Barbora Seemanova After Record-Breaking Swims, “I’m Enjoying the Process”

2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, Australia (2024)
• European Record: 1:52.98 – Federica Pellegrini, Italy (2009)
• Championship Record: 1:54.95 – Charlotte Bonnet, France (2018)

Top 8:

1. Barbora Seemanova (CZE) – 1:55.37
2. Minna Abraham (HUN) – 1:57.22
3. Nicole Maier (GER) – 1:57.36
4. Snaefridur Sol Jorunnardottir (ISL) – 1:57.85
5. Daria Golovaty (ISR) – 1:58.62
6. Janja Segel (SLO) – 1:58.91
7. Francisca Martins (POR) – 1:59.11
8. Leah Schlosshan (GBR) – 1:59.38

Barbora Seemanova fired off a 1:55.37 in the women’s 200 freestyle, the second fastest swim of her career as she was just off her new national record of a 1:55.12 at the AP London Invitational at the end of May.

The 200 freestyle has not been her only record recently as she also see the 400 freestyle and 200 IM at the AP London meet. Here in Serbia, she added a 53.50 100 freestyle to her recent record-breaking swims.

Seemanova’s swim in the 200 freestyle this week was also faster than her time at the 2020(1) Tokyo Olympics. In Tokyo, she swam a 1:55.45 for 6th place. It took a 1:54.70 to make the podium. With all of her recent success, Seemanova spoke on what has been different this year.

“That’s a good question. I think the last months, I’ve been really enjoying swimming, I kind of forgot about the times, about the records, about medals, and I just went into practice like I want to be the best, I was trying to get better in every single practice and it was working. At the same time, I’m enjoying the process, which I think I was missing the year before the Olympics and the year after. I think the joy is better and brings good results”

Seemanova missed the 200 freestyle final at the 2023 World Championships swimming a 1:56.50 for 9th, a time that marked a season best. This past February, she just missed the podium at the 2024 World Championships swimming a 1:56.13. She has a lot of momentum heading into next month’s Paris Olympics and is heading into Paris on the right foot.

“Swimming the times [that I am], not being fully tapered, and a few weeks before the Olympics is definitely a good start. We have a few weeks until the Olympics to get some work done. I’m really excited for that also, I’m excited to work”

Seemanova’s current season best, and new national record from May, sits at #7 in the World this season.