FORMER SALEM UNIVERSITY STANDOUT IZDINSKY TO COMPETE FOR FRANCE AT 2018 LEN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BARCELONA ON JULY 14-28

Former Salem University standout Michal Izdinsky will compete with the French National Team at the 2018 LEN European Championships in Barcelona on July 14-28.

One of 16 national teams to qualify for the 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships, France will aim to take down Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain and Turkey.

Competition will begin in group play as the teams were assigned based on a draw that occurred on March 7:

• Group A: Germany, Georgia, Italy and Hungary
• Group B: Montenegro, Malta, France and Spain
• Group C: Croatia, Turkey, the Netherlands and Greece
• Group D: Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Romania

The competition schedule is available by CLICKING HERE.

Hungary, the most powerful team during the first decades of the European Championships, dominates the historical medal table at the LEN European Championship with 12 titles, six runner-up finishes and six bronze medals. Coincidentally, the first edition of the tournament took place in the Hungarian capital 90 years ago.

Serbia, that will fight for its fourth consecutive crown (Hungary, with five, has the longest winning streak, from 1926 to 1938), is the undisputed champion of recent years. It is the first team to concurrently hold the European, World and Olympic titles.

Izinsky, who previously competed for France at the 2016 Olympics, is coming off aiding the French to an Eighth Place finish at the 2018 Europa Cup Super Final in Rijeka, Croatia, on April 6-9. Facing eventual champion Croatia (20-5 L), Serbia (13-2 L) and Montenegro (10-6 L) in Group B play on April 6, 7 and 8, respectively, to begin the event, he scored once against each as France earned a spot in the Seventh Place game against Greece (12-4 L).

Last year, Izdinsky tallied 15 goals and four assists to assist France in placing fourth of 16-teams at the 29th Summer Universiade/University Games at the Taipei Songshan Sports Center in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) in late August of 2017.  Earlier in 2017, he helped France finish 14th at the 2017 FINA World Championship in Budapest, Hungary, by posting two goals.

More information on the 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships is available on the tournament website.