Swimming: Foster adds gold to Britain's medal haul

MARK FOSTER took gold in the 50m freestyle to lead Great Britain's sweep to eight medals at the European Short Course Championships here last night.

The world record-holder from Bath University chalked up Britain's second gold of the championships by beating the Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband to touch home first in 21.71sec - 0.08sec ahead of his rival. Foster turned things round impressively from the morning heats, from which he qualified from a lowly 15th place.

"Pieter has never beaten me on a short course and he never will," Foster said.

James Hickman from Leeds had to be content with silver in the 100m butterfly. The defending champion finished 0.40sec outside his European record and adrift of Sweden's Lars Frolander.

Britain's other medals came courtesy of Sue Rolph (silver in the 100m freestyle), Nicola Jackson (bronze in the 50m butterfly and the 4x100m freestyle relay), Jamie Salter (bronze in the 400m freestyle), Sarah Price (bronze in the 100m backstroke) and Adam Ruckwood (bronze in the 200m backstroke).