European Championships, Budapest, finals, day 5

Men's 800m freestyle

In a boiling battle with Christian Kubusch, Sebastian Rouault, added the 800m crown to the 1,500m title he won earlier in the week. With 200m to go, Kubusch held a 0.17sec lead over Rouault, coached by Lionel Horter in Mulhouse. Over the next 100m, the German piled on the pressure, the difference between the two 0.26sec going into the last 100m. Just 0.05sec split the two at the last turn. The Frenchman, 1,500m champion earlier this week, dug deep and set off for hokme like a man possessed, taking 0.79sec off Kubusch on the way to the title in a championship record of 7:48.28 (5sec down on European record pace) to silver for Germany in 7:49.12. 

Over in lane 1, Samuel Pizzetti (ITA) came back hard at the end but was out of touch with the fireworks in the centre lanes and had to settle for second bronze (1,500m) in 7:49.94. That made this year's podium the tightest in the history of the event.

A terrific battle, one that ended with defending champion Gergo Kis (HUN) locked out on 7:51.93, 1,500m silver winner and history maker for the Faroes, Pal Joensen, fifth in 7:53.11 and Euro record holder Federico Colbertaldo (ITA) 6th in 7:54.84. The final was close with Mads Glaesner (DEN) on 7:55.80 and Gergely Gyurta (HUN) on 7:59.95 and ensuring the first sub-8min field in an event that was inaugurated only two years ago in Eindhoven.

Rouault said: "before this final I'd already raced 4,600m (at the champs so far), so I felt a bit tired. My plan was to stay with the field and then put everything into the last lap." The tactic worked a treat.

Kubusch said: "I was totally exhausted at the end but it was fantastic that I managed to break the German record." That had stood to him at 7:49.22 since April 2008. "After heats I imagined what it would be like to win a medal."

Pizzetti noted that he had changed tactics after having put too much effort into the first half of the 1,500m. Today he "put everything into the second half. I think if I had applied that tactic in the 1,500m I would have won silver" instead of bronze. 

History unfolding:

Effect on race on all-time top 10:

Euro podiums:

• 2010: 7:48.28 - 7:49.94
• 2008: 7:51.94 - 7:54.37

Euro finals:

• 2010: 7:48.28 - 7:59.95
• 2008: 7:51.94 - 8:02.14
• Event held for first time in 2008
• Most Euro wins: title only raced for twice
• Most Titles/Nation: HUN, FRA: 1 each
• Tightest Podium: 2010 - gold to bronze - 1.66sec 

From the archive: The event was held for the first time in 2008, the medals going to Gergo Kis (HUN), Samuel Pizzetti (ITA) and 28-year-old Dragos Coman (ROU).

Records

Shiny suit era

• WR: 7:32.12 Zhang Lin (CHN) Jul 2009
• ER:  7:43.84 Federico Colbertaldo (ITA) Jul 2009

February 1  2008

• WR: 7:38.65 Grant Hackett (AUS) Jul 2005
• ER:  7:46.64 Yuri Prilukov (RUS) Jul 2005