Frenchwoman Anastasiia Kirpichnikova was crowned European champion in the 800m freestyle short course on Wednesday in Otopeni (Romania).
Kirpichnikova won in 8 min 8 sec 46/100, well ahead of Italian Simona Quadarella (8:14.83), bronze medalist in the distance at the Tokyo Olympics. Hungarian Ajna Kesely completes the podium (8:18.73).
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.
At 23, she won her first international title for France after three European short course gold medals with Russia.
