HELSINKI, Finland -- Olympic champion Alexander Popov, who lost all his European titles last year, returned to winning ways when he led the nation to victory in the men's 4x100 meters freestyle relay at the European swimming championships Monday.
Russia had trailed through the first three legs of the relay, but anchor man Popov, never hurrying his smooth and fluid stroke, picked off German leader Stephan Kunzelmann on the return length of the 50-meter Makelanrinne pool to reclaim the title his team had lost to the Dutch in Istanbul, Turkey in 1999.
The Dutch, who have been in heavy training for the Olympics, did not make the final with a reserve heat squad minus Pieter van den Hoogenband, who took Popov's 50 and 100 freestyle titles in Istanbul.
"The race felt good but it was nothing fancy," Popov said with typical understatement.
Russia won in three minutes 18.75 seconds, with Germany taking the silvers in 3:19.16 and France the bronzes in 3:20.37, just 0.02 seconds ahead of Italy.
Therese Alshammar, the short-course 50- and 100-meters freestyle world-record holder, anchored Sweden to a clear-cut victory in the women's 4x100 freestyle relay in 3:42.38.
Italy was second in 3:45.31 and Belgium third in 3:46.42, a mere 0.03 seconds ahead of Romania.
Germany, which had won the event at the last four editions of the championships, did not defend its title.
The day after Italy saw soccer's European championship crown snatched from it by two killer goals from France, Emiliano Brembilla gave Italians some cheer by reclaiming the 400 meters freestyle title he lost last year to Britain's Paul Palmer.
Romanian Dragos Coman came second and Palmer had to settle for the bronze this time.
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