The 2017 LEN European Short Course Championships kick off this Wednesday, Dec. 13, and will feature the best of the best in Europe.

With so much talent in one pool, it can be difficult to keep up with all of the storylines. With that being said, we offer you the top five things you need to keep an eye on heading into the meet.

2017 LEN European Short Course Championships

December 13-17

Copenhagen, Denmark

Royal Arena

Short Course Meters (25m)

WATCH LIVE (North America Only)

LIVE RESULTS

1.) The Katinka vs. Belmonte Garcia Show

Katinka Hosszu currently holds four short course (25m) world records. 

Mireia Belmonte Garcia holds five. 

They will match up against each other over three races in Copenhagen, all of which Belmonte Garcia is world-record holder in (200m fly, 400m free, 400m IM). 

Hosszu is not normally your underdog. Expect these to be close. 

2.) Adam Peaty vs. …?

Adam Peaty is the breaststroke king. Let's just get that out of the way first. But in the short course meters pool he hasn’t been so successful. In 2014 he collected two silver medals at the Doha World Championships (25m). In 2015 it was again a pair of silvers at this corresponding meet. 

Fact of the day: he hasn’t actually won an international gold medal in short course. This time we are expecting something different, some gold and maybe a few world marks to go with it. 

3.) The Fastest Woman In Europe

The 50m freestyle determines the fastest swimmer through water. In the women’s event, WR holder Ranomi Kromowidjojo strives to regain this crown over sprint queen Sarah Sjöström, who is looking to finish off a ridiculous 2017 with another gold medal. Throw in last year’s Olympic champ, Pernille Blume… we know this race will be fast.

4.) The Fastest Man In Europe

On the men’s side, Vlad Morozov has been throwing down casual 20-point somethings on the World Cup tour and is inching closer and closer to Florent Manaudou’s WR of 20.26. Morozov could be only the second man to get under 20.5. Surprise Windsor short course world champ Jesse Putts of the Netherlands will be there to step up again, along with 50m butterfly world champ Ben Proud, Russian veteran Sergei Fesikov, and giant Finn Ari-Pekka Liukkonen. 

5.) Men’s 100m Back – 49s Galore

Take your pick in the men’s 100m backstroke in Copenhagen, with four men having best times in the 49-second range and another four seeded at 50-point low. 

The man we want to highlight is young Russian Kliment Kolesnikov, who has been cleaning out the world junior record books in long course and short course this year. Fourth at the Budapest World Championships over 200m (1:55.14), Kolesnikov followed up by defeating Olympic champ Ryan Murphy head-to-head in both the 100m and 200m at the Energy for Swim Meet in August. Recently, he swam three WJRs in Kazan, going 23.28, 49.84, and 1:49.99 in the 50, 100, and 200, respectively — all at only 17.

Kolesnikov will be pressed by teammate Andrei Shabasov (49.69, silver at the Windsor Short Course World Champs), defending champ Radoslaw Kawecki (49.83), Italian-record holder Simone Sabbioni (49.96), and veterans Christian Diener and Pavel Sankovich. 

By Bobby Hurley