Luca Hoek, Cesar Castro Become First-Ever Spaniards Under 48 Seconds In 100 Freestyle ...Middle East

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2026 SPANISH OPEN TRIALS

The 2026 Spanish Open Trials saw day two unfold from Mallorca, with history being made in the final of the men’s 100m freestyle.

After yesterday’s relatively disappointing 50m free, where no competitor cleared the 22-second barrier, tonight’s 1free main event saw not one, but two men dip under the 48-second threshold.

Leading the pack was 18-year-old standout Luca Hoek, blasting a lifetime best and new Spanish national record of 47.72.

Hoek opened in 22.63 and closed in 25.09 to get the job done, breaking his former PB and Spanish standard of 48.04 notched at the 2025 World Championships. That means he becomes the first-ever Spaniard to clock a time under 48 seconds with tonight’s outing.

But the teen wasn’t alone, as runner-up Cesar Castro also beat the 48-second barrier.

At 27 years of age, Castro ripped a monster PB of 47.98 to earn the silver, joining Hoek in qualifying for the European Championshps in the process.

Entering this competition, Castro’s career-swiftest mark rested at the 48.86 he produced at this same competition two years ago.

Just like that, however, the veteran hacked nearly a second off that former PB in his attempt to run down Hoek with a final 50m of 24.70.

Miguel Perez-Godoy rounded out the podium in 48.38 to also get under the 48.58 benchmark needed to qualify for the European Championships.

As for Hoek, a split comparison between his former and new national records shows how he was patient on the front half, saving his surge for the final 50m, where he was much quicker to produce the record.

Spain has been looking for a new male star since 2009, when butterflyer Rafael Munoz and backstroker Aschwin Wildeboer. Hugo Gonzalez has been making waves for Spain, winning a gold and silver medal in the backstroke events at the 2024 World Championships, but he missed qualification times for last year’s World Championships.

Hoek already has some international medal credentials on his resume, having earned silver in the 50m free and men’s medley relay in 2024, followed by four additional pieces of hardware last year in Slovakia. He claimed gold in the 100m free and mixed 4x100m free relay, while also securing bronze in the 50m free and men’s medley relay events.

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