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Recap of day 3 OBC 2026
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Recap of day 3 OBC 2026

With the Open Belgian Championships, the absolute highlight of the Belgian swimming season is just around the corner. This weekend, the country’s best swimmers are gathering at the Wezenberg pool in Antwerp. Day 3 brought us 13 new Belgian champions, 1 new European Championship qualifying time, and 1 Belgian record.

Men’s 200m Freestyle

An immediate success for Daniel Laureyssens on the final day of these Open Belgian Championships. His time of 1:48.90 is the 10th fastest Belgian time ever, leaving the rest of the field far behind. Leon Baeye comes closest to the new Belgian champion, while Simon Laviolette takes bronze. Both swimmers also secured the European Junior Championship qualifying time. They will join Bere Waereniers — who finished 5th and had already qualified earlier — on the way to Munich.

Podium:

  1. Daniel Laureyssens (ZS)
  2. Leon Baeye (MEGA)
  3. Simon Laviolette (SCR)

Women’s 200m Butterfly

Dutch swimmer Evy Rozeboom set the tone right from the start. She created a gap during the opening length and increased it lap after lap. Behind her, the battle for the Belgian title remained exciting. Sam De Bont seemed in control, but Vera Vedernikova closed in dangerously at the finish. In the end, Sam held on by just 0.13 seconds with a new personal best of 2:22.93. Imani Decoutere claimed Belgian bronze.

Podium:

  1. Evy Rozeboom (NED) / Sam De Bont (TSZ)
  2. Vera Vedernikova (SCWR)
  3. Imani Decoutere (KZK)

Men’s 200m Breaststroke

Victory went to Caspar Corbeau in this final, but our attention goes to Noah De Schryver. He achieved exactly what he came for — and in style! With a new Belgian record, he qualified for the European Championships in Paris. The new national record now stands at 2:10.15, an improvement of no less than 0.68 seconds. Bartel Vranken finished as the second Belgian swimmer, while Noa Metzemakers placed third.

Podium:

  1. Caspar Corbeau (NED) / Noah De Schryver (ZNA)
  2. Bartel Vranken (DMB)
  3. Noa Metzemakers (BRABO)

Women’s 100m Backstroke

From start to finish, Georgian swimmer Ana Nizharadze led the race, but behind her the fight for the Belgian title was nerve-racking. In a battle decided in the final meters, just 0.02 seconds separated gold and silver. The swimmers putting on the show were Fleur Bussels and Noor Broeckaert, finishing in that order. Laure Durez held off Olivia Heijl by 0.08 seconds for Belgian bronze.

Podium:

  1. Ana Nizharadze (GEO) / Fleur Bussels (DMB)
  2. Noor Broeckaert (BRABO)
  3. Laure Durez (ENLN)

Men’s 50m Butterfly

Vincent Van Hooydonck added another Belgian title to his résumé. He flew past the field in a time of 24.04. The 40-year-old German Stefano Razeto finished second, while Jens Berges took third place.

Podium:

  1. Vincent Van Hooydonck (BRABO)
  2. Stefano Razeto (GER) / Jens Berges (HZA)
  3. Hugo Vandamme (DM)

Women’s 200m Breaststroke

There was no stopping Tes Schouten today. The 2024 world champion showcased her class by swimming authoritatively to victory. Grace Palmer proved to be the strongest Belgian swimmer, while Zinke Delcommune finished third in the final. Roos Vanotterdijk joined the podium for Belgian bronze.

Podium:

  1. Tes Schouten (NED) / Grace Palmer (MOSAN)
  2. Zinke Delcommune (KAZS)
  3. Roos Vanotterdijk (DMB)

Men’s 100m Backstroke

Noah Verreth completed his backstroke treble. He won the final with a half-second advantage over Georgian swimmer Noe Pantskhava. Paul Alves Torres — Noah’s training partner — finished third. For the Belgian podium, Joseph Van Wellen took silver, although he missed the European Junior Championship qualifying time by just 0.05 seconds. Justin Lecocq rounded out the Belgian podium.

Podium:

  1. Noah Verreth (MEGA)
  2. Noe Pantskhava (GEO) / Joseph Van Wellen (HOZT)
  3. Paul Alves Torres (FRA) / Justin Lecocq (LGN)

Women’s 50m Freestyle

Florine Gaspard did exactly what was expected of her. She swam comfortably to the Belgian title in 24.94, confirming her qualification time for the European Championships. Behind her, Fleur Bussels also secured her European Junior qualification time. Nore Michiels completed the podium in 25.98, missing the EJC qualifying time by just 0.01 seconds.

Podium:

  1. Florine Gaspard (CNB)
  2. Fleur Bussels (DMB)
  3. Nore Michiels (TSZ)

Men’s 200m Individual Medley

Simon Laviolette started as the top favorite in this event but did not have it easy against Alexander Van Hoey Billiet. Alexander even led the race halfway through. During the breaststroke leg, Simon finally made the difference and secured another Belgian title. His time of 2:02.15 was both a personal best and confirmation of his European Junior qualifying time. Alexander had also achieved the qualifying standard during the heats but could not repeat it in the final. Xhoi Lavdaniti Zhulian finished third in the 200m medley.

Podium:

  1. Simon Laviolette (SCR)
  2. Alexander Van Hoey Billiet (STW)
  3. Xhoi Lavdaniti Zhulian (ALB) / Arthur Vermaut (LAQUA)

Women’s 400m Freestyle

Sarah Dumont is in great form. After her fantastic performance in the 200m freestyle, she cut another two seconds off her personal best here (4:08.42). This gave her the second-fastest Belgian time ever, another Belgian title, and confirmation of her European qualifying time. Siri Vanderlinden also swam faster than ever before — 4:14.99 and the 9th fastest Belgian time ever — once again going under the European Junior qualifying mark. Georgian swimmer Anna Kalandadze finished third, while Lana Ravelingien came fourth.

Podium:

  1. Sarah Dumont (NOC)
  2. Siri Vanderlinden (LAQUA)
  3. Anna Kalandadze (GEO) / Lana Ravelingien (BRABO)

Men’s 1500m Freestyle

With a personal best of 15:16.95 — the second-fastest Belgian time ever — Lucas Henveaux claimed the final individual national title of the weekend. He took the lead from the start and controlled the race expertly throughout. Florentin Lovens proved to be “the best of the rest” after 30 lengths, while Gautier Sobrie captured the final podium place.

Podium:

  1. Lucas Henveaux (LGN)
  2. Florentin Lovens (LGN)
  3. Gautier Saubrie (DM)

Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay

Everything came down to the wire in this relay! BRABO broke away during the final 100m thanks to Lana Ravelingien, while MEGA took silver. In the battle for bronze, DBT and MOSAN pushed each other to the limit. In the end, Bree held on by less than a tenth of a second to celebrate bronze.

Podium:

  1. BRABO
  2. MEGA
  3. DBT

Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay

The Georgian team won the final race of the championships. They overtook Torhout in the final length, although Torhout still secured the Belgian title. BRABO comfortably finished as Belgium’s second-best team, but the battle for third was much closer. MEGA kept Liège off the podium by just 0.14 seconds.

Podium:

  1. Georgia / TZT
  2. BRABO
  3. MEGA

Many thanks to Swimnation for the recap!

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