Courtesy: Nick Hope/LEN
Germany divers dominated the penultimate day of diving at the European Championships, with Timo Barthel, as well as Wassen sisters Christina and Elena, claiming gold medals at the European Games in Poland.
Barthel’s maiden major individual gold medal – coming in the 10m platform final – also secured his nation a place in the event for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
He achieved an impressive combined total of 435.40 for his six routines to finish ahead of Britain’s Robbie Lee (413.20) and Riccardo Giovannini (411.20) of Italy.
Earlier German sisters Christina and Elena Wassen, already multiple European medallists, finally secured top spot on the podium for the first time with victory in the women’s synchronised 10m platform final.
They scored a combined total of 297.72 from their five routines to finish ahead of Ukrainian duo (274.68) Kseniia Bailo and Sofia Esman as well as Ana Carvaljal and Valeria Antolino Pacheco (261.48) of Spain.
MEN’S INDIVIDUAL 10M PLATFORM REACTION:
GOLD – TIMO BARTHEL – GERMANY
“It’s unbelievable I’m just speechless. Last year I won the preliminary too and then I did a bad job in the final, so finally I got the gold medal. It’s just amazing and now we have the place for Germany, but it’s just for Germany, not my place, so I have to take it next year at the German nationals and the qualification.”
SILVER – ROBBIE LEE – GREAT BRITAIN
“It’s very special and I’m so happy. First major senior event and to come away with a silver medal is great and knowing I could do a lot more and a lot better is so good as well. I’m very excited for the future.”
BRONZE – RICCARDO GIOVANNINI – ITALY
“I’m so happy because again (like silver in the synchronised 10m platform event) it is unexpected and it’s really special and honour to dress it this team uniform and it’s also an honour because the last man to win a 10m medal for Italy was my coach and now I take this medal and I’m very happy with that.”
WOMEN’S SYNCHRONISED 10M PLATFORM REACTION
GOLD – ELENA WASSEN – GERMANY
“We are very, very happy because we didn’t do training for the last two days because Christina was sick and lying in bed all day so we didn’t even know if we’d compete until a few minutes before the competition.”
GOLD – CHRISTINA WASSEN – GERMANY
“I’m tired but really, really happy I could push my body through it and become a European champion.”
SILVER – KSENIIA BAILO – UKRAINE
“I’m so happy to have this medal and I’m so proud of her (Sofia Esman), this is her first medal in the senior European Championships and I’m so hapopy for her and it’s so special for me.”
BRONZE – VALERIA ANTOLINO PACHECO – SPAIN
“We are really happy with this medal and for this first competition together.”
BRONZE – ANA CARVAJAL – SPAIN
“It’s so good because now Spain is like a big team, more that in previous years and it’s so good.”
