The Estonian Eneli Jefimova became European champion in the 100m breaststroke in the short course at just 16 years old on Wednesday in Otopeni (Romania).
With a time of 1 min 03 sec 21, Jefimova beat another teenager, the 18-year-old Italian Benedetta Pilato (1:03.76), and the 22-year-old Dutchwoman Tes Schouten (1:04.04). By winning her first international title at senior level, she brought Estonia the first European gold medal in its history.
“I am so grateful to everyone, my family, my coaches, my teammates…” she reacted. “I won gold medals here last year in juniors, but this is different. It’s a dream come true.” “I was able to do everything we had planned with my coach, I had a very good swim and it’s a very good result,” she said.
The second day of competition in Romania was also marked by France’s two titles, won by Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, crowned in the 800m freestyle, and Mewen Tomac, gold in the 50m backstroke.
Of Russian origin, Kirpichnikova was deprived of competition for a year and a half due to sporting sanctions against Russia and was naturalized French last April. She won in 8 min 8 sec 46/100, well ahead of the Italian Simona Quadarella (8:14.83), bronze medalist in the distance at the Tokyo Olympics.
Mewen Tomac showed the way at the start of the evening by winning the 50m backstroke final. He beat his personal best by swimming in 22 sec 84. Quadruple French champion at the end of October, finalist several times and close to the podium at international level, he thus won the first medal of his career in a major championship.
In the other races, the Swiss Noé Ponti won in the 100m butterfly and the Swede Michelle Coleman in the 50m freestyle. The men’s 4x50m medley relay was won by Thomas Ceccon’s Italy.
