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Tina Punzel and Lena Hentschel in the European Championship final
Photo: ANTONIO BRONIC / REUTERS
The water jumpers Tina Punzel and Lena Hentschel won the gold medal in the synchronized competition from the three-meter board at the European Championships in Rome.
The 27-year-old Punzel and Hentschel, who is six years younger, prevailed after five jumps with 281.16 points and a clear lead over the Italians Elena Bertocchi and Chiara Pellacani.
Bronze went to the two Swedes Emilia Nilsson Garip and Elna Widerström.
Punzel from Dresden and Hentschel from Berlin entered the competition as favorites.
At the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, they won bronze behind the winners from China and Canada.
At the World Championships, they finished fourth as the best Europeans in Budapest in early July.
"I had a lot of momentum from yesterday and took Lena with me," said Punzel, who won the title in mixed synchronized jumping with Lou Massenberg on Wednesday.
“The fourth jump is our wobble jump.
When it comes, it will be a good competition.
I wanted to do my best and it worked,” said Hentschel.
On Wednesday, Punzel, together with Lou Massenberg, gave the German water jumpers their first medal in the fourth final.
The 27-year-old, who took over the leadership role in the team after the resignation of record European champion Patrick Hausding, increased her haul to seven European titles.
ara/dpa/sid