Monique Olivier;
Credit: Luxembourg Swimming Federation (FLNS)
Luxembourg swimmer Monique Olivier has set a new best time and national record in the Scottish Short Track Championships in Glasgow.
In just 01:58.46 minutes the 20-year-old set a new best time in the 200m freestyle race and beat Julie Meynen's former national record by 0.7 seconds.
On Saturday, the student also swam the 400m freestyle in 04:12.46 the second fastest time in her career - only at the Short Course World Cup 2014 in Doha was she faster (04:11.96). Following a record time of 02:13.93 in the 200m butterfly race on 11 November 2018 in Sheffield, this is already the young athlete's second national record within a month. From Monday, Monique is again fully focused on her studies, at least until the Euro Meet taking place from 25-27 January 2019 in the Coque.
Whilst exams will prevent Monique's participation in the Hangzhou Short Track World Championship, Luxembourg trio Raphael Stacchiotti, Julien Henx and Pit Brandenburger will be representing the country. The championships, held from 11-16 December 2018, will see 950 swimmers from 178 nations compete for world titles in 34 individual and 12 relay races. The competition will be held in a 25-metre mobile pool at the 8,000-capacity "Little Lotus" International Tennis Centre.
Luxembourg's competitors have proven themselves to be in good form in the run-up to the World Championship. Indeed, Julien Henx swam the 50m butterfly race at the French Championships in 23.31 seconds, a new national record. Pit Brandenburger similarly achieved new records at the winter championships in early December in the 800m (08:15.91) and 1500m (15:31.38), whilst Raphael Stacchiotti secured a new national record in the 200m backstroke (01:56.80).
A look at the entry lists shows that Raphael Stacchiotti has the best starting position in 25th place in the 100m. Semi-finals will be held in the 50m and 100m circuits, with all other events having a final among the top eight.
