{"id":590566,"date":"2024-07-07T10:50:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-07T17:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=590566"},"modified":"2024-07-07T10:50:00","modified_gmt":"2024-07-07T17:50:00","slug":"european-juniors-eneli-jefimova-wins-fourth-straight-title-sara-curtis-claims-sixth-gold-as-italy-top-medal-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/european-juniors-eneli-jefimova-wins-fourth-straight-title-sara-curtis-claims-sixth-gold-as-italy-top-medal-table\/","title":{"rendered":"European Juniors: Eneli Jefimova Wins Fourth Straight Title, Sara Curtis Claims Sixth Gold As Italy Top Medal Table"},"content":{"rendered":"

European Juniors: Eneli Jefimova Wins Fourth Straight Title, Sara Curtis Claims Sixth Gold As Italy Top Medal Table<\/h4>\n

Eneli Jefimova<\/strong> won her fourth straight 100m breaststroke title and Sara Curtis<\/strong> claimed her sixth gold medal on the final day of the European Junior Swimming Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania.<\/p>\n

Curtis split 53.68 to anchor the Italian women to victory in the women\u2019s 4x100m medley relay to claim her third relay title to add to her three individual golds.<\/p>\n

Italy also won the men\u2019s medley relay to conclude the programme at the Lazdynai pool in the Lithuanian capital.<\/p>\n

The continental competition concluded with Italy dominant at the top of the medal table with 13 golds, nine silvers and three bronze medals.<\/p>\n

Hungary <\/strong>finished second with four golds, three silvers and four bronzes followed by T\u00fcrkiye <\/strong>(4g, 3s, 3b), Romania<\/strong> (4g, 2s, 1b) and Lithuania<\/strong> (4g, 1s, 2b).<\/p>\n

Jefimova Lifts Crown Once More<\/h3>\n

Jefimova was seeking her fourth consecutive title following victories at Roma 2021, Otopeni 2022 and Belgrade 2023.<\/p>\n

The 17-year-old was also looking to add the European Junior title to the crown she had lifted at the European Aquatics Championships Belgrade 2024.<\/p>\n

Jefimova set an Estonian record of 1;06.08 in the semifinals on Saturday and she made a superb start to the final, turning in 30.86.<\/p>\n

A first voyage to 1:05 appeared on the cards but she fell just shy in 1:06.12 ahead of Smilte Plytnykaite<\/strong> as the Lithuanian added 100m silver to 50m gold in 1:07.92 with Theodora Taylor<\/strong> of Great Britain third in 1:08.59.<\/p>\n

Italy Win Both Medley Relays<\/h3>\n

Curtis took over on anchor with Italy second behind Denmark although a superb start saw her take about three metres off the field.<\/p>\n

She split 25.18\/28.50 as she followed Benedetta Boscaro<\/strong> (1:03.44), Irene Mati<\/strong> (1:08.76) and Caterina Santambrogio<\/strong> (58.60) with the quartet clocking 4:04.48.<\/p>\n

France were second in 4:05.46 with Denmark third in 4:05.85.<\/p>\n

On top of the medley relay, Curtis leaves Lithuania with golds in the 50\/100 freestyle, 50m backstroke and women\u2019s and mixed 4x100m freestyle relays.<\/p>\n

Daniele del Signore<\/strong> (54.56), Lorenzo Fuschini<\/strong> (1:02.55), Daniele Momoni<\/strong> (51.89) and Carlos D\u2019Ambrosio<\/strong> (48.13) combined to secure the men\u2019s title in 3:37.13.<\/p>\n

Spain were second in 3:38.09 with Great Britain in bronze in 3:38.09.<\/p>\n

A performance of note came from Tajus Juska<\/strong> who produced a scorching men\u2019s 100m freestyle that left the 15-year-old in shock up in lane one.<\/p>\n

The Lithuanian teenager, who won 50m freestyle bronze, reached the turn in third before coming back in 25.33 to take the title in 48.74, 0.06 ahead of Croatia\u2019s Vlaho Nenadic<\/strong> who took silver in 48.80.<\/p>\n

Carlos D\u2019Ambrosio<\/strong> of Italy claimed bronze in 48.99.<\/p>\n