Oleksiy Syutkin of Ukraine won the men's title at the European Aquathlon Championships ©Twitter

Oleksiy Syutkin claimed men's gold for Ukraine at the European Aquathlon Championships in Châteauroux today, while Russia's Valentina Zapatrina won the corresponding women's event.

Syutkin produced a superb performance in the swim-run discipline to win by less than a second in a time of 27min 33sec.

His team-mate Yegor Martynenko crossed the line immediately behind him in second place in the European Triathlon Union (ETU)-organised event.

A Ukrainian clean sweep of the medals was then completed by Dmytro Malyar, who crossed the line third in 27min 38sec.

Ornjen Stojanovic was the best finisher from the rest of the continent, placing a distant fourth a further 50 seconds back.

Carl Dupont was the first home finisher in fifth.

Valentina Zapatrina of Russia claimed the European Aquathlon title ©Twitter
Valentina Zapatrina of Russia claimed the European Aquathlon title ©Twitter

Zapatrina enjoyed a nine second victory in the women's race when crossing the line first in 30:38.

Czech Republic's Petra Kurikova finished in second place, while Britain's Hannah Kitchen took bronze in a time of 31:02.

Sprint triathlon continental action is due to take place in the French town tomorrow.