Elizabeth Simmonds

US teenager Melissa Franklin set the short course world record for the 200m backstroke on Saturday when she swam 2 mins 00.03 seconds at Berlin's World Cup meet.

While world champion Gemma Spofforth and compatriot Elizabeth Simmonds have helped propel Britain to joint top of the standings at the European swimming championships, double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington admits she has been struggling.

While world champion Gemma Spofforth and compatriot Elizabeth Simmonds have helped propel Britain to joint top of the standings at the European swimming championships, double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington admits she has been struggling.

World champion Gemma Spofforth handed Britain its fourth gold medal at the European championships on Thursday, pipping compatriot Elizabeth Simmonds to win the 100m backstroke in 59.80sec.

Germany's Paul Biedermann made up for losing out on a 400m freestyle triumph by retaining the men's 200 freestyle crown at the European championships in Budapest on Wednesday.

Britain and France - landing their second titles - joined Norway, Spain and Sweden in picking off gold medals on the second day of the European championships in Budapest on Tuesday.