Giefing misses European swimming medal by 0.27 seconds

Christian Giefing, an 18-year-old swimmer from Markt Sankt Martin in Oberpullendorf district, finished fourth in the 200-metre freestyle final at the European Championships in Paris, ORF Burgenland reported. He missed the bronze medal by just 0.27 seconds.

Giefing said he was surprised both by his performance and by setting a new Austrian record. “Looking back, it was simply great to be able to swim there at all,” he told ORF Burgenland. Breaking Felix Auböck’s Austrian record had been a major ambition, he said, adding that he was proud to achieve it relatively early in his career.

Giefing had also reached the semi-finals as the fastest swimmer in the heats. “I looked at the scoreboard and couldn’t believe it,” he said, describing the result as a huge surprise.