Jazmin Carlin secured her second major international swimming title in less than a month as she stormed to victory in a lifetime best in the 800m freestyle at the European Championships.
Carlin, who won Commonwealth gold in the 800m on July 28 in Glasgow, appeared well placed to add the European title after comfortably qualifying out of the heats in first place.
And she got her tactics in the final in Berlin spot on to deliver on her potential, staying level with Spaniard Mireia Belmonte Garcia early on before making her move.
She took the lead with 300m left and would win by over six seconds in a new personal best time, new Welsh record and new European record of 8:15.54 minutes.
“It’s been amazing, I couldn’t have asked for more. I am in shock with that time. I knew I was capable of going a faster time, I’ve done three 8:18s in the past year, so I knew I was due a drop but I didn’t know whether it would be here,” she said.
“To come away with 8:15 and a gold medal, I couldn’t have asked for more. It’s been a really great season. I’ve put in a lot of work and I think you get out what you put in.”
A further four medals were won by British swimmers on the fourth night after Carlin got the team up and running, continuing a fine European Championships so far in Berlin.
Aimee Willmott, who claimed one of two British bronzes on the opening night in the 400m medley final, added a second medal in the form of silver in the 200m equivalent.
Ross Murdoch also took silver in the 200m breaststroke final, moving from third after 150m to finish second while teammate Andrew Willis was an agonising fourth.
Georgia Davies and Chris Walker-Hebborn both won bronze in the 100m and 50m backstroke respectively – the latter now on three medals at the Europeans in Berlin.
The double Commonwealth champion won 100m backstroke and 4x100m mixed medley relay gold on day two but the women’s 4x200m freestyle team finished in sixth on the fourth night.
Carlin formed part of the quartet along with Willmott, Rebecca Turner and Shauna Lee while there will be further British finalists on Friday.
Jemma Lowe progressed to the 200m butterfly final after a promising swim in the semi-finals to place sixth overall and Molly Renshaw was fifth fastest into the 200m breaststroke medal showdown.
© Sportsbeat 2014