Finnish swimmers bring back three medals from Trieste

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Finland's swimmers collected three medals - one of each colour - from the European Short-Course Championships held over four days last week in Trieste, Italy.
      Two of the medals were brought home by Hanna-Maria Seppälä, who collected gold in the Women's 100 Metres Individual Medley, finishing in a new national record of 1.00.71, and a silver in her main event of the 100 Metres Freestyle. Seppälä was also placed fifth in the 50 Metres Freestyle final on Sunday, again in a Finnish record time .
      It was a welcome return to the top echelon for the 20-year-old, who was a shock winner of the World Championship title in the big pool in Barcelona in 2003. Since then things have been rather quieter for her.
     
Finland's third medal came on Sunday when Matti Rajakylä, 21, achieved the best competition performance of his career to date in taking the bronze in the Men's 50 Metres Butterfly, in a new Finnish record time of 23.17.
      Rajakylä had been the fastest in the morning heats and second-fastest in the semi-finals, but he was able to cope with the pressure, and finished only 0.09 seconds behind winner Lars Frölander of Sweden.
      The solid all-round performances of the Finnish entries in Trieste, who brought back a total of 11 new national records between them, will have heartened the coaches and the Finnish Swimming Association, who will be hosting these same games in Helsinki next year.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Hanna-Maria Seppälä takes surprise gold at swimming World Championships (28.7.2003)

Links:
  Results from Trieste 2005

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