Rebecca Gallantree & Alicia Blagg win European bronze

Rebecca Gallantree and Alicia Blagg

British Olympians Rebecca Gallantree and Alicia Blagg edged out hosts Germany to claim bronze in the 3m synchronised springboard final at the European Championships in Rostock.

Gallantree, 28, and 16-year-old Blagg, seventh at London 2012, scored 292.17 points from their five routines.

Germany earned 291.80, with Italy (324.3) winning from Ukraine (300.26).

"It is our first European medal, so we are really happy," Gallantree told British Swimming.

It was a significant achievement for Gallantree after British Swimming had axed her funding following the London Olympics.

Blagg was due to be paired with fellow teenager Hannah Starling, who then suffered an early-season injury.

It meant Gallantree and Blagg were reunited and they justified the decision with silver in last month's opening leg of the World Series in Beijing, repeating the success in Edinburgh in April.

Later that month Gallantree was handed a six-month funding reprieve to take her beyond the World Championships in Barcelona next month - their next major event and target.

"There are some improvements to make on the individual dives which we can do ahead of Barcelona if we get selected," Gallantree said.

Blagg added: "I am happy overall with my performances this week. Our prelims performance was really good this morning.

"I am a little disappointed with a couple of my individual dives but I know I have so much more in me."

Britain's James Denny and Daniel Goodfellow reached the final of the men's 10m platform at their first European Championships, finishing ninth and 10th respectively.