Dublin 2018: Great Britain and Italy top the charts on day six

Great Britain and Italy took Ukraine’s national anthem’s place as the number one tune played at the National Aquatic Centre on Saturday (18 August), day six of the Dublin 2018 World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships.

The British and Italian swimmers claimed six golds apiece in an evening session with five world records and a second medal for hosts Ireland.

For Great Britain, it also included a clean sweep in the women’s 100m butterfly S14. Jessica-Jane Applegate won gold with a new world record (1:04.13) followed by Bethany Firth and Louise Fiddes.

“It is difficult to describe how happy I am right now. I had so much going on this year and it feels so good to break my own world record. The fly is my favourite event, I just love it,” said Applegate.

Saturday’s first British victory came in the women’s 100m freestyle S5 with Tully Kearney (1:18.79). Eleanor Robinson was responsible for the second gold, in the women’s 50m butterfly S6 (35.37).

Ireland’s Nicole Turner won silver giving the hosts their best result at Dublin 2018 so far. The bronze medal went to Ukraine’s Oksana Khrul.

Hannah Russell and Alice Tai took their third gold in three events. Russell won the women’s 100m freestyle S12 (1:01.15) and Tai the women’s 100m butterfly S8 (1:10.51).

For Toni Shaw it was the first gold in Ireland, in the women’s 400m freestyle S9 (4:42.43), after two silver and two bronze medals in the previous days.

Impressive Fantin

Italy took the first and the last win of the day. For the second day in a row Antonio Fantin won gold and broke a world record. This time in the men’s 100m freestyle S5 (1:07.73).

“The first gold was amazing but I was trying not to think too much about it and have a good night’s sleep to prepare for this race. I am really happy, it was super fantastic,” said Fantin.

Vincenzo Boni finished his participation in Dublin with a third gold, in the men’s 200m freestyle S3 (3:31.38). It was also third gold for Federico Morlacchi in the men’s 400m freestyle S9 (4:16.92).

Carlotta Gilli gave Italy another victory in the women’s 100m freestyle S13 (57.98). Federico Bicelli won the men’s 100m freestyle S7 (1:02.45).

Fantin came back for more gold in the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay 20pts alongside Francesco Bocciardo, Arianna Talamona and Arjola Trimi.

Bruinsma makes it again

Liesette Bruinsma provided another outstanding performance in the women’s 100m freestyle S11 (1:05.14). It was the Dutch swimmer’s fourth gold and third world record at the 2018 Euros.

The Netherlands took other two golds on day six. Lisa Krueger won the women’s 200m individual medley SM10 (2:27.80) and Marc Evers the men’s 100m butterfly S14 (58.66).

Ihar Boki was not the only one to put Belarus on top of the podium this time, as Hryhory Zudzilau won the men’s 100m freestyle S11 (59.97).

Boki took his sixth gold in six days after breaking his own three-year-old world record in the 100m freestyle S13 (50.65).

“I am very happy with my performance and the world record. I don’t know if I will win another gold in my final race but I hope so,” he said.

Ukraine near 100 medals

Ukraine won two golds and 17 medals on Saturday to take the total count to 91 with one day to the end of the European Championships.

Denys Dubrov broke the world record in his victory in the men’s 200m individual medley SM10 (2:05.63) and Iaroslav Denysenko won his fourth gold in Dublin in the men’s 100m freestyle S12 (51.72).

Germany, Greece, Poland and Spain also topped the podium at the National Aquatic Centre.

Poland’s Jacek Czech won the men’s 100m backstroke S2 (2:11.36) while Spain’s David Sanchez Sierra bagged gold in the men’s 50m butterfly S6 (34.26).

The Greek gold came with Dimosthenis Michalentzakis in the men’s 100m butterfly S8 (1:03.60). Germany’s Denise Grahl won her third gold in the women’s 100m freestyle S7 (1:11.62).

Full results and a complete schedule can be found on the Dublin 2018 website.

Sunday (19 August) is the closing day of the Dublin 2018 European Championships with 23 medal events.

You can watch day seven live on World Para Swimming website’s and Facebook page.