This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow: https://swimswam.com/kristof-milak-building-myself-back-up-from-zero-day-3-european-championship-quotes/and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us [ad_1] 2026 EUROPEAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS The third night time of swimming on the 2026 European Aquatics Championships featured a world file from Sara Curtis, European information from Hubert Kos and Johannes Liebmann, and particular person victories for Sarah Sjostrom and David Popovici. Below are the primary athlete reactions from Day 3. Quotes have been offered by European Aquatics and the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN). Statements given to FIN have been translated from Italian. Sara Curtis — World Record, Women’s 50 Backstroke Semifinals, 26.63 Sara Curtis broke the ladies’s 50 backstroke world file with a time of 26.63 within the semifinals. She lowered the earlier file of 26.86 set by Australia’s Kaylee McKeown in 2023. “I knew I was capable of doing it, but I didn’t expect it here, in this race, at this moment,” Curtis instructed European Aquatics. “I didn’t expect to go so fast. It is amazing, and I’m so happy.” “I can say that I am Superwoman right now. It is unbelievable, and I don’t think I will be able to sleep tonight.” Speaking to FIN, Curtis added: “This is crazy. I don’t know what to say about this world record. It was probably the dream of my life, and I’m so happy.” “After the underwater, I told myself to push until the final stroke. It still doesn’t feel real. I knew I had the record in me, but knowing it and actually doing it are two different things. I will try to go as far as possible. I always want to get the most out of myself.” Sarah Sjostrom — Gold, Women’s 50 Butterfly, 25.05 Sarah Sjostrom gained the ladies’s 50 butterfly in 25.05, incomes the 18th European lengthy course gold medal of her profession. The Swedish swimmer returned to competitors in April after a 20-month break and the beginning of her first little one. “Coming back was a challenge, but I’m very happy that I took the chance,” Sjostrom instructed European Aquatics. “I never rushed anything during my comeback, and a great team helped me all the way. I’m grateful to be back at this level.” “I’m not back to the level I was at before. I’m not as fast, and I’m not recovering as quickly, but where I am now is very interesting and exciting.” David Popovici — Gold, Men’s 100 Freestyle, 46.56 David Popovici gained his third consecutive European title within the males’s 100 freestyle, touching in a Championship Record of 46.56. The Romanian completed forward of Egor Kornev, who took silver in 46.74, and Kristof Milak, who earned bronze in 46.87. “I’m getting close to the world record, but I’m happy that I am consistently near it,” Popovici instructed European Aquatics. “I now understand even better the small things I need to work on.” “That doesn’t mean I should stop enjoying this. It was a great time and a result I’m very happy with, especially against such a strong field.” Kristof Milak — Bronze, Men’s 100 Freestyle, 46.87 Kristof Milak lowered his private greatest to 46.87 to take bronze within the males’s 100 freestyle. “For me, this year is about building myself back up from zero and reaching the next level,” Milak instructed European Aquatics. “I improved my personal best by six-tenths in the 50 butterfly and did the same today in the 100 freestyle, so I would say I’m on the right path, especially when I consider my current training.” “I was happy to swim in an outside lane, enjoy some peace and do my job. It went very well through 75 meters. The final 25 hurt a little, but if I had approached that part with more confidence, it could have been an even better time. Still, I’m satisfied.” Thomas Ceccon — Bronze, Men’s 200 Backstroke, 1:53.96 Italian Record Thomas Ceccon gained bronze within the males’s 200 backstroke, decreasing his Italian Record from 1:55.71 to 1:53.96. It was Ceccon’s first particular person worldwide medal within the 200 backstroke. “I felt very tired, especially at the end, and I also had a headache,” Ceccon instructed FIN. “I knew the podium was possible, and third place is a very good result.” “My previous 1:55 was not yet a time that really belonged to me, while this performance begins to mean something. I planned to swim a low 1:54, although I wanted to go even faster.” “I tried to race more aggressively from the beginning, and the final 50 was extremely difficult. I can still improve. I have trained a lot for this 200 backstroke, and I’m very happy.” After the medal ceremony, Ceccon mirrored on the work behind the outcome. “I worked very hard this year, and I get emotional just thinking about it,” he stated. “Many times I was tired, but I never gave up.” “The 200 is so difficult that it gives you more satisfaction than a 50. The effort begins earlier because it is also mental, and that is something I still need to work on. It had been years since I had raced this event well. I’m very, very happy with this medal.” Benedetta Pilato — Bronze, Women’s 100 Breaststroke, 1:05.89 Benedetta Pilato took bronze within the ladies’s 100 breaststroke in 1:05.89. Great Britain’s Angharad Evans gained in a Championship Record of 1:04.87, whereas Ireland’s Mona McSharry earned silver in 1:05.41. “The first 50 gave me good feelings ahead of the 50 breaststroke,” Pilato instructed FIN. “I expected the others to catch me. I tried to hold on, and I managed to do it.” “This medal rewards me after a difficult period, two moves in three years and the search for a physical balance that would allow me to train consistently. It is a great result and gives me a lot of confidence.” Italy — Silver, Women’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay, 3:33.19 Italian Record Italy gained silver within the ladies’s 4×100 freestyle relay, decreasing the nationwide file from 3:35.18 to three:33.19. Emma Virginia Menicucci led off in 53.85, adopted by Curtis in 52.29, Chiara Tarantino in 53.68 and 15-year-old Alessandra Mao in 53.37. Emma Virginia Menicucci “There was no way I was leaving these European Championships without something,” Menicucci instructed FIN. “I haven’t slept for four nights, and this silver medal makes up for everything.” Sara Curtis Curtis returned for the relay roughly 45 minutes after setting the world file. “I’m full of pain and full of excitement,” Curtis stated. “I’m happy because this medal is very important for our development as a group.” “As difficult as it was, I tried to put the world record aside and focus only on the relay. It went extremely well.” Chiara Tarantino “I really needed this,” Tarantino stated. “I love this relay and these girls. I raced with determination, with a strong desire to come back and with the goal of reaching the podium.” Alessandra Mao “I thought only about racing and going as fast as possible,” Mao stated. “I will never forget this experience. All my teammates helped me and stayed close to me.” “When I looked at the scoreboard and saw that we were second, I was extremely happy.” All quotes are courtesy European Aquatics and the Italian Swimming Federation. [ad_2] This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow: https://swimswam.com/kristof-milak-building-myself-back-up-from-zero-day-3-european-championship-quotes/and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us