BERLIN, Aug 3: Franziska van Almsick extended her fairytale comeback by grabbing her fourth gold medal of the European swimming championships in a world record time in the women’s 200 metres freestyle on Saturday.

The former teenage phenonemon, ending a decade of frustration in her home town, thrilled an excited sell-out crowd with a spectacular victory in her favourite event in one minute 56.64.seconds.

The 24-year-old burst into tears after bettering the previous mark of 1:56.78 seconds she had set by winning gold as a 16-year-old at the 1994 world championships in Rome.

Romania’s Camelia Potec made the fastest start but van Almsick caught her before the first turn and she had to settle for silver in 1:57.80 while Alena Popchanka of Belarus took the bronze in 1:57.91.

The popular van Almsick, back at her best after years in the wilderness, started her Berlin campaign by inspiring a German victory in a world record time in Monday’s 4x100 metres freestyle relay before anchoring the German quartet to another gold in Tuesday’s 4x200 freestyle event.

She went on to take the blue riband 100 metres freestyle on Wednesday, rallying from sixth place at the turn for her first individual title at a major event since she won gold in the 100 metres freestyle at the 1995 Europeans in Vienna.

But her 200 metres triumph was the sweetest as it was over that distance that she experienced the highlight of her erratic career.—Reuters