Nowacki 'shocked' to break European junior record

Filip Nowacki said he was "shocked" to break the European junior short course record in the 200m breaststroke.

The 18-year-old from Jersey recorded a new short course mark of two minutes 3.75 seconds (2:03.75) at the European Short Course Championships in Poland.

The world junior long course champion over 100m and 200m set the mark as he finished second in the semi-finals and will race in Saturday's final.

"It feels terrific. I wasn't expecting it at all, so to come away with that record, I was really shocked after the heats and really pleased," he told BBC Radio Jersey.

"I knew the record was in the 2:03's and my PB beforehand was 2:05.9, so I didn't even have my eyes on it, I didn't have a clue what the time was nor who held it, so I was really surprised and really happy.

"It was a phenomenal feeling, just a wave of emotions. I finished and I looked at the scoreboard and I almost had to double check because of how fast I'd gone."

The record caps an exceptional 2025 for Nowacki, who began it by winning his first senior medals at the British Championships.

He has gone on to break long course British junior records set by former Olympic champion Adam Peaty in winning European junior titles at 100m and 200m breaststroke before becoming the world's best junior.

Nowacki, who is part of the Team GB world class programme, also won eight gold medals for Jersey at this summer's Island Games and is aiming to represent the island at next summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"I've definitely progressed a lot further than I thought I'd progress, and I've probably exceeded some some coaches' expectations," he added.

"But I think it's just all about getting my head down for the next season and seeing if I could replicate that again and really try to step it on on the senior stage.

"The jump from junior to senior is a huge jump, no matter how good you are as a junior, so I think it's just about gaining experience now through to July and really trying to get better next season."