2026 European Championships Previews: No Alternative For Slip-Ups In A Deep Males’s 4×100 Free Discipline

European Swimming Championships

BY THE NUMBERS – MEN’S 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY

• World Record: 3:08.24 – USA (2008)
• European Record: 3:08.32 – France (2008)
• Championship Record: 3:10.41 – Russia (2021)
• 2025 World Champion: Australia, 3:08.97
• 2024 European Champion: Serbia, 3:12.90

A Repeat of 2021?

Five years in the past the rostrum featured Russia, Great Britain, and Italy, and so they look to be the frontrunners once more half a decade on.

Italy received silver in a brand new nationwide file of three:09.58 on the World Championships final summer time, persevering with a streak of 5 years in a row by which they’ve received a world or Olympic medal. That was their first-ever swim underneath 3:10, however will probably be powerful to duplicate the three 47-low splits that powered them to that efficiency.

Carlos D’Ambrosio led off in 47.78 final 12 months, and has already been 47.83 this 12 months, however no different Italian has been underneath 48.4 this season. Lorenzo Zazzeri, Manuel Frigo, Thomas Ceccon, and Alessandro Miressi have all cut up 47-low prior to now however till final season Italy hadn’t managed to have all three flying splits absolutely firing in the identical relay.

They ought to nonetheless be the category of the sector in Paris. This relay has develop into a staple for the Italians, and their swimmers repeatedly swim above themselves on it. Lorenzo Ballarati has dropped to 48.64 this season and provides one other depth piece for them, and D’Ambrosio plus three 47-mid splits nearly definitely equals gold.

The nation who will problem them probably the most will probably be Russians, within the type of Neutral Athletes B. In Egor Kornev (46.96) they’ve the quickest man in Europe this season, whereas Ivan Girev (47.63), Kliment Kolesnikov (47.95) and Andrei Minakov (48.01) make this a quartet filled with expertise.

This staff hasn’t at all times delivered when it counted nevertheless. They missed the ultimate on the World Championships final summer time as Kolesnikov led off in 48.59, and so they have been poor on the Tokyo Olympics having are available as one of many favorites. Their junior staff did throw down an enormous new World Junior file of three:12.75 on the European Junior Championships final month although, with anchor leg Mikhail Shcherbakov, who cut up 47.60, additionally on the staff for this meet.

The St Petersburg staff posted a time of three:11.82 on the Russian Championships in June, with solely Egor Kornev out of the probably finals quartet a part of that staff. That ought to be the benchmark for Russia, and Aleksandr Shchegolev and Vasiliy Kukushkin from that relay will probably be in attendance in Paris if required.

At their best possible, this could be a title-winning relay. Girev cut up 47.08 on the blended 4×100 free relay final summer time, Kolesnikov owns a PB of 47.11 from the Tokyo Olympics, and Minakov was 47.57 on the 2021 European Championships. The situation has been consistency, and Italy’s expertise and skill to get the very best out of their quartet in all probability edges it this 12 months.

Great Britain are a rung beneath the highest two, however ought to be sturdy sufficient to make it onto the rostrum. In Matt Richards and Jacob Mills they’ve two 47-mid swimmers this season, and Gabriel Shepherd, Tom Dean, Duncan Scott, and Jacob Whittle all cut up 47-point on the Commonwealth Games.

Great Britain’s situation lately has been the identical as Russia’s: consistency. They set a nationwide file of three:10.73 on the World Championships final summer time in what was their greatest efficiency over the past half decade, however they need to have received the world title in 2023 and have been below-par on the 2024 Olympics. Even on that relay final summer time, Jacob Mills was half a second off his greatest on the leadoff.

The current Commonwealth Games mood expectations barely as properly. Scott regarded off his greatest as he went by the week regardless of a 47.48 cut up on the primary day, and he’ll should be in 47-low form for this staff to contend for gold. Richards (47.53) and Mills (47.72) ought to be a robust core, however though Shepherd and Whittle cut up 47.7s final month, they don’t have the mandatory 47-low splits they should problem for gold.

Dean had a pair of 46-point anchors in 2022, however his greatest cut up on the Commonwealth Games was 47.99. This may very well be an elite relay in a 12 months or two, however making the rostrum appears a practical objective for this 12 months.

Spoiling The Party?

Spain and Germany have each both made or been on the cusp of world or Olympic finals not too long ago, and this season look in higher form than ever. Either one may very well be an actual menace to the three groups above.

Spain have been solely sixteenth on the World Championships final summer time in 3:14.34, however have been simply off making the ultimate on the Olympics the 12 months earlier than as they posted a nationwide file of three:13.19. They have solely introduced 4 100 freestylers with them to Paris, however a brand new Spanish file and a spot within the closing ought to be the minimal expectation.

Luca Hoek Le Guenedal lowered the Spanish file within the 100 free to 47.72 at Spanish Trials in June, half a second quicker than Sergio De Celis Montalben‘s 48.24 mark set final summer time. Cesar Castro Valle joined Le Guenedal underneath 48 seconds with a brand new better of 47.98, and Miguel Perez Godoy notched a PB of 48.38. Add in De Montalben, and at its greatest this relay may characteristic 4 47-point legs.

Germany are lacking Rafael Miroslaw, who cut up 47.87 in 2024 and 48.32 final summer time, however return Joshua Salchow, Kaii Winkler, and Luca Armbruster. That is a robust core, with Salchow proudly owning the German file at 47.80 and Winkler splitting 47.52 final summer time in addition to decreasing his flat begin greatest from 48.41 to 48.16 this season.

Armbruster cut up 48.84 on the 2025 World Championships, however was 48.29 the 12 months earlier than on the Olympics. Julian Koch will in all probability be the fourth member of this staff, and has a lifetime better of 48.57 from final summer time. He didn’t swim on the German Championships, however had an exceptional season within the NCAA and may very well be the piece to raise Germany into medal competition.

Springing A Surprise

Lithuania have been shock finalists on the World Championships final summer time, setting a brand new nationwide file of three:12.74 to edge out Russia, and have been solely a tenth slower within the closing in a time of three:12.84. All 4 swimmers return and they need to have the ability to replicate their efficiency, if not higher it.

Tajus Juska, Tomas Navikonis, Tomas Lukminas, and Danas Rapsys have been these swimmers, with the center two splitting 47.47 and 47.83 within the heats. The first three of these have been 48-point this season, whereas Rapsys is a considerably unstable swimmer however ought to have the ability to throw down a 48-low cut up as he did within the closing final summer time. A time within the 3:12s is eminently achievable, however that might not be sufficient for the ultimate this 12 months

Croatia simply missed the rostrum in 4th two years in the past, however have a star in Jere Hribar and a few solid-looking depth. Hribar owns the nationwide file within the 100 free because of a 47.93 leadoff on this relay final summer time and has already been 48.06 this season, and he will probably be joined by three of Toni Dragoja, Nikola Miljenic, Vlaho Nenadic, Luka Cvetko, and Vili Sivec.

Miljenic has a better of 48.13, whereas Dragoja cut up 48.11 on the 2024 European Championships and received bronze on the European U23 Championships final summer time in 48.67. Nenadic’s better of 48.80 is from the 2024 World Junior Championships, however he was proper on it with a 48.82 cut up on the 2025 World Championships, and Cvetko and Sivec have PBs within the 49-low vary.

The Netherlands have been lacking an elite 100 freestyler not too long ago, however, with Sean Niewold‘s emergence as a 47.80 swimmer this 12 months, may problem for the ultimate once more. The depth is a little bit ropy although, with Merlin Belmon (48.90), Brendon Van Den Berg (49.03) and Floris Tanis (49.47) the probably quartet, and it’ll take drops from a minimum of a few these if they’re to profit from Niewold. They in all probability have a greater probability within the blended 4×100 free relay than this one.

Question Marks

France has not been aggressive on this relay not too long ago, and have extra query marks this 12 months than anybody else within the discipline. Maxime Grousset has returned from his current foot damage and is by far France’s greatest 100 freestyler, nevertheless it stays to be seen what sort of type he’s in. Their second-fastest swimmer this season is Cedric Gabali at 48.82, adopted by Nanz Mazellier (48.88) and 17-year-old Sauveur Cristofini (48.99). The depth doesn’t look to be there to even make the ultimate, though a rogue Leon Marchand look may make this fascinating. He has a better of 49.70 and hasn’t talked about swimming this relay in the identical approach he has with the 4×200, however we will dream.

Hungary would depend on nationwide file holder Kristof Milak, who nearly definitely won’t be swimming relays on the meet. Nandor Nemeth, Sebastian Szabo, and Hubert Kos are three solid-to-strong legs, though Kos might skip this occasion with the 50 again semi-final and 100 again closing in the identical night session. His brother Oliver set a better of 49.53 this season, and Adam Jaszo cut up 48.4 on two events in 2024, so this relay may nonetheless contend for the ultimate even with out their two stars.

Greece received bronze two years in the past and return three of their 4 legs, however don’t have anybody able to replicating Kristian Gkolomeev‘s 48.04 cut up. If they swim, they in all probability miss out on the ultimate. The 2024 silver medalists, Poland, have a greater probability of qualifying, however are additionally lacking a 48-point cut up on Dominik Dudys with no apparent alternative on their roster.

SwimSwam’s Picks

Dark Horse – Serbia

Serbia received gold on the European Championships 4 years in the past, however that was largely right down to a 47.99 leadoff from Velimir Stjepanovic and a large 46.86 anchor leg from Andrej Barna. Stjepanovic has solely been underneath 48.50 on two additional events, and has not damaged 50 seconds but this season, and Barna has shifted away from the 100 to dial in on the 50, which is his solely particular person entry for the second summer time in a row. However, Stjepanovic cut up 48.10 on the World Championships, and 19-year-old Justin Cvetkov anchored in 48.07, 1.34 seconds quicker than he cut up in 2024. Luka Jovanovic, who changed Barna on this relay final 12 months, is just not on the roster, and there’s no actual alternative for him aside from Barna. This is the one relay Serbia have entered, and so they may fairly simply be within the 3:12s once more and difficult the likes of Spain and Germany.