BORTH y Gest swimmer Medi Harris has claimed her maiden individual international medal for Team GB by winning silver at the European Aquatics Championships in Italy.

Harris, fresh from winning bronze at the Commonwealth Games, has had a productive meet in Rome, claiming three relay medals – gold, silver and bronze - and her individual silver in the 100m Backstroke in Rome.

Following the disappointment of a fifth place finish in the 50m Backstroke, Harris breezed through her 100m heat and then came through her semi-final in third, fourth overall.

In the final on Tuesday, following quick starts from the two swimmers either side of her in lane six, Harris managed to stay with the rest of the field to get to the wall within half a second of the leaders.

It was from then where she came alive, as she powered through the field to bring herself alongside top seed and leader Margherita Panziera into the final 10m.

Despite piling on the pressure, Harris was ultimately just touched out into second place by six hundredths of a second.

“I knew it was going to be hard to go in there, go fast and try to get on the podium, but I just tried to keep my head down all day, relax and try to enjoy the race. That’s what I’ve been told to do, so it’s what I tried to do!" she said.

"It’s definitely what I wanted. I was a bit disappointed after my 50m, so I think I was going into this one a little hungrier for it, because I wanted an individual medal. I’m so pleased I was able to do it, to go in fourth and come out second is not a bad thing to do, so I’m really happy."

The result is yet another highlight of what has been an impressive breakthrough summer for the Swansea University student, which has seen her pick up four medals.

Harris would earlier strike gold as part of Great Britain’s Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay team with Lucy Hope, Anna Hopkin and Freya Anderson.

Diving in less than an hour after her 50m Backstroke semi-final, Harris moved her team to within half a second of Sweden at the front of the race, before anchor specialist Anderson took over to bring home the gold.

Harris said: “It wasn’t long ago that I was watching them in Tokyo do really well, so I’m really happy to be able to defend the title they won last time at Europeans and bring home a gold for GB."

And it was silver for Harris as part of the Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay quartet alongside Freya Colbert, Lucy Hope and Freya Anderson.

After a steady opening 150m, the Gwynedd racer put in a strong back 50m to hand over to Anderson who would go on to touch for silver behind the Netherlands.

Harris said: "I just go in and swim as hard as I can, I guess. I just wanted to be near the other girls, so to be able to swim with these was really special - and I kept thinking I need to give Freya the best chance, so I had to swim hard.”

Further success came as part of the Mixed 4x100m Medley team with James Wilby, Jacob Peters and Anna Hopkin.

Harris’ role was key, doing well to stay relatively in touch with a half-male field after the backstroke leg, handing over with the team in fifth place.

It was then on to the rest of the team to race home to claim a bronze medal.