Cuen breaks Andorran 200m freestyle record at European Short Course

The Andorran Swimming Federation opened its campaign at the European Short Course Championships in Lublin, Poland, with Biel Cuen and Kevin Teixeira racing the 400-metre individual medley on the first day. Cuen posted 3:52.58 to finish 52nd overall, while Teixeira touched in 3:54.39 for 55th place. Teixeira swam in the second preliminary heat, placing fourth about 5.5 seconds behind heat winner Luca Karl of Austria; Cuen raced in the third heat, finishing eighth and 5.26 seconds adrift of that heat’s winner, Samuel Kostal.

On the second day Cuen produced a standout performance in the 200-metre freestyle, clocking 1:49.37 to set a new Andorran absolute record. He improved his own mark from the recent Spanish Championships (1:51.39) by roughly two seconds and became the first Andorran to break 1:50 in the 200 free in either a 25m or 50m pool. Cuen swam in the first preliminary heat and finished third, 2.34 seconds behind heat winner Denys Kesil.

Teixeira also lowered his personal best in the 200 free, recording 1:53.01 (previously 1:53.49). He swam in the same preliminary heat as Cuen and was fifth, 5.98 seconds behind Kesil.

The federation’s artistic swimming team concluded its participation at the Spanish Championship of Figures and Junior Technical Routines in Sabadell on a positive note. Junior duet Mariona Casas and Aran Van Den Eerenbeemt officially debuted their new technical routine and reported satisfaction with its execution and their sensations in the water. In the children’s figures competition, Renata Sanchez and Lara Gomes scored in all four figures they performed, a result the federation described as confirmation of strong preparation.

The Andorran swimmers are scheduled to return to competition in the 800-metre freestyle, with both entered to swim in the first preliminary heat.