Charlotte Bonnet split 52.20 on the second leg, and anchor Beryl Gastadello held off 2012 Olympic gold medalist Ranomi Kromowidjojo as France upset the Netherlands for gold in the women’s 4×100 free relay at the European Championships.
Marie Wattel (54.35), Bonnet (52.20), Margaux Fabre (54.41) and Gastadello (53.69) won gold in 3:34.65, just 12-hundredths ahead of the Netherlands (3:34.77). The Dutch team consisted of Kim Busch, Femke Heemskerk, Kira Toussaint and Kromowidjojo. Heemskerk split 52.33 for the quickest Dutch split and Kromowidjojo anchored in 53.22.
Denmark finished third in 3:37.03. Pernille Blume led off in 52.83, and she was followed by Signe Bro, Julie Jensen and Mie Nielsen. Great Britain was fourth in 3:37.26, followed by Italy (3:38.11), Russia (3:38.65), Switzerland (3:38.85), Germany (3:39.37) and Poland 3:40.94). Nine teams swam in the final after Denmark and Poland tied for eighth in the prelims.
