European Swimming Championships in Rome
Water jumpers Punzel and Hentschel win EM gold
Lena Hentschel (r) and Tina Punzel are happy about their success. photo
© JoKleindl/dpa
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 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, 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 wobbly jump. When it comes, it will be a good competition. I wanted to do my best and it worked,” said Hentschel.