Anastasia Zueva (RUS) set a European record of 28.05 to claim the European 50m backstroke crown in Eindhoven, her victory a bonus for the 100m crown she claimed ahead of Laure Manaudou (FRA) earlier in the week.

The silver went to Nina Zhivanevskaya (ESP), who improved to a 28.11 from the 28.13 European record in the semis. The bronze went to Sanja Jovanovic (CRO) in 28.17.

Markus Rogan (AUT), Olympic silver medallist, claimed the European 200m backstroke crown in 1:55.85 ahead of defending champion Arkady Vyatchanin (RUS), second on 1:57.04. The bronze went to Razvan Florea (ROU) in 1:57.53.

The Italian quartet of Emiliano Brembilla (1:48.36), Massimiliano Rosolino (1:47.38), Nicola Cassio (1:48.57) and Filippo Magnini (1:47.63), claimed the 4x200m freestyle crown in 7:09.94. Russia took silver in 7:11.70 and Austria bronze in 7:13.99. Rosolino's was joint fastest split alongside that of Ross Davenport (GBR), part of a British quartet struggling in mid-taper ahead of Olympic trials in early April and fourth tonight in 7:14.95.

If Austria's time axed a chunk of the national record, of 7:18.31, then the race witnessed the felling of a Russian monument: the Unified Team claimed the 1992 Olympic title in 7:11.95. The mark, a cracking effort at the time, is a barrier no more for the Russians.