Britain's mixed relay team sets new European record as they win Gold in European Aquatics Championships

Britain set a new European record at the European Aquatics Championship as their mixed relay team put in a monumental effort to win the Gold medal in the mixed 4x100m event in Budapest on Thursday. They finished the race in 38.82 seconds, only 0.41 seconds short of the world record set by China. Kathleen Dawson, James Guy, Anna Hopkin, and man-in-form Adam Peaty were thrilled after the match as they now set their sights on the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. British swimmer Freya Anderson also secured her first individual long-course European medal as she bagged the Bronze medal in the 200m freestyle event.

“I’m even more excited about heading into the Olympics in this event now,” Peaty said after their relay event victory.

The medley relay team of Dawson, Peaty, Guy, and Hopkin will make its debut at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. They will have to shoulder massive pressure as Britain secured the World Gold in 2015. However, after the near record-equalling performance at Budapest, the Brits will be brimming with confidence.

Young Freya Anderson was also over the moon with her first individual European medal. She has already won six European long-course medals in her career so far. She managed to outswim France’s Charlotte Bonnet who gave her a tough run in the closing stages of the race, to claim the Bronze medal. The finish has given the 20-year-old much-needed momentum ahead of the Olympics.

“It’s really nice and a big confidence boost ahead of the summer,” Anderson said after the event. “It was my second quickest time ever and to do that unrested is a real bonus,” she concluded.

The 200m freestyle event was won by Czech Republic swimmer Barbora Seemanova, who took the Gold medal home. Experienced Italian freestyler Federica Pellegrini managed to take home the Silver medal.