Stefan Bötticher takes gold in dramatic finish

Bötticher finished the European Championships with a total of three medals to his name. After winning bronze in the men's team sprint and silver in the individual sprint, the 26-year-old claimed his sweetest result in the Keirin men's final, adding a gold medal to his collection courtesy of a dramatic finish.

"I was a bit torn up about the silver the other day, but what happened today is like something out of a bad movie," said Bötticher, before adding: "For me it was a good film!"

Uibel: "He did everything right"

The race, five laps long, began with Sebasten Vigier of France and Jack Carlin of Great Britain up front. But it was in the last lap that Bötticher turned up the heat and with a final push, won the race with a difference of half a wheel.

German National Team coach Detlef Uibel praised Bötticher's feat. "You rarely see such a race. He did everything right, his strengths all played out: coolness, tactics and cleverness," Uibel said of the win.

In all, Team Germany found success on the track at the Emirates Arena. The Germans racked up 11 medals out of the 22 awarded in six days of competition in indoor cycling, more than any other nation.

Köhler sets new German record

Bötticher wasn't the only German athlete to remedy disappointment with a place on the podium. After a disappointing result in the women's 800 meter freestyle event, Sarah Köhler set a new German record as she finished second behind Simona Quadrarella in the women's 1500 meter freestyle with a time of 15 minutes, 57 second and 85 milliseconds. 

The result represents a highlight in the 24-year-old's career. "I'm very, very happy that it was a record-breaking time," said Köhler, The silver medal was fifth medal Team Germany have won in the European Championships swimming events in Glasgow. 

jcg (reuters, dpa)