Van Almsick takes gold haul to record level

Swimming

Franziska van Almsick put Wednesday's European Championship fiasco behind her to becoming the most successful woman in the history of event.

Van Almsick, who won six titles at the 1993 championships in Sheffield, took her total of gold medals in Vienna to four yesterday, putting her aggregate haul one above the previous record set by another former East German, Ute Geweniger.

Having failed to reach the 200 metres freestyle final the day before, the 17-year-old made no mistake in the 400m free and then propelled Germany towards victory in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Germany beat Sweden, with Britain third.

Britain collected another bronze when Adam Ruckwood, from Birmingham, was third home in the 200m backstroke.

Ipswich's Karen Pickering, who has already won three bronze medals, and Derwentside's Vicki Horner failed to reach the final of the 400 free while Ealing's Kathy Osher and Emma Tattam, of Portsmouth, missed out in the backstroke.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 23