Veera Kivirinta took European Championship silver in the 50-meter breaststroke.
19:40•Updated 20:08
Veera Kivirinta took the first medal of his career when he swam to silver in the 50m breaststroke at the long course European Championships in Belgrade.
Kivirinna’s time was 30.65. The championship was won by a Polish swimmer Dominika Sztander at 30.55. Kivirinna’s medal was Finland’s first and only one at the European Championships in Belgrade.
Kivirinta was the fastest in yesterday’s heats and semis, although he was not completely satisfied with his own swims. Kivirinna’s time in the first round was 30.58 and in the semi-final 30.73.
The 50-meter breaststroke is not an Olympic distance, so the European Championships were the main goal of Kivirinna’s season. Kivirinta, 29, who works as a police officer, has previously even talked about possibly ending his career for these games.
Ida Hulkko was sixth in the race with a time of 30.99.
In the final of the 200m butterfly Laura Lahtinen was eighth with a time of 2:14.03.