By Duncan Mackay

Michael McKillop celebrates winning the IPC Athletics European Championships 800m T38 at Swansea ©British Athletics via Getty ImagesIreland's Michael McKillop reinforced his reputation as the world's best Paralympic middle-distance runner when he won the 800 metres T38 at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics European Championships in Swansea. 


The 24-year-old from Ballymena in Northern Ireland showed no ill-effects from the injury problems that had delayed the start to his 2014 season, winning in 1min 58.16sec to add to the three Paralympic and two World Championship gold medals he has already won. 

"To be able to come off the track after the difficult last 18 months I have had is great, I'm glad to be back," said McKillop.

"After the World Championships [in Lyon last year] I got injured and I haven't run the 800m for eight months before today so I was going into the unknown. I'm just glad I was able to run a quick enough time to win."

Triple European champion Evgenii Shvetcov also led from start to finish in his race - the 400m T36 - showing the kind of form that won him four gold medals at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon

The 26-year-old, who also won 100m, 400m and 800m gold at London 2012, controlled the race from the outside lane despite the efforts of Great Britain's Paul Blake, who had to make do with silver behind the Russian once again.

Shvetcov clocked 53.59sec.

Finland's Henry Manni and Toni Piispanen both picked up their second medals of the Championships.

Manni added the 800m T34 title to the 100m gold he won yesterday, while world and Paralympic champion Piispanen powered home to win the 100m T51.

Germany's David Behre put on a dominant display in the 400m T44 to secure his first major Championship gold, despite the weather conditions which were not to his liking. 

The 27-year-old, who set a European record over one lap in Leverkusen in June, sped out the blocks to take an early lead and never looked in doubt as he powered home to the line in 51.97.

"The time was not so good but it's a bit cold here which isn't good for sprinting," he said. 

The Netherlands' Marianne Verdonk won a close fought 400m T20 to lift the European title ©Getty ImagesThe Netherlands' Marianne Verdonk won a close fought 400m T20 to lift the European title ©Getty Images

With six of the eight finalists in the women's 400m T20 setting new personal bests, it was no surprise that the Dtuch winner Marianne Verdonk threw herself to the ground as she crossed the line first in a time of 1:02.29.

"I'm very pleased with the first place. I ran out from the start of the race and I had to work for it in the last 100m," she said.

Gold in the women's 100m T13 went to Britain's 16-year-old Erin McBride - the fifth for the host nation - in a time of 13.58.

Britain won two more gold medals in the evening, led by 14-year-old Maria Lyle, who only made her international debut at the beginning of this year having been too young to compete at last year's IPC World Championships. 

The teenager from Dunbar followed that up with a world record in May, and stormed home in Swansea to win the 100m T35 in 14.92. 

"I'm really pleased - I've been working really hard towards this and I'm just really glad it's all paid off," said Lyle. 

Teenager Maria Lyle won the 100m T35 to lift the European title despite having only started competing internationally at the beginning of this year ©British Athletics via Getty ImagesTeenager Maria Lyle won the 100m T35 to lift the European title despite having only started competing internationally at the beginning of this year ©British Athletics via Getty Images

Her success was followed by victory in the 100m T53 for Mickey Bushell, who made his intentions clear from the gun, pushing hard to pull clear of the field as Frenchman Pierre Fairbank tried valiantly to stay in touch.

The Paralympic champion's superiority was clear though, crossing the line in 15.58 with Fairbank finishing in second place.

Switzerland's Manuela Schaer gave a tactical masterclass in wheelchair racing to win the 5,000m T54.

The 29-year-old let her rivals do the work at the front of the pack, then, with five laps of the track remaining, she was off - an injection of pace gave the marathon world champion an unassailable lead.

Schaer crossed the line 250m clear of the field, clocking 13:20.04 to make it two golds out of two.

Switzerland's Marcel Hug bounced back from defeat in the 400m to claim a gold medal in the 1500m T54 ©British Athletics via Getty ImagesSwitzerland's Marcel Hug bounced back from defeat in the 400m to claim a gold medal in the 1500m T54 ©British Athletics via Getty Images

Schaer's victory meant two track golds in succession for Switzerland, coming after "Silver Bullet" Marcel Hug won his first gold of the Championships with victory in the 1500m T54.

The 29-year-old had earlier missed out on the 400m, and was clearly keen to make amends, dictating the race from the gun.

The world record holder allowed himself a glance behind as he sped down the home straight, finishing in 3:21.55.

Kenny van Weeghel was the man who took the victory in the 400m T54 in 48.35 - pushing hard down the final 100m to pick up his second medal of the Championships, after winning 100m T54 silver yesterday.

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