European Championships, Budapest, day 7 finals:

Women 50m breaststroke

Pink cap bobbing along towards a 30.29 championship record, Yulya Efimova (RUS) added the dash to her 100m crown a class apart, Kate Haywood (GBR) taking silver in 31.12, ahead of Jennie Johansson (SWE), on 31.24. The Russian, silver medallist two years ago, fell just 0.20sec shy of the European record she set in shiny suit season. She also took Russia level with Hungary and Sweden on historic gold medal count, each nation now on 2 victories each since the event was introduced at Istanbul in 1999.

With the breaststroke crew heading to the medley relay, no words were spoken - and then events in the relay ensured that Efimova was unavailable. Russia touched first a hand ahead of Britain, Efimova having caught Haywood in the lead in the first 50m after getting off to a fast start. Too fast: by 0.12sec. The title lost, Efimova, coached by Irina Vyatchanina, Arkady's mum, was in tears in the warm-down pool. A lesson learned.

Haywood, meanwhile, is back from hip surgery last year and better than ever. Based at Loughborough with coach Ben Titley, she missed shiny season II and noted that her 50m 31.12 blast was a lifetime best. Some injuries are blessings in disguise. Rehabilitation has been steady and  cautious and Haywood has emerged as a smoother, more balanced technician. "It's just great to come back from hip surgery to this. And then to get to get the relay gold is just brilliant. I love racing relays with the girls. And a pb on the 50. I can't remember when the last time was that I did that. Way back." There's no hiding from the eternal work of Nick Thierry and the world rankings: Haywood was right: the 2005 world championships in 31.41 was her last pb. 

"I'm so chuffed," said Haywood. Next stop Delhi.

History unfolding:

Effect on race on all-time top 10: 0

Euro podiums:

• 2010: 30.29 - 32.24
• 2008: 31.08 - 31.59
• 2006: 31.69 - 31.95

Euro finals:

• 2010: 30.29 - 32.18
• 2008: 31.08 - 32.46
• 2006: 31.69 - 32.44
• Most Euro wins:  Agnes Kovacs (HUN), 2
• Most Titles/Nation: HUN, SWE, RUS 2 each, including Efimova in Budapest
• Tightest Podium: 2006 - gold to bronze - 0.26sec

From the archive:  On her way to the 2002 crown in Berlin in 2002, Emma Igelstrom won the battle of battles on the clock. On March 14, 2002, the Swedish sprinter broke the 30sec barrier in the 50m breaststroke when she won the world short-course title in Moscow. Her 29.96sec effort marked the 10th new global mark in the 50m sprint since Luo Xuejuan (CHN) clocked 30.56 on December 3, 2001. Over the four months that followed before Igelstrom settled the argument, the record went to Luo (twice) and teammate Wei Li (once), Britain’s Zoe Baker (thrice) and Igelstrom (four times).

Records

Shiny suit era

• WR:  29.80 Jessica Hardy (USA) Aug 2009
• ER:   30.09 Yuliya Efimova (RUS) Jul 2009 

February 1  2008

• WR: 30.31 Jade Edminstone (AUS) Feb 2006
• ER: 30.57  Zoe Baker (GBR) Aug 2002