arena swimmers finish Europeans top of the medals table

arena concluded the European Aquatics Championships with 30 gold medals – 72% of the total number available – 19 silvers and 25 bronze.

Stand out performances included Gregorio Paltrinieri, who swam the second fastest 1500m freestyle in history, setting a new European record in the process.

Adam Peaty also repeated the breaststroke double he won in Berlin two years ago and with success as part of the Great Britain mixed and men’s medley relay squads, his record at European Championships reads as eight golds from eight events.

Laszlo Cseh won four medals, including the 100m and 200m butterfly double while Francesca Halsall finished with five, three of them gold.

Ranomi Kromowidjojo has Olympic and world titles but she had never taken a European gold before winning the 50m freestyle in 24.07secs last night, a championship record. Fellow arena swimmer Fran Halsall achieved Silver.

Ranomi said: “It was a fantastic feeling. Before the race when Halsall came out the crowd was very loud”.

“When we finished the race, the crowd wasn’t that loud so I knew I had won.”

“This is my first individual European gold, I wanted this really bad.”

Franzisca Hentke thundered down the final length to win the 200m butterfly, in 2:07.23.

The German said: “I swam here in the middle of the toughest training and the result shows me I am on the right track.”

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