2026 European Championships: Day 5 Prelims Dwell Recap

2026 European Swimming Championships

Day 5 Prelims Start List

Welcome to Day 5 of seven of the 2026 European Swimming Championships. We may have 6 heats of ladies’s 50 free, 7 heats of males’s 50 breast, 5 heats of ladies’s 100 again, 4 heats of males’s 200 fly, 2 heats of ladies’s 200 IM, 2 heats of combined 4×100 free, and three heats of males’s 1500 free.

Sarah Sjostrom is again, and we’re right here for it. Seeking her nineteenth European Championship gold medal, she leads the sector within the ladies’s 50 free with a seed time of 23.86. She proved her kind earlier within the week when she received the 50 fly, however she’ll should fend off sturdy competitors within the dash free from Marrit Steenbergen and Sara Curtis, who’re having an amazing meet, as effectively.

The males’s 50 breast is tight on the high, with any variety of swimmers able to taking the title. Ludovico Viberti (26.27) and his teammate, reigning world champion Simone Cerasuolo (26.42) are the highest two seeds. We must also count on sturdy performances from Ivan Kozhakin, Kirill Prigoda, Melvin Imoudu, and Adam Ramsay-Peaty.

Mary-Ambre Moluh, who might or might not have damaged the European document on the combined medley when she led off with 57.99, is available in with a seed time of 58.25. Marrit Steenbergen is the one different swimmer entered with a sub-59, whereas Pauline Mahieu is third with 59.13.

You’ll understand it’s time for the 200 fly when the gang erupts in raucous cheering, as a result of it’s the primary time this week they are going to see Leon Marchand swim a person occasion. Marchand is the heavy favourite on this occasion with a seed time of 1:52.57. The race for 2nd place will characteristic Krzysztof Chmielewski (1:52.64) and his twin brother Michal Chmielewski (1:54.68), Alberto Razzetti, and Federico Burdisso.

On paper, Abbie Wood is the one to beat within the 200 IM; her seed time of two:08.17 is 1.5 seconds quicker than that of defending champion, Anastasia Gorbenko. Keep an eye fixed on Roos Venotterdijk, Ellen Walshe, and Justina Kozan, the latter two of whom positioned 1st and third within the 400 IM.

Sven Schwarz brings the highest time (14:35.69) within the males’s 1500, however Oliver Klemet (14:39.03) and Johannes Liebmann (14:39.67) will not be far behind. Liebmann received gold within the 800 free, whereas Schwarz took house the silver. Zalan Sarkany, the bronze medalist, can’t be counted out right here, nor can Daniel Wiffen, who received a bronze medal on this occasion on the 2024 Olympics.

Women’s 50m Freestyle Heats

• World Record: 23.55 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2026)
• European Record: 23.61– Sarah Sjostrom Sweden (2023)
• Championship Record: 23.74– Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2018)
• 2025 World Champion: Meg Harris (AUS), 24.02
• 2024 European Champion: Petra Senanszky (HUN), 24.56

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Milou VAN WIJK (NED) – 24.13
2. Sarah SJOSTROM (SWE) – 24.21
3. Sara CURTIS (ITA) – 24.33
4. Marrit STEENBERGEN (NED) – 24.34
5. Kasia WASICK (POL) – 24.39
6. Beryl GASTALDELLO (FRA) – 24.65
7. Neza KLANCAR (SLO) – 24.70
8. Petra SENANSZKY (HUN) – 24.71
9. Arina SURKOVA (NAB) – 24.75
10. Lillian SLUSNA (SVK) – 24.92
11. Theodora TAYLOR (GBR) – 24.93
12. Silvia DI PIETRO (ITA) – 24.94
13. Florine GASPARD (BEL) – 25.00
14. Julianna Dora BOCSKA (GER) – 25.03
15. Analia PIGREE (FRA) – 25.04
16. Kalia ANTONIOU (CYP) – 25.08

Marlene Kahler of Germany took warmth 1 with 26.52. She was adopted by Anna Vlachou of Greece with a 25.49 in warmth 2. Sofia Astedt of Sweden edged teammate Sara Junevik, 25.33 to 25.38, to win warmth 3.

Sara Curtis of Italy clocked a 24.33 to win the primary circle-seeded warmth forward of NAB’s Arina Surkova (24.75), Belgium’s Florine Gaspard (25.00), and Germany’s Julianna Bocska (25.03).

Milou van Wijk touched out teammate Marrit Steenbergen, 24.13 to 24.34, to take warmth 5. Petra Senanszky from Hungary was third with 24.71. France’s Mary-Ambre Moluh was a no-show in lane 3, presumably to focus on the 100 again later within the session.

Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, the European Record-holder, received the ultimate warmth with 24.21, attending to the wall forward of Poland’s Kasia Wasick (24.39) and France’s Beryl Gastaldello (24.65).

Out due to the 2-swimmers-per-country rule:

• Valerie VAN ROON (NED) – 24.73
• Tessa GIELE (NED) – 24.85
• Elena CAPRETTA (ITA) – 25.08

Men’s 50m Breaststroke Heats

• World Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2017)
• European Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2017)
• Championship Record: 26.21 – Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2021)
• 2025 World Champion: Simone Cerasuolo (ITA), 26.51
• 2024 European Champion: Emre Sakci (TUR), 26.92

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Simone CERASUOLO (ITA) – 26.20
2. Nicolo MARTINENGHI (ITA) – 26.65
3. Melvin IMOUDU (GER) – 26.84
4. Koen DE GROOT (NED) – 26.85
5. Ilya SHYMANOVICH (NAA) – 26.89
6. Ivan KOZHAKIN (NAB) – 26.96
7. Kirill PRIGODA (NAB) – 26.99
8. Valentin BAYER (AUT) – 27.06
9. Stepan BABENKO (UKR) – 27.08
10. Nusrat ALLAHVERDI (TUR) – 27.12
11. Jan Malte GRAFE (GER) – 27.15
12. Carl AITKACI (FRA) – 27.17
13. Luka MLADENOVIC (AUT) – 27.22
14. Volodymyr LISOVETS (UKR) – 27.23
15. Andrius SIDLAUSKAS (LTU) – 27.26
16. Aleksas SAVICKAS (LTU) – 27.29

Ashot Chakhoyan from Armenia kicked off heats of the 50 breast with a 28.41 victory in warmth 1. Norway’s Charlie Egeland clocked a 27.79, enhancing his seed time by .4, to win warmth 2 forward of Estonia’s Kristjan Reivart (27.91).

It was a photograph end in warmth 3, with Denmark’s Shawn Wolf (27.58), Finland’s Julius Nyberg (27.62), and Christopher Palvadre of Estonia (27.70) coming to the wall nearly collectively. Subajr Biltaev of Germany went 27.48 to win warmth 4. Austria’s Bernhard Reitshammer touched out NAB’s Aleksandr Zhigalov, 27.77 to 27.78, for 2nd.

Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy logged the primary sub-27 in successful warmth 5 with 26.65. NAB’s Ivan Kozhakin got here in 2nd with 26.96, whereas Stepan Babenko of Ukraine was third in 27.08.

Simone Cerasuolo dropped .2 from his seed time to win warmth 6 with a brand new Italian National Record of 26.20. Half a physique behind him had been Ilya Shymanovich of Neutral Athletes A (26.89) and Kirill Prigoda from Neutral Athletes B (26.99).

Germany’s Melvin Imoudu edged Koen de Groot of the Netherlands, 26.84 to 26.85, within the final warmth, whereas Ludovico Viberti of Italy was .05 again in 26.90. Because of the two athletes per nation restrict for semi-finals, Viberti is prevented from shifting on.

Adam Ramsay-Peaty, who completed fifth in warmth 5, positioned twentieth total with 27.34, whereas top-seeded Ludovico Viberti fell sufferer to the 2-swimmers-per-country rule.

Out due to the 2-swimmers-per-country rule:

Women’s 100m Backstroke Heats

• World Record: 57.13 – Regan Smith (USA), 2024
• European Record: 58.08 – Kathleen Dawson (GBR), 2021
• Championship Record: 58.08 – Kathleen Dawson (GBR), 2021
• 2025 World Champion: 57.16 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS)
• 2022 European Champion: 59.40 – Margherita Panziera (ITA)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. (tie) Marrit STEENBERGEN (NED) / Mary-Ambre MOLUH (FRA) – 59.66
2. –
3. Pauline MAHIEU (FRA) – 1:00.25
4. Irene CIERCOLES GALVE (ESP) – 1:00.38
5. Camila RODRIGUES REBELO (POR) – 1:00.43
6. Federica TOMA (ITA) – 1:00.56
7. (tie) Katie SHANAHAN (GBR) / Maaike DE WAARD (NED) – 1:00.62
8. –
9. Alina GAIFUTDINOVA (NAB) – 1:00.63
10. Lise SEIDEL (GER) – 1:00.72
11. Lauren COX (GBR) – 1:00.73
12. Estella TONRATH NOLLGEN (ESP) – 1:00.85
13. Danielle HILL (IRL) – 1:01.12
14. Grace DAVISON (IRL) – 1:01.14
15. Emma Brogaard KROGH (DEN) – 1:01.16
16. Tom MIENIS (ISR) – 1:01.19

Estonia’s Margaret Markvardt emerged victorious with a 1:03.73 in warmth 1, whereas Denmark’s Emma Krogh (1:01.16) eked out a win in warmth 2 over Israel’s Tom Mienis (1:01.19).

France’s Pauline Mahieu received the primary circle-seeded warmth with 1:00.25, simply edging Spain’s Irene Ciercoles Galve (1:00.38). Ireland’s Lottie Cullen received her hand to the wall third in 1:00.63.

Marrit Steenbergen of Netherlands, swimming in her second race of the morning, blasted a 59.66 to win warmth 4 by half a physique size. Camila Rodrigues Rebelo of Portugal touched out Italy’s Federica Toma, 1:00.43 to 1:00.56, for 2nd.

France’s Mary-Ambre Moluh, who had dropped the 50 free earlier within the session to focus on this race (during which she had probably set the European document main of the combined medley relay), went 59.66 to win the ultimate warmth. Maaike de Waard of Netherlands and Great Britain’s Katie Shanahan stopped the clock with matching 1:00.62 to tie for 2nd place within the warmth, whereas Estella Tonrath of Spain was 4th in 1:00.85.

Out due to the 2-swimmers-per-country rule:

• Sara COSTA DE VICENTE (ESP) – 1:01.03
• Lottie CULLEN (IRL) – 1:01.17

Men’s 200m Butterfly Heats

• World Record: 1:50.34 – Kristof Milak, Hungary (2022)
• European Record: 1:50.34 – Kristof Milak, Hungary (2022)
• Championship Record: 1:51.10 – Kristof Milak, Hungary (2021)
• 2025 World Champion: Luca Urlando, United States – 1:51.87
• 2024 European Champion: Kristof Milak, Hungary – 1:54.43

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Alberto RAZZETTI (ITA) – 1:54.64
2. Arbidel GONZALEZ ALVAREZ (ESP) – 1:55.07
3. Krzysztof CHMIELEWSKI (POL) – 1:55.77
4. Leon MARCHAND (FRA) – 1:55.90
5. Andrea CAMOZZI (ITA) – 1:55.95
6. Kregor ZIRK (EST) – 1:55.96
7. Michal CHMIELEWSKI (POL) – 1:56.11
8. Richard MARTON (HUN) – 1:56.15
9. Martin ESPERNBERGER (AUT) – 1:56.59
10. Ivan SHAMSHURYN (NAA) – 1:56.72
11. Apostolos SISKOS (GRE) – 1:57.06
12. Hubert KOS (HUN) – 1:57.41
13. Vasco ALVES MORGADO (POR) – 1:57.57
14. Jack CASSIN (IRL) – 1:57.79
15. Edward MILDRED (GBR) – 1:57.86
16. Isak FERNANDEZ RODRIGO (ESP) – 1:57.92

Finally, the occasion everybody was ready for, with the prospect to see Leon Marchand swim his first particular person race of the week.

Eetu Autio from Finland began us off with a 2.7-second drop to win warmth 1 in 2:01.06.

The circle-seeded heats started with Italy’s Alberto Razzetti successful by a physique size in 1:54.64 forward of teammate Andrea Camozzi (1:55.95) and Poland’s Adrian Jaskiewicz (1:56.71).

Italy’s Federico Burdisso was out first in warmth 3, handing over 53.67 on the 100 wall, half a physique forward of Spain’s Arbidel Gonzalez and Poland’s Krzysztof Chmielewski. The back-half swimmers got here to life over the second 100 meters, and on the contact, it was Gonzalez with 1:55.07 for the win. Chmielewski moved as much as 2nd with 1:55.77, whereas Estonia’s Kregor Zirk touched out Burdisso for third, 1:55.96 to 1:56.08.

France’s Marchard took the ultimate warmth with a conservative 1:55.90. He was out in a short time in 25.26, main the pack by practically half a physique. Austria’s Martin Espernberger went after him on the second 50 and was solely .13 behind on the 100 with 54.69 to Marchand’s 54.56. Espernberger truly pulled forward on the 150 to guide with 1:24.94, however his tempo fell off over the ultimate 50 meters, and he wound up third within the warmth with 1:56.59, behind Marchand (1:55.90) and Poland’s Michal Chmielewski (1:56.11).

Out due to the 2-swimmers-per-country rule:

Women’s 200m Individual Medley Heats

• World Record: 2:05.70 – Summer McIntosh, Canada (2025)
• European Record: 2:06.12 – Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (215)
• Championship Record: 2:07.30 – Katinka Hosszu, Russia (2016)
• 2025 World Champion: Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2:06.69
• 2024 European Champion: Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR), 2:09.75

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Anastasia GORBENKO (ISR) – 2:11.87
2. Ellen WALSHE (IRL) – 2:12.12
3. Abbie WOOD (GBR) – 2:12.23
4. Amalie SMITH (GBR) – 2:12.45
5. Anita GASTALDI (ITA) – 2:12.57
6. Justina KOZAN (POL) – 2:12.67
7. Nikoletta PAVLOPOULOU (GRE) – 2:13.38
8. Lea POLONSKY (ISR) – 2:13.43
9. Alba VAZQUEZ RUIZ (ESP) – 2:13.51
10. Roos VANOTTERDIJK (BEL) – 2:13.83
11. Chiara DELLA CORTE (ITA) – 2:13.85
12. Ellie MC CARTNEY (IRL) – 2:13.95
13. Linda ROTH (GER) – 2:15.01
14. Clara RYBAK-ANDERSEN (DEN) – 2:15.02
15. Hanna BERGMAN (SWE) – 2:15.07
16. Ieva MALUKA (LAT) – 2:15.55

With solely 24 entrants within the ladies’s 200 IM, 2/3 of the swimmers had an opportunity to maneuver on to the semi-finals. Italy’s Anita Gastaldi received the primary warmth with 2:12.57. Roos Vanotterdijk of Belgium had a considerable lead on the midway mark, turning 59.28, by far the quickest entrance half of the morning. Gastaldi pulled even on the 150, whereas Israel’s Lea Polonsky moved up on the leaders. Polonsky got here house with the quickest freestyle cut up (31.7) however fell in need of catching Gastaldi, ending 2nd in 2:13.43. Vanotterdijk cut up 34.0 on the top and moved into third (2:13.83).

Anastasia Gorbenko of Israel was up by a physique size after the backstroke, however the breaststrokers got here for her over the following 50 meters. Ireland’s Ellen Walsh outsplit her by .4 on the third and 4th 50s, however Gorbenko held on and received the warmth with 2:11.87. Walshe was 2:12.12 for 2nd place, whereas 400 IM bronze medalist Justina Kozan of Poland went 30.28 on her 4th 50 to move Italy’s Chiara Della Corte for third place with 2:12.67.

Heat 3 was a battle between the Brits within the center lanes. Abbie Wood and Amalie Smith traded stroke for stroke all through the race, with Wood main by about .4 on the first, 2nd, and third partitions. Smith got here house .3 quicker and practically caught her teammate, however Wood prevailed in 2:12.23, successful by .22. Greece’s Nikoletta Pavlopoulou was third in 2:13.38.

Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Heats

• World Record: 3:18.48 – USA (2025)
• European Record: 3:19.68 – NAB (2025)
• Championship Record: 3:22.07 – Great Britain (2021)
• 2025 World Champion: USA, 3:18.48
• 2024 European Champion: Hungary, 3:25.69

Top 8 Teams:

1. Czechia (CZE) – 3:23.41
2. Netherlands (NED) – 3:23.94
3. Italy (ITA) – 3:23.96
4. Neutral Athletes B (NAB) – 3:24.35
5. Great Britain (GBR) – 3:24.50
6. Sweden (SWE) – 3:25.58
7. France (FRA) – 3:25.77
8. Spain (ESP) – 3:26.03

Czechia sprang a shock to win the primary warmth in a brand new nationwide document of three:23.41, ending forward of Neutral Athletes B (3:24.35), France (3:25.77), and Spain (3:26.03). Looking on the energy of their second half although, which featured particular person ladies’s 100 free finalists Barbara Janickova and Barbara Seemanova, outlined why they received this warmth.

They had the quickest two feminine splits within the area, Janickova splitting 53.01 and Seemanova scorching a 52.69 anchor, eight tenths of a second beneath her flat begin finest, as they overtook early leaders Neutral Athletes B.

Spain received a 47.77 second leg from nationwide document holder Luca Hoek Le Guenedal that proved key, as they beat out Germany for the ultimate spot within the closing by three tenths of a second.

The Dutch received the higher of Italy within the second warmth by 0.02 seconds, as Imani de Jong (53.59) ran down Alessandra Mao (54.02) Carlos D’Ambrosio led off for the Italians in 48.01, with Manuel Frigo’s 48.07 cut up over a second quicker than his 49.38 leadoff on the boys’s 4x100f free yesterday as Italy missed the ultimate.

Great Britain progress in fifth total with a 3:24.50, a few seconds off their Championship document from 2021, whereas Sweden had a 53.59 from Sofia Astedt on the anchor as they transfer by to their first relay closing of the meet in sixth.

Men’s 1500m Freestyle Heats

• World Record: 14:30.67 – Bobby Finke, United States (2024)
• European Record: 14:32.80 – Gregorio Paltrinieri, Italy (2022)
• Championship Record: 14:34.04 – Gregorio Paltrinieri, Italy (2016)
• 2025 World Champion: Ahmed Jaouadi, Tunisia – 14:34.41
• 2024 European Champion: Kuzey Tuncelli, Turkey – 14:55.64

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Oliver KLEMET (GER) – 14:48.51
2. Johannes LIEBMANN (GER) – 14:50.83
3. Sacha VELLY (FRA) – 14:51.49
4. Zalan SARKANY (HUN) – 14:51.94
5. Daniel WIFFEN (IRL) – 14:52.29
6. David BETHLEHEM (HUN) – 14:57.96
7. Andrei-Theodor PROCA (ROU) – 14:57.97
8. Luca DE TULLIO (ITA) – 14:59.49

Stefan Vrtikapa from Bosnia and Herzegovina dropped 32 seconds off his entry time to win warmth 1 with 15:51.36.

Oliver Klemet of Germany pulled off a decisive victory in warmth 2 with 14:48.51 forward of Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen (14:52.29) and Hungary’s David Bethlehem (14:57.96).

Germany’s Johannes Liebmann went 14:50.83 within the final warmth to get the win forward of France’s Sacha Velly (14:51.49), Hungary’s Zalan Sarkany (14:51.94), and Sven Schwarz (14:52.16). Schwarz, who was entered with the quickest seed time, is not going to have an opportunity to enhance within the closing, as he falls sufferer to the 2-swimmers-per-country rule.

Out due to the 2-swimmers-per-country rule: