Michael Gross (FRG) held the world record in the 200m freestyle in 1:47.44, a time he clocked to win the Olympic crown in Los Angeles in 1984. It is a measure of the might of The Albatross that his German record has only just fallen: in Eindhoven tonight, Paul Biedermann (GER) became the first European champion in the event since Gross in Sofia, 1985, 1:46.59.

Silver went to Amaury Leveaux (FRA) - who led all the way before being passed by Biedermann in the last 10m - in a French record of 1:46.99, inside his own previous standard of 1:47.89. Massimiliano Rosolino (ITA) took bronze in 1:47.33.

Biedermann said: 'I never reckoned with such a time. On the last few metres I kept telling myself: you want to break Michael Gross' record - and I think this wasn't my last word in the 200m freestyle...'. Fighting talk. Good for him.

Biedermann, coached by Frank Embacher in Halle (birthplace of Kornelia Ender), was held up as an example to all German swimmers on the eve of the championships. He is one of the very few likely to be on the Olympic team for Germany this summer who opted to race in Eindhoven ahead of Olympic trials in Berlin next month.

Orjan Madsen, the performance director for Germany, called on his shoal to 'stand up and be counted' more often, like Biedermann had during a tough winter short-course season designed to expose him to more international competition. 'They did not need to be at their peak but it would have been good for them to stand up and be counted. They are not exposing themselves to top international competition nearly enough ... and that's a big problem. It's a problem for the continent but I'm here to talk about us - and it's a big problem for us,' said Madsen.