Rome, August 16, 2026 – Simona Quadarella legendary. The swimmer achieves her third golden hat-trick after Glasgow 2018 and Budapest 2021. On the last day of the European Swimming Championships in Paris – marked by Italian medals – Quadarella triumphs in the 400 freestyle, thus obtaining her third first place in as many finals at the continental event, after those won in the 1500 and 800 freestyle.
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In today’s race, the Italian managed to come back in the last lap against the Germans Gose and Roth, silver and bronze respectively, touching in 4’01″34 and setting a new record for the event. Isabel Gose touched in 4’02″41 while Maya Werner in 4’03″73. In the evening
Quadarella: “I didn’t even expect it myself”
“I tried to wait as long as possible, even though at one point I didn’t think I would win, it seemed like the others wouldn’t give up at all. In the last 50 meters I told myself to try. I didn’t even expect it myself,” Quadarella tells Sky Sport after the gold. “What impresses me the most is the consistency and always managing to be there, even with some difficulties like in the 1500, where I wasn’t so happy with my time despite the gold – she adds. – Before in the 400 I couldn’t perform very well, now I found the right key.”
Ceccon and Pilato second by a hundredth
Quadarella wins gold right after a double disappointment for Italy: Thomas Ceccon in the 100 backstroke and Benedetta Pilato in the 50 breaststroke stopped at the silver medal. Ceccon (52″28) lost by just one hundredth to the Greek Apostolos Christou, gold in 52″27, while bronze went to the Russian (under neutral flag) Pavel Samusenko in 52″57. “We fought. We knew it was 3-4 nations competing and we gave it our all. My silver in the 100 back? That hundredth stings, but the time is also quite slow,” Ceccon said to Rai microphones.
Pilato, at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in the French capital, touched in 29″94, also just a hundredth behind the winner, Lithuanian champion Ruta Meilutyte (29″93). Bronze went to the Irish Mona Mc Sharry (29″95). Yesterday, on the penultimate day of the European Swimming Championships, Pilato had finished first in the semifinal and secured a place in the 50m breaststroke final with the best entry time (the Italian had touched in 29″84).
Pilato: “I would have liked to win”
“That hundredth haunts me in this place. I’m happy because for me swimming three times under 30” is important. Surely it’s the start of a journey. I would have liked to win, but it’s okay like this. I changed everything this year,” Pilato said after the silver. At the 2024 Games, also in the French capital, the Italian had missed the podium in the 100 breaststroke by just one hundredth.
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Silver in mixed relays
Silver also in the mixed relays. In the women’s 4×100, Sara Curtis, Benedetta Pilato, Anita Gastaldi and Emma Virginia Menicucci finish second in 3’53″60 (new Italian record) behind Great Britain, which overtakes the Italians in the last meters. Bronze goes to Russia (under neutral flag). In the men’s 4×100 medley relay, Thomas Ceccon, Nicolo Martinenghi, Alberto Razzetti and Carlos D’Ambrosio finish second in 3’28″86 behind only Russia, bronze to France.
Razzetti fifth in the 200 medley
Alberto Razzetti finishes fifth in the men’s 200m medley at the ongoing European Swimming Championships in Paris. The Italian swims the final in 1’56″60, won by Hungarian Hubert Kos in 1’54″24 (championship record), ahead of Spaniard Hugo Gonzalez de Oliveira, silver in 1’54″44, and Russian (under neutral flag) Mikhail Shcherbakov in 1’56″16 (Junior world record).
Italy second in the medal table
Italy finishes second in the medal table at the 2026 European Swimming Championships in Paris. The Italian team collects 13 gold medals, 15 silver and 15 bronze, for a total of 43 podiums, more than any other nation. However, the winner is Great Britain with 14 golds, one more than Italy, combined with 4 silver and 8 bronze medals. Third place goes to Russia (under neutral flag) with 10-9-13.
Barelli: “Enormous pride”
“The successes achieved are a source of enormous pride. Thank you guys, you were amazing! Behind every medal, every record and every improvement of our athletes there is individual talent, daily sacrifice and the professional expertise of a system that proves to be winning and capable of constantly renewing itself.” The president of the Italian Swimming Federation Paolo Barelli sums up at the end of the 38th edition of the European Aquatic Championships, emphasizing the crucial importance of sports clubs.
“Our 1,500 sports clubs are the true engine of the movement – Barelli states -. It is in pools all over Italy that this virtuous chain develops, ensuring the Italian swimming team a continuity of success from generation to generation. Seeing Sara Curtis and Chiara Pellacani prevail with strength, enthusiasm and ambition, alongside champions like Nicolò Martinenghi, Thomas Ceccon, Gregorio Paltrinieri, Simona Quadarella, Benedetta Pilato, Ginevra Taddeucci and Lucrezia Ruggiero, or very young talents blooming like Filippo Pelati, Simone Conte and Raffaele Pelligra, shows how the federation network is alive, capable of identifying, nurturing and protecting its athletes, offering the youngest healthy role models of inspiration.”
