Paris, August 11, 2026 – Italy takes center stage at the European Swimming Championships in Paris. Gold for the Azzurri Nicolò Martinenghi in the men’s 100m breaststroke and for Simona Quadarella in the 800m freestyle. In Paris, the Roman wins her fourth consecutive continental gold (a record in the discipline) with a time of 8’15″55, ahead of the Germans Isabel Gose, silver in 8’18″44, and Maya Werner, bronze in 8’22″55.
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Shortly before, the double Azzurri medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke: Martinenghi, the reigning Olympic champion in the specialty, is first with a time of 58″58, while the Emiliano Simone Cerasuolo wins the bronze in 58″90. On the podium also rises the Russian (under neutral flag) Ivan Kozhakin with a time of 58″68.
Historic bronze for Sara Curtis, the first Italian to reach the podium in the 100m freestyle.
Summary
- Historic Curtis: “This bronze is a redemption”
- Ceccon in final in 200 backstroke, fourth in 50 butterfly
- Pilato and Angiolini in final in 100 breaststroke
- D’Ambrosio in final in 100 freestyle
- Di Pietro in final in 50 butterfly
- Martinenghi: “Difficult year, I thought about quitting”
- Cerasuolo: “I would have died for this podium”
Historic Curtis: “This bronze is a redemption”
Curtis, 20 years old from Savigliano, registered with Esercito, is the first Italian to reach the podium in the 100m freestyle. The Azzurra touched in 52″72, behind the Dutch Marrit Steenbergen (51″90, championship record) and Milou Van Wijk by just one hundredth (52″71).
“I am really happy because winning this medal is very important for me, for my growth, for my family and especially for me it is a redemption. I have written an important page for myself. Maybe I hoped to do slightly better in the end and then I lost a silver medal by one hundredth but that’s fine and this pushes me to work better on finishes.” Curtis said commenting on the victory.
Curtis, 20 years old from Savigliano, registered with Esercito, is coached at Virginia University by Todd De Sorbo.
Ceccon in final in 200 backstroke, fourth in 50 butterfly
Thomas Ceccon advances to the final in the men’s 200m backstroke. Having entered the water a few minutes earlier for the 50m breaststroke final, he posted the third time in his semifinal finishing in 1’55″86 (the last qualifying time for the final): he will compete for a medal at 6:40 PM tomorrow. In the second heat, the European record was set by Hungarian Hubert Kos in 1’52″30.
Shortly before, the Venetian athlete narrowly missed the bronze medal in the 50 butterfly finishing fourth in 22″72, five hundredths off his Italian record set last year at the World Championships in Singapore. Gold went to the Russian, competing as a neutral athlete, Egor Kornev (22″52), silver to the French Maxime Grousset (22″54), bronze to the Belarusian, also neutral, Grigori Pekarski (22″68).
“Thinking back to the 50 butterfly, I’m very sorry: I just had to swim my best to get a medal.” Ceccon said after the 200 backstroke semifinal. “It doesn’t change much, although a medal is always nice. Altitude in the 50s affects little, the level to win was 22″50. Speaking of the 200 backstroke, instead, good. I had just twenty minutes between the two races and I think few in the world can compete in two such different events in such a short time. Tomorrow will be a battle, because the Hungarian guy (Hubert Kos, ed) goes through in 53. I think I can lower the time I swam today,” added Ceccon.
Pilato and Angiolini in final in 100 breaststroke
Benedetta Pilato and Lisa Angiolini fly to the final in the women’s 100m breaststroke. The 2005-born from Taranto posted a time of 1’05″85 in the second semifinal, finishing third, while the 31-year-old Tuscan was fourth in the first semifinal with a time of 1:06.47. The two Azzurre will compete for the medal tomorrow at 6:58 PM.
D’Ambrosio in final in 100 freestyle
Carlos D’Ambrosio flies to the final in the men’s 100m freestyle. The 2007-born Venetian swims in 47″70, posting the best time in his semifinal: he will compete for a medal tomorrow at 6:52 PM. No luck, however, for the other Azzurro in the semifinal, Manuel Frigo, also Venetian, for whom the time of 48″54 is not enough.
Di Pietro in final in 50 butterfly
Silvia di Pietro advances to the final in the women’s 50m butterfly. The Roman posts a time of 25″76, third in her semifinal, securing a place in the final scheduled for tomorrow at 6:47 PM. Out instead is Elena Capretta, whose time of 26″42 is not enough.
Martinenghi: “Difficult year, I thought about quitting”
I have no words. It has been a difficult year, I deserve a lot
These are Martinenghi’s first words live on Rai, after winning gold in the 100 breaststroke. “Today was a race full of heart, desire, and redemption. I tried to put everything I could into the water. Today on that block I felt I had something more to fight for – ” added the champion –. When things fit perfectly, you don’t struggle to dream. It has been a very difficult year, but I never stop being amazed. This is my world, I want to do it a little longer. Retirement? I thought about it a bit this year, I don’t deny it. I had moments of down where I thought the pool had taken a back seat. But when you realize you have the heart to fight, you have nothing to be afraid of.” Martinenghi returns as European champion in the 100 breaststroke after the title won in Rome in 2022.
Cerasuolo: “I would have died for this podium”
Happiness also has the face of Cerasuolo, bronze medalist
I would have died in war just to reach this podium: I wanted it at all costs
He said this after winning third place: “I have to tell the truth, yesterday afternoon I was very angry and nervous, I would have punched myself. Today I was ready for anything. I entered the pool very fierce. I am happy. The last ten meters never ended, but I put so much heart into it that it’s hard to explain.”
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