The 2026 European Swimming Championships, held in Paris, France, on August 10-16, 2026, showcased an array of thrilling races and record-breaking performances. The second day of finals featured a diverse range of events, from individual sprints to relays, each with its own set of challenges and highlights. Here's a recap of the key moments and standout performances from the day's action.
Women's 200 Backstroke
Katie Shanahan dominated the women's 200 backstroke final, setting a new British record of 2:06.13. Her performance was a testament to her prowess in the event, as she pulled away from the field with a blistering middle 100. Shanahan's swim not only reset her own personal best but also narrowly missed the European Championship Record, set by Margherita Panziera in 2021. The silver medal went to Camila Rebelo, who shattered her Portuguese Record in 2:07.62, while Pauline Mahieu and Lise Seidel battled for bronze, with Mahieu emerging victorious in 2:08.63.
Men's 50 Butterfly
Egor Kornev claimed the gold medal in the men's 50 butterfly, setting a new European Championship Record of 22.52. His performance was a testament to his speed and technique, as he out-touched home crowd favorite Maxime Grousset. Grousset took silver, matching his medal from the 2022 edition, while Grigori Pekarski claimed bronze, setting a new Belarusian Record.
Women's 100 Freestyle
Marrit Steenbergen continued her dominance in the women's 100 freestyle, winning gold and reclaiming the European title she won in 2022. Her time of 51.90 broke the Championship Record for the third time and produced her fifth career swim under 52 seconds. Steenbergen's performance was a testament to her speed and technique, as she sat two one-hundredths back of teammate Milou van Wijk at the 50-meter turn but then turned on the jets coming home. The Dutch duo of Steenbergen and van Wijk finished 1-2, with van Wijk clocking 52.71.
Men's 100 Breaststroke
The men's 100 breaststroke final was a closely contested affair, with Nicolo Martinenghi leading the field in 58.58. Ireland's Jack Kelly broke his national record for the second time in as many swims, finishing in 58.90 to claim the #2 seed. Adam Ramsay-Peaty, a two-time Olympic and four-time European champion in the event, finished in 59.10, while Melvin Imoudu, a third European champion in the event, clocked 59.05.
Women's 100 Breaststroke
Angharad Evans set a new meet record in the women's 100 breaststroke, clocking 1:04.97. Her performance was a testament to her speed and technique, as she advanced to the final. The final saw a battle between Evans and Mona McSharry, with McSharry finishing in 1:05.64. Eneli Jefimova and Benedetta Pilato also advanced to the final, setting the stage for a closely contested race.
Men's 200 Backstroke
Nathan Muratory set a new meet record in the men's 200 backstroke, clocking 1:54.87. His performance was a testament to his speed and technique, as he advanced to the final. The final saw a battle between Muratory and other top swimmers, with the winner emerging victorious.
Women's 50 Butterfly
Sarah Sjostrom, a Swedish legend, returned to her first major international meet since giving birth last year, clocking 25.40 in the morning to lead the field. Her performance was a testament to her speed and technique, as she advanced to the final. The final saw a battle between Sjostrom and other top swimmers, with the winner emerging victorious.
Men's 100 Freestyle
David Popovici, a two-time defending champion, led the way in the men's 100 freestyle with a time of 47.13. His performance was a testament to his speed and technique, as he advanced to the final. The final saw a battle between Popovici and other top swimmers, with the winner emerging victorious.
Women's 800 Freestyle
Simona Quadarella, an Italian star, is a big favorite to win her fourth European title in the women's 800 freestyle. Her performance was a testament to her speed and technique, as she advanced to the final. The final saw a battle between Quadarella and other top swimmers, with the winner emerging victorious.
Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay
The Russian Neutral Athletes B squad held Lane 4 after dropping a time of 3:43.02 in the prelims, which is more than two and a half seconds faster than Israel went to win gold in 2024. The Dutch and Polish teams will compete tonight, but Italy was disqualified in the prelims. The British team, which won the first four Euro titles in this event from 2014 until 2021, are the #3 seed at 3:45.69, while France, which finished 4th at the Paris Olympics, is ranked #2 after going 3:44.27 in the morning.
