Sarah flying high after winning her third gold in London

Sarah Sjostrom claimed her third title of the week in the 100m butterfly as arena swimmers won a further 15 medals on day five of the European Championships in London.

Sarah set a new championship record in her race, with Gregorio Paltrinieri and Gabriele Detti taking gold and silver respectively in the 800m freestyle, while the Netherlands won gold in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.

Sarah set the world record in the 100m butterfly en route to the world title last year in Kazan, Russia, and she led from start to finish in London to win in 55.89secs.

Victory saw the Swede reclaim the title she first won as a 14-year-old in 2008 as she added to her golds in the 50m butterfly and the 100m freestyle.

The 22-year-old can still identify areas where she can make adjustments so she can lower her time even further.

“I feel I have a few things I can improve to swim even faster,” she said. “I have to improve now: it was a fast race but I still have to put some things together.

“I did a very fast first 50m in the semi-final and a very good last 50 in the final so I need to put these things together so I can make a very good 100.”

Gregorio added the 800m freestyle title to the 1500m he won earlier this week when he produced the second fastest time in history.

Gregorio, wearing a Powerskin Carbon Flex VX, was inside his own European record pace until the final 100m, finishing 1.52secs outside in a championship record 7:42.33.

He said: “It was really, really tough at the end, I was almost dying. I’m in the middle of my Olympic preparations here I swam such great times, this is great.”

The two are training partners, coached by Gabriele’s uncle Stefano Morini.

Gabriele added: ““I’m very tired after this race, but the time is fine and correct, this is just 0.8sec off my best. I’m very proud that we managed to repeat the 1-2 finish here with Gregorio [after the 1500m].”

Sebastiaan Verschuren added silver in the 100m freestyle to gold in the 200m, clocking 48.25, 0.07secs.

The Netherlands wore arena as they won the mixed 4x100m freestyle in 3:23.64, a championship record.

Ranomi Kromowidjojo beamed: “Of course the mixed relay is not the most important event but it is always fun to swim it. We have a great team, and our goal was to win the gold. It’s a big achievement since Italy and France also have strong teams.”

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