European Swimming Championships : East German Women Finish Off Strong Showing With 14th Gold

Dagmar Hase upset Olympic champion Krisztina Egerszegi of Hungary in the 200-meter backstroke Sunday, giving the powerful East German women’s team its 14th gold medal at the European Swimming Championships.

East Germany’s Kathleen Nord also won the 200-meter butterfly in 2 minutes 09.33 seconds, as the East Germans finished with all but two of the women’s titles.

Catherine Plewinski of France scored a surprise victory in the 50-meter freestyle over Daniella Hunger, another East German Olympic medalist and holder of two 1989 European titles. Earlier in the championships, Plewinski won the 100-meter butterfly, the other event not won by the East Germans.

East Germany’s Joerg Hoffmann won a dramatic duel against Stefan Pfeiffer of West Germany in the 1,500-meter freestyle, Tamas Darnyi of Hungary collected his third gold medal by winning the 200-meter individual medley, and the Soviet Union retained its title in the 400-meter medley relay despite a strong challenge from France.

The Soviet Union won the men’s 400-meter medley relay in 3:41.44, best time in the world this year. France came on strong in the final 200 meters to finish second in 3:43.09.

West Germany won the gold medal in men’s water polo by defeating Olympic champion Yugoslavia, 10-9, in overtime. Italy beat the Soviet Union, 12-11, for the bronze.

The Netherlands won the women’s water polo title for the third consecutive time, defeating Hungary, 14-11.