European Championships, Debrecen, Hungary, day 2 finals:
Fabio Scozzoli (ITA), world championship silver medallist in Shanghai last year, dedicated his European title in the 100m breaststroke today to Alexander Dale Oen, the Norwegian who took gold in China but died three weeks ago on a training camp in the US.
"I held on for gild to be able to dedicate it to Alex, who was always there to celebrate my successes with me," said the Italian after claiming the crown in 1:00.55.
Scozzolli noted that his preparations for London 2012 meant he could not be at his best today on the clock - but he was determined to take the gold so that he could honour Dale Oen.
An investigation into Dale Oen's suspected cardiac arrest is still ongoing in Flagstaff, Ariziona.
Scozzoli took the crown in Debrecen ahead of Valeriy Dymo (UKR), 1:00.68, and the champion's teammate Mattia Pesce, on 1:00.93, that locking out Marco Koch (GER) by 0.06sec.
Other race reports
Women's 200m backstroke
Alexianne Castel took the crown for Gaul in 2:08.41, the minor spoils going to Jenny Mensing (GER), on 2:09.55 and Duane da Rocha (ESP), on 2:09.56. Leader at the 100m and 150m, Daryna Zevina (UKR) tightened on the way home and finished fourth in 2:09.57. Three of the top four led the race at some stage, Mensing at the first turn, Zevina at the second and third and Castel the champion, while Da Rocha came through from 6th at the 100m mark to 5th at the last turn on her way to bronze.
Men's 100m backstroke
Aristeidis Grigoriadis (GRE) led at the turn in 26.05 and came home to a 53.86 victory ahead of Helge Meeuw (GER), on 54.06, and Yakov Yan Toumarkin (ISR), on 54.14. The champion's time places him 13th in the world so far this year.
Men's 50m butterfly
Rafael Munoz (ESP) took the non-Olympic dash crown in 23.16, his second-best ever in textile 0.01sec shy of his 2010 high. The 23-year-old set the world record at 22.43 in 2009 at a time when booster bodysuits were allowed.
The silver went to Fred Bousquet (FRA) in 23.30, the bronze to Yauhen Tsurkin (BLR) in 23.37, former European champion and the man who stopped 0.01sec shy of Michael Phelps (USA) over 100m in Beijing in 2008, Milorad Cavic (SRB) joint 5th in 23.53.
Women's 50m butterfly
Still wet from the 100m free semi, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) claimed the crown in 25.64, the silver going to Triin Aljand (EST) in 25.92 the bronze to Ingvild Snildal (NOR) in 26.16.
Semi-finals
Sarah Sjoestrom (SWE) distanced herself from the middle lanes in the final when she clocked a holding 55.14 to win the first semi of the 100m freestyle ahead of victory in the 50m butterfly final. The second semi had Germany's Daniela Schreiber up front in 54.53 ahead of teammate and Olympic champion Britta Steffen, on 54.71. with Nery-Mantey Niangkouara (GRE) and Alice Mizzau (ITA) next through on 54.98 and 55.07 respectively. Niangkouara, 29, has been missing from the elite pool for the past six years, her best a 54.48 from 2006.
Jennie Johansson (SWE) booked lane 4 for the final of the 100m breaststroke in 1:07.65. Either side of her will be Germans Sarah Poewe, on 1:07.70 and Caroline Ruhnau, on 1:08.01.
Olympic silver medallist behind Phelps and ahead of Ryan Lochte (USA) in Beijing, Laszlo Cseh warmed up for London 2012 (and the European final tomorrow) with a 1:57.80 effort in the 200m medley. Closest by were Simon Sjodin (SWE) and Gal Nevo (ISR), on 1:59.44 (Swedish record) and 1:59.62 respectively. Danger lurks too in the shape of Markus Rogan (AUT) and James Goddard (GBR), both just over the 2-min mark.
The session ended with Dominik Kozma, 20, raising a loud cheer from his home Hungarian crowd when he booked lane 4 for the final of the 200m freestyle in 1:47.59. A tall order awaits him: either side of Kozma in the final will be Germans Tim Wallburger, on 1:47.90, and world-championship bronze medallist Paul Biedermann, on 1:47.92, with Dominik Meichtry (SUI) on 1:48.35 and Amaury Leveaux (FRA) on 1:48.38, and Robbie Renwick (GBR) the last man inside 1:49, on 1:48.89.
