Melanie Marshall produced a brave front running performance to take Britain’s first medal of this year’s European Championships in the 200m backstroke. The Loughborough swimmer led the field through 150m but was pegged back on the closing lap and was eventually touched out into the bronze medal position by the Ukraine’s Irvna Amshennikova while France’s Esther Barron, who had withdrawn from the 100m event to concentrate on this final took Gold in 2:10.07. Marshall posted 2:12.17 just 0.04 behind the silver medal spot.
Team-mate Lizzie Simmonds improved her ranking to finish 5th in 2:13.02, just outside her best.