The Dutch Sharon van Rouwendaal became European champion in the 5 km in open water on Saturday morning in Rome, ahead of the Spaniard Maria de Valdes and the Italian Giulia Gabbrielleschi.
Van Rouwendaal was crowned world champion in the 10 km in Budapest in June.
She swam this 5 km in 56 min 58 sec and 7/10ths, ahead of a second and a half of her two rivals separated by a tenth of a second at the finish.
The only Frenchwoman entered, Madelon Catteau, took eighth place, out of 20 swimmers entered, in 57:22.6.