Israel’s Nevo nabs silver medal in 200 IM at Euros

The 28-year-old clocked a time of 1:59.69 minutes thanks to his excellent finish, with only Greece’s Andreas Vazaios (1:58.18m) beating him to the wall.

By ALLON SINAI
Israel’s Gal Nevo (left) won his second career medal at the European Swimming Championships in London (photo credit: REUTERS)
Israel’s Gal Nevo (left) won his second career medal at the European Swimming Championships in London
(photo credit: REUTERS)
 Gal Nevo claimed Israel’s first medal at the European Swimming Championships in London on Wednesday, taking a silver in the 200-meter individual medley final.
The 28-year-old clocked a time of 1:59.69 minutes thanks to his excellent finish, with only Greece’s Andreas Vazaios (1:58.18m) beating him to the wall.
In seventh place after the first 100 meters of the final following the butterfly and backstroke, Nevo surged ahead in the breaststroke and freestyle to win his second career medal in the event after taking a bronze medal in the 400m IM in Budapest six years ago.
Nevo, who had already qualified for the Rio Olympics, will take part in the 400m IM in London later in the week.
Nevo also has seven medals to his name from the European Short Course Championships, one silver and six bronzes, the last of which coming at the Wingate Institute in Netanya last December.
Also Wednesday, Andrea Murez ended the women’s 100m freestyle final in fifth place, clocking 54.89s. Murez, who moved to Israel from the US two years ago, couldn’t match her time from Tuesday’s semis (54.57s), but would have finished in fifth regardless. Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden won the final in a time of 52.82s.
Israeli youngster Ronen Faor impressed by reaching the semis of the 200m breaststroke, ultimately finishing in 15th place in a time of 2:14.84 minutes.
Two more Israelis will take part in a final on Thursday, with Guy Barnea and Jonatan Kopelev qualifying in the 50m backstroke.
Barnea advanced from seventh place with a time of 25.09 seconds, while Kopelev progressed from eighth in 25.20.
Four years ago, Kopelev won the gold medal in the 50m back at the European Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, while Barnea took the bronze.
Both Barnea and Kopelev have yet to book their place in Rio after coming up short in the 100m back earlier in the week.
The 50m backstroke is not an Olympic event and therefore their best chance to compete in Rio is by setting the qualifying time in the 100m back. They have until July 3 to do so in a sanctioned event.