Gold medal-winning swimmer Carolina Pilhatsch has admitted that she would have been "happy with a bronze" after winning the 50m backstroke at the European Games.

The Austrian finished just 0.1 seconds ahead of France's Pauline Mahieu to claim top spot on the podium, while Mariia Kameneva of Russia came in third.

The 16-year-old told reporters: "I was very nervous before the race, I tried breathing and telling myself, 'you can do it'. When the race began I just tried to focus.

"I didn't know how much chance I had of winning during the race, it was very close. I don't know what I was thinking. Nothing. I was just swimming. I saw the other girls next to me and I didn't know who won. Then when I saw it was me, I was like 'yeah'.

"I was really happy and excited. I'm surprised with first place. I thought I would come in the first five. I would have been happy with a bronze."

Pilhatsch is also due to compete in the women's 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke.