European Juniors: Eneli Jefimova Wins Fourth Straight Title, Sara Curtis Claims Sixth Gold As Italy Top Medal Table
Eneli Jefimova won her fourth straight 100m breaststroke title and Sara Curtis claimed her sixth gold medal on the final day of the European Junior Swimming Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Curtis split 53.68 to anchor the Italian women to victory in the women’s 4x100m medley relay to claim her third relay title to add to her three individual golds.
Italy also won the men’s medley relay to conclude the programme at the Lazdynai pool in the Lithuanian capital.
The continental competition concluded with Italy dominant at the top of the medal table with 13 golds, nine silvers and three bronze medals.
Hungary finished second with four golds, three silvers and four bronzes followed by Türkiye (4g, 3s, 3b), Romania (4g, 2s, 1b) and Lithuania (4g, 1s, 2b).
Jefimova Lifts Crown Once More
Jefimova was seeking her fourth consecutive title following victories at Roma 2021, Otopeni 2022 and Belgrade 2023.
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.
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.
A first voyage to 1:05 appeared on the cards but she fell just shy in 1:06.12 ahead of Smilte Plytnykaite as the Lithuanian added 100m silver to 50m gold in 1:07.92 with Theodora Taylor of Great Britain third in 1:08.59.
Italy Win Both Medley Relays
Curtis took over on anchor with Italy second behind Denmark although a superb start saw her take about three metres off the field.
She split 25.18/28.50 as she followed Benedetta Boscaro (1:03.44), Irene Mati (1:08.76) and Caterina Santambrogio (58.60) with the quartet clocking 4:04.48.
France were second in 4:05.46 with Denmark third in 4:05.85.
On top of the medley relay, Curtis leaves Lithuania with golds in the 50/100 freestyle, 50m backstroke and women’s and mixed 4x100m freestyle relays.
Daniele del Signore (54.56), Lorenzo Fuschini (1:02.55), Daniele Momoni (51.89) and Carlos D’Ambrosio (48.13) combined to secure the men’s title in 3:37.13.
Spain were second in 3:38.09 with Great Britain in bronze in 3:38.09.
A performance of note came from Tajus Juska who produced a scorching men’s 100m freestyle that left the 15-year-old in shock up in lane one.
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’s Vlaho Nenadic who took silver in 48.80.
Carlos D’Ambrosio of Italy claimed bronze in 48.99.
- Link to results
- Day 1 report
- Day 2 report
- Day 3 report
- Day 4 report
- Day 5 report
- Link to EuroAquaticsTV.com (subscription)