Sarah Sjöström's legend grew by another golden glow here in Paris this evening with a record sixth European long-course title in the 50m butterfly since 2012.

That's a a record 16th solo European L/C crown - 50 free x 2; 100 free x 4; 50 'fly x 6; 100 'fly x 4 in the bag - and her first as a mother returned from the nursery to the fast lane.

The Swedish ace now has 18 golds, 7 silvers and 4 bronzes, for a total of 29 honours at the European summer showcase since she lifted the 100m 'fly title at 15 back in 2008. Those 18 medals draw the Swedish sprint queen level with Germany's Franziksa van Almsick, who in the 1990s and early 2000s also claimed 18 European titles, most of them relays.

At a championship flush with swimmers born in 2008 and later, Sjöström is as royal as a swimmer could be in European waters. As she acknowledged the plaudits of an appreciative crowd, she was treated to a blast of Abba's classic "Dancing Queen". Next Monday, she turns 33.

The world record holder was far from her 2014 epic sprint global standard, and this was not one of her sub-25 victories, but a triumph it certainly was. More later./.. for now, the result:

The History File below ...