Casper Puggaard’s Stellar Performance Sets National Record at Danish Open
Casper Puggaard made a grand entrance at the Danish Open with a show-stopping performance that shattered a national record set 15 years ago. The 19-year-old swimmer kicked off the meet by clocking in a blistering 51.87 in the men’s 100 butterfly event during prelims, erasing the previous Danish record held by Jakob Andkjaer.
Despite not improving his time in the finals, Puggaard still managed to finish with a time of 52.23, securing a comfortable lead over runner-up Rasmus Nickelsen. His impressive time of 51.87 in the prelims also put him in the running for an Olympic consideration cut, falling just shy of the A cut of 51.67.
Rising Stars Shine Bright at Danish Open
The second day of the Danish Open saw another young talent making waves in the pool. Robert Falborg Pedersen set a new national record in the 50 back, clocking in at 25.33 in the finals and erasing the previous record set by Magnus Jakupsson in 2016. Meanwhile, Nicholas Castella delivered a standout performance by breaking two junior records in the 200 back and 200 free events.
Not to be outdone, Frederik Moller came close to joining the record-breaking club with a strong swim in the men’s 50 free. With a time of 22.38 in prelims, he was just .02 seconds away from breaking another Andkjaer mark. Although he was unable to replicate the same speed in the finals, the competition remained fierce as Sweden’s Elias Persson swooped in for the win.
Record-Breaking Feats and Impressive Times Grace the Pool
The women’s events also saw some remarkable performances at the Danish Open. Helena Rosendahl Bach stole the show with a dominant display in the women’s 200 fly, finishing in 2:07.86 and coming within striking distance of her own national record. Meanwhile, Elisabeth Sabroe Ebbesen and Signe Bro shared victory in the women’s 100 free, both touching the wall at 54.37.
In the women’s 100 breast event, Thea Blomsterberg showcased her strength with a time of 1:07.17, coming just .05 seconds shy of a B cut. The competition at the Danish Open continued to heat up as young talents and seasoned swimmers alike pushed the boundaries of their abilities in pursuit of glory.
