Hosszu finished in 2 minutes,
10.09 seconds, a new meet record. Verraszto was a mere 0.01 seconds behind,
with Britain's Hannah Miley in third.
Camille Muffat of France, who
set the previous meet record in qualifying, led for three laps before fading to
fourth.
“I can't even express how
happy I am,” said Hosszu, the event's European record holder, who was second in
the 400 medley on Monday. “I heard a few spiteful comments saying I was just a
'bodysuit swimmer,' but now I've shown that I'm not.”
The 30th edition of the
European championships is the first major international event where competitors
can no longer wear the neck-to-ankle outfits that helped set dozens of world
records in recent years.
In Thursday's last race,
Hosszu and Verraszto combined to help Hungary win its third gold of the
session, teaming up with Agnes Mutina and Eszter Dara to win the 4x200
freestyle relay in 7:52.49. France was second, with Britain third.
“What a day for Hungarian
swimming. The fantastic crowd gave me wings,” Hosszu said.
Earlier, Daniel Gyurta gave
Hungary its second gold, winning the 200 breaststroke in 2:08.95, a new meet
record.
Norway's Alexander Dale Oen
took silver, 0.73 seconds behind Gyurta and Hugues Duboscq of France claimed
bronze.
“After the world and European
titles, I of course want the triple in London 2012. I think I'm on a good path,”
said Gyurta, who also owns the European record in the event. “The crowd was
spectacular and I could hear their shouts of support during the whole race.
It's very uplifting to compete like this.”
In the men's 50 backstroke,
Camille Lacourt of France narrowly missed out on becoming the first swimmer to
set a world record in the post-bodysuit era.
Lacourt's winning time of
24.07 seconds was just 0.03 seconds outside the mark set by Liam Tancock of
Britain, who finished second ahead of Guy Barnea of Israel.
“I have to admit that I aimed
at the world record, but 24.07 is a very decent time,” Lacourt said of his new
meet record. “I will discuss the areas where I still can improve with my coach,
but there is for sure a lot to be done to better my start.” Lacourt had the
second-slowest reaction time at the start, 0.74 seconds.
Gemma Spofforth and Elizabeth
Simmonds made it a British 1-2 in the women's 100 backstroke, with Germany's
Jenny Mensing in third.
“This was another great day
for the British team,” said Spofforth, who was second behind Simmonds in
Tuesday's 200 backstroke. “It shows that we are in good shape for the upcoming
Commonwealth Games.” Pawel Korzeniowski of Poland won the men's 200 butterfly,
beating Nikolay Skvortsov of Russia by 1.13 seconds.
Ioannis Drymonakos of Greece
was third.
“That's the second-best time
in the world this year,” said Korzeniowski. “This year I fully focused on the
200-meter butterfly, but next year I also want to try the 1,500-meter
freestyle.” Lotte Friis of Denmark won the women's 800 freestyle in 8:23.27,
followed at 0.73 seconds by Ophelie Cyriell Etienne of France and Federica
Pellegrini of Italy, 1.72 seconds back.
“Today I was as fast as when
I won Olympic bronze in Beijing — and that after the return to textile swim
suits,” said Friis, who is also the reigning world champion in the event.
Rebecca Adlington of Britain,
the world record holder, was third until 300 meters, but was unable to keep
pace and finished seventh, 4.21 seconds back.
On Friday, the men's finals
will be in the 100 and 800 freestyle, while the women will crown European
champions in the 100 butterfly and 200 breaststroke.
