With a time of 27 sec 27, she beat the Italian Silvia Scalia (27.53) and the Dutch Maaike De Waard (27.54).

"It was very fast, it went at a crazy speed. I saw my opponent a little next to it, I said to myself + I must not let go +. I am breaking the French record, I am really too happy, it was a great race", reacted the gold medalist.

"In training, I felt great, I was very high on the water and everything was fine. I said to myself why not, and here it is. First European championship, first title."

Analia Pigrée has come a long way.

Injured in the shoulder at the beginning of the year, she had spent several weeks out of the basins to recover.

"Nothing is acquired, clearly. You can lose absolutely everything in an injury, even the mind can be + down + direct. It allowed me to have a good mind and to regain such physical shape", he said. -she explains.

“We learn a lot from our failures”

For her first World Championships in Budapest in June, the Guyanese had won bronze on the same distance and had considered that this medal represented "the beginning of (her) career".

With this European title, it continues in the most beautiful way six weeks later.

In Rome, his program continues on Monday with the 100m backstroke series.

"We are at the end of the season and the fatigue is felt, but in the 100m, I can do better than in Budapest," said Pigrée.

In the Hungarian capital, she was eliminated in the semi-finals.

"It's a good experience to have failed in the 100m in Budapest. You learn a lot from your failures, for me anyway."

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At the end of the fourth day of competition, France has six medals, including two titles.

Silver medalist in the 100m on Friday, Charlotte Bonnet was less happy on Sunday evening and could only take seventh place in the 200m freestyle, which is her favorite race.

"I had a lot of pain the whole race, I don't really know what to say, I'm obviously a little disappointed. I really suffered, with the impression of not finding any swimming, no ease. It was super hard”, she reacted.

The blue relay disqualified

"There are three days of competition left so I have to recover. We have relays that are competitive so why not go get some great things", she wanted to be positive.

The race was won by Dutchwoman Marrit Steenbergen, who completed the 100-200m double, after her victory in the queen race on Friday.

"I can't believe I made my personal best (1 min 56 sec 36)," she smiled.

"It's an incredible, crazy, very fast race with great swimming quality. Personal best and gold medal, what more could you ask for?"

In the other races, Kristof Milak won the 100m butterfly final but said he was unhappy with his time of 50 sec 33. "I wanted to win but with a better time I still want to swim under 50 seconds , which I failed to do today (Sunday)," said the 22-year-old Hungarian.

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At the end of the evening, Italy added an eighth title to their collection by winning the 4x100m freestyle relay in the open-air pool in Rome, where the Blues were disqualified for taking too many risks in the shots. relay.

© 2022 AFP