FREYA Anderson helped make British swimming history at the European Short Course Championships in Romania this week.

The former Ellesmere College student's superb 200m Freestyle gold on Sunday ensured they finished top of the competition’s medal table for the first time to add to her gold from the Mixed 4x50m Freestyle Relay the previous evening which saw Britain set a new championship record time of 1:27.75 to secure the gold. 

Anderson paced her own race to perfection to win back the Women’s 200m Freestyle crown she took in Glasgow four years ago.

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Taking the first 100m of the race out in measured fashion, the David McNulty-coached swimmer cranked up the gears over the following four lengths of the short-course pool to overturn a one-second deficit on the lead and power home to a commanding victory.

There was more to celebrate as compatriot Freya Colbert steadily built throughout her own race on the outside in lane one, and executed a strong last 25m from the turn to steal in for a brilliant bronze.

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“I am really happy with that and, also of course that Freya got on the podium too, what more could we ask for,” said Anderson,

“I really had to stick to my guns in that race because everyone has different tactics, but I played to my strengths and it paid off.

“It takes a lot of mental strength to fight back, it’s something you have to train and I’m still working on it. We do so many hours in the pool, but it takes a lot of mental training as well - the luxury I have is the amazing team around me and they just always pick me up, so I’m very blessed.”