Italy’s Simona Quadarella took command of the women’s 800 free final and pulled away to capture the first gold medal of night No. 2 at the European Championships. Quadarella put up a massive time of 8:16.35, making her the second-fastest swimmer in the world this year behind Katie Ledecky and the seventh-fastest swimmer of all-time, in between the great Janet Evans (8:16.22) and Boglarka Kapas (8:16.37).
Hungary’s Anja Kesely took second in 8:21.91, setting the first European junior record in the event. Russia’s Anna Egorova claimed bronze in 8:24.61, just ahead of Germany’s Sarah Koehler (8:25.81).
Hungary’s Kapas fell to fifth in 8:26.32, followed by Slovenia’s Tjasa Oder (8:30.08), Liechtenstein’s Julia Hassler (8:33.00) and Spain’s Jimena Perez Blanco (8:35.51).
