Golden day for Popov, Brembilla

The win hoisted Russia’s title tally to 16, one gold clear of Germany at the top of the final medals table.

It took Popov’s `Seville tally’ to four golds 50 m, 100 m, 4X100 freestyle and medley relays and his European Championship Golds aggregate to 15, since his debut at the 1991 championships in Athens.

But the most impressive win of the day belonged to the 18-year-old Italian Brembilla, who completed the first European 400 and 1,500 metres double since East German – Uwe Dassler in 1985.

Brembilla left his rivals strung out behind him in the second half of the longest pool race and broke the 15-minute barrier for the first time in his career with a championship record 14:58.65.

Ukrainians Igor Snitko (15:07.85) and Denis Zavgorodny (15:19.28) took silver and bronze but the glory belonged to Brembilla, the first non-German to win the European 1,500 since the great Vladimir Salnikov in 1983.

“Two Golds at a European championship was not even a dream for me. I never thought I could win them,” Brembilla said.

De Bruin, who won three gold and a bronze at the Atlanta Olympics under her maiden name of Michelle Smith, finished with two gold and two silver here, at Seville.

Spain’s Maria Pelaez inflicted the unlikely second defeat, snatching the Irish woman’s 200 metres butterfly crown when she charged through on the final length to cap a hold challenge in the second half of the race.

De Bruin seized the early initiative but the former European Junior champion Pelaez, roared on by the home crowd, swam the race of her life to catch up with her formidable rival. She clocked 2:10.25 seconds to De Bruin’s 2:10.88.De Bruin pulled out of yesterday’s 200 individual medley because she was worn out by her punishing schedule and wanted an extra day to concentrate on her 200 butterfly title defence.