Biedermann back as Halsall wins 100m free

Germany’s Paul Biedermann made up for losing out on a 400m freestyle triumph by retaining the men’s 200 freestyle crown at the European championships yesterday.

World champion Biedermann, who was shocked by French teen Yannick Agnel on Monday, bounced back to win gold as he outpaced Russia’s Nikita Lobintsev and Sebastian Verschuren, of the Netherlands, touching in 1:46.06.

Lobintsev at least had the consolation of having taken gold in the 4x100m earlier in the week.

“I tried to set a quicker pace from the off,” explained Biedermann.

“In the end the time wasn’t that great – I was quicker in the national championships.

“But what the heck, it’s winning the title that counts,” said the 24-year-old, who won both the 200 and the 400 freestyle at last year’s world championships.

Agnel was not competing in yesterday’s race as he failed to make the cut in the national qualifiers at the distance.

Francesca Halsall, meanwhile, gave Britain a third gold of the championships by winning the women’s 100m freestyle in 53.58 to add to titles for Elizabeth Simmonds in the 200m backstroke and Hannah Miley who took Monday’s 400m individual medley.

Halsall led by 0.008sec at the turn and retained her advantage to beat out Aliaksandra Herasimenia, of Belarus, and Femke Heemskerk, of the Netherlands.

Russia’s Yuliya Efimova took the gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke in 1:06.32 with Denmark’s Rikke Moeller Pedersen and Jennie Johansson of Sweden sharing silver.

Britain’s Kate Haywood was disqualified for a fly kick off the start.

Defending champion Laszlo Cseh won the 200m individual medley final to spark wild cheers among the home fans, delighted at the hosts’ first crown.

France joined Britain on three golds after Sebastien Rouault won the men’s 1,500m freestyle in 14:55.17 with Pal Joensen (Faroe Islands) snatching the silver ahead of Italy’s Samuel Pizzetti.