Sarah Sjostrom, Katinka Hosszu Earn Record Medal Hauls At European Championships

Photo by Joao Marc Bosch

BERLIN, Germany, August 24. AFTER announcing a 10-event schedule for the European championships, Katinka Hosszu’s odds were good to make history with the most medals won by a female in one European championships. In her way was Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, who was in line to clean up in Berlin as well. Also on the table was the record for the most medals won by a female swimmer at any major international competition.

Before the 2014 edition, three women each won five medals at the European championships: Franziska Van Almsick (1993), Inge Dekker (2008) and Therese Alshammar (2010). Hosszu one-upped them with a six-medal haul in Berlin, while Sjostrom collected seven.

Hosszu’s medal tally:
100 backstroke – gold
200 individual medley – gold
400 individual medley – gold
200 freestyle – silver
200 butterfly – bronze
800 freestyle relay – bronze

Sjostrom’s medal tally:
50 butterfly – gold
100 freestyle – gold
400 freestyle relay – gold
50 freestyle – silver
100 butterfly – silver
400 freestyle relay – silver
400 medley relay – silver

Though Hosszu and Sjostrom were only racing swimmers from the European continent at the seven-day meet, their ability to collect so many medals is impressive. Before last week, only four female swimmers in history had won six medals at any major international competition. Tracy Caulkins did it first at the 1978 world championships with five golds and a silver. Kristin Otto had a six-medal haul at the 1988 Olympics, winning six golds. Natalie Coughlin was next, taking six medals at the 2008 Olympics. Last year, Missy Franklin joined the impressive group with six medals — all gold — at the world championships.

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Danny

9 years ago

Sjostrom won 7 🙂

David

9 years ago

Mireia Belmonte won six medals too.
2 gold
2 silver
2 bronze

Stan

9 years ago

Siobhan O’Connor won 6 medals at this years Commonwealth Games too..