site.btaSwimmer Mitsin Satisfied with His Olympic Debut, Feels Sure He Can Do Better

European junior swimming champion Petar Mitsin said he was relatively satisfied with his Olympic debut, but admitted he could have done better. The 18-year-old Bulgarian placed 21st in the 400m freestyle at the Paris 2024 swimming tournament on Saturday, failing to qualify for the final in the discipline.

"Yes, it could have been better. I'm sure I have a reserve, because in the first meters over the distance as I swim I feel lighter, although at the beginning I am fresh and can judge the speed accurately. The last 100 meters were very tough for me.  So far my performance is good, but I am quite sure I can do even better," said the world record holder in the junior discipline.

He does not think that the Olympic debut has influenced him significantly.

"I do not think it affected me that much. It is my first Olympics and I am learning. For me it is the biggest competition and the best pool I have ever seen. The emotions are very high, a large crowd. Everybody is shouting for the swimmers it gives me to some extent more motivation," said the teenager.

Mitsin will compete in a second event on July 30 - the 200m butterfly.

"I hope to do better there already. I want to make a good recovery in the next two days so I can concentrate as much as possible," he concluded.