Romania's David Popovici won the men's 200m freestyle for the third time at the European swimming championships in Paris

Saint-Denis (France) (AFP) - Romanian David Popovici was crowned European champion in the 200m freestyle for the third consecutive time on Friday.

The 21-year-old swimmer doubled his tally in Paris after his victory in the 100m freestyle earlier in the competition.

Popovici touched the wall in 1min 44.15sec, edging out Lithuanian Tomas Navikonis by 0.40sec. Great Britain’s James Guy clocked 1min 44.87sec for bronze.

The Olympic champion over the distance led the race from start to finish, swimming neck and neck with his rivals before pulling away in the final metres.

Belgian Roos Vanotterdijk successfully defended her 100m butterfly title while Russia’s Evgeniia Chikunova, competing under a neutral flag, won the 200m breaststroke.

Vanotterdijk, 21, the world silver medallist over the distance, led the way in 56.08sec.

She took the gold 0.31sec ahead of Germany’s Angelina Kohler. Russian Daria Klepikova, also competing as a neutral, won bronze in 56.76sec.

Chikunova clocked 2min 19.32sec to finish ahead of Great Britain’s Angharad Evans (2:21.21), who won the 100m breaststroke title on Wednesday.

Ireland’s Mona McSharry took bronze in 2:22.43.