be exciting to see how the rest of the Campeonato de España Open de Primavera unfolds – and I’m looking forward to sharing more insights and analysis as the event progresses.