Kliment Kolesnikov underlined his status as one of swimming’s brightest young stars with two golds inside an hour as Russia dominated the final night of the LEN European Short Course Championships.
The 19-year-old broke the 200m long-course backstroke world record in Glasgow last year but didn’t get a fairytale return, crashing out in the 200m semi-finals on the opening morning.
But Kolesnikov was the toast of Tollcross on Sunday night, cruising to 100m individual medley success and then retaining his 50m backstroke title.
“It was so hard tonight – but winning is in my blood,” said the teenager.
It was another brilliant night for Russia, yielding six golds and lifting them up to 13 for the week.
They took top step in three of the first four races, with Mariia Temnikova getting them off and running in the 200m breaststroke.
It was a race dominated by Britain’s Molly Renshaw, who led through 150m, but couldn’t quite hold onto the lead and brought back silver, 1.31 behind the Russian.
“I decided to go out fast and see if I were able to keep the pace till the end. The last 50m was a bit difficult but I’m satisfied with my achievement,” said Renshaw.
Then came immovable object Vladimir Morozov in the 100m freestyle, snatching his sixth gold of the week with 45.53 and compatriot Vladislav Grinev came third.
EuroSwim ended, appropriately, with a Russian victory. They were a fraction off breaking the world record in the men’s 4x50m medley.
Youth won out once again in the 100m butterfly, with 16-year-old Anastasiya Shkurdai winning Belarus’ second medal and first gold of the week.
Simona Quadarella, crowned 1500m world champion in Gwangju this summer, matched her 800m gong with 400m gold, just ahead of Germany’s Isabel Marie Gose.
There was a maiden European short-course medal for James Guy, who held onto bronze by two-hundredths of a second in the 200m butterfly. Greece’s Andreas Vazaois won gold.
“I feel great, I raced hard and smart. I knew I had a chance for a medal and just fought for that. And I’m getting stronger again,” said Guy.
Britain ended their home Championships with 11 medals – three golds, four silvers and four bronzes, their joint-best haul since 2003.