Baku, June 17, AZERTAC 

Anisiya Neborako, the undoubted star of the synchronised swimming programme, landed her second and third gold medals at the Baku 2015 European Games on Tuesday and then joked that she hoped any reward from the Russian Federation would help her buy a car.

The 18-year-old collected solo and free combination medals to go with the teams free routine, displaying a rare artistry.

Afterwards the powerful Neborako revealed the other, more explosive side of her character in and out of the water when she spoke of how she would love one day to drive a Tesla Supercar.

"I've got a driver’s licence now and I want to get a car. My dream car is a Tesla but I wouldn't have enough to buy the best, fancy one, just a simple one," she said.

So, what model would she settle for if a Tesla, which start at $100,000 (approximately €89,000) for just a basic version of the car, were out of her league? "It depends on the money. I need to ask the Federation," she laughed.

Neborako was asked if she was ready to be marketed as the next big potential synchro star in Russia but shrugged: "I don't know. I have to get into the senior ranks and I don’t know what will happen then."

Such is Russia's supply of talent that there is no guarantee that any junior star will make it as a senior Olympian, but Neborako, who felt her solo routine was the best of her career, said: "I will rest during the summer and then I start my training again and I can get better."

The solo is not an Olympic event but Neborako says if she had a choice, it would still be her preferred discipline.

Even Russia's greatest synchronised swimmer, five-time Olympic champion Anastasia Davydova, had to concede: "I think the solo is only interesting for specialists and not for spectators but Neborako is different. She is very nice, it's true. She’s very technical and feels the water very well. It’s like she is flying under the water."