Icelandic swimmer Hrafnhildur Lúthersdóttir won her third medal at the LEN European Aquatics Championships in London yesterday when she captured the silver in the 50 m breaststroke. She had previously won silver in the 100 m breaststroke and bronze in the 200 m breaststroke.
She is the first Icelander to ever win a European championship medal in a 50-meter long pool. “I wanted to get these three, that is, medals for 50, 100 and 200 m breast stroke. Not many people have achieved that,” Hrafnhildur told RÚV.
Hrafnhildur is the only female contestant at the European Championships to win a medal for all three breast stroke races.
When asked to what she attributed this amazing performance, she answered, “I have to thank my coach Klaus [Jürgen Ohk], my parents, because I couldn’t do anything without them. They have supported me through everything. I also want to thank my friends and my boyfriend.”
“I intended to use the European Championships as a sort of practice meet, since I wasn’t fully rested. I mainly wanted to see where I stood, but was hoping to swim close to my best times. So, setting a national record in all events and receiving a medal for all of them is far beyond by expectations,” Hrafnhildur commented. “I’m extremely happy.”
