The Netherlands to the beach korfball World Cup final | Twice Frisian swimming gold at the European Championships

Fryslân has gained two European champions. Both Olivier van de Voort and Liesette Bruinsma won gold at the European Para Swimming Championships in Funchal (Portugal).

26-year-old Van de Voort, from Elsloo, swam the 100 meter backstroke to a time of 58.24. That was more than two seconds faster than Stefano Raimondi from Italy.

Van de Voort is also certain of the Paralympic Games, later this year in Paris. Van de Voort already won silver at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.

Among the women, Liesette Bruinsma (23) from Wommel was by far the fastest in the 400 meter freestyle. She needed 5.05.67 for the eight laps, more than half a minute faster than the Slovakian Tatiana Blattnerova, the silver winner.

Bruinsma will also be there in Paris later this year. She has won Olympic gold twice, silver three times and bronze twice in her career.

Van der Voort and Bruinsma previously won more medals at this European Championship. Van der Voort won gold with the 4×100 meter medley relay team in a new world record. Bruinsma took gold in the 100 meter free and silver in the 50 free and 200 meter medley.