Paris, August 15, 2026 – After the gold and the double world record in the 50 meters backstroke, Sara Curtis breaks another record. She is the first Italian ever to reach the podium in the 50 meters freestyle and to go under 24 seconds (23.99). A time that earns bronze for the Piedmontese in the final won by Polish Katarzyna Maria Wasik (23.84) ahead of the veteran Swedish Sarah Sjostrom (23.86).
It is only the beginning of another magical evening for the Italian national team at the European Swimming Championships in Paris. Immediately after, Martinenghi and Cerasuolo enter the pool for the 50 breaststroke final and it’s a one-two finish. Gold with 26.57 for Nicolò, who doubles after the 100 breaststroke, and silver for Simone, with 26.62.
And it’s not over yet because there is also the sensational second place of Anita Gastaldi in the 200 individual medley, the second in the history of Italian swimming at the Europeans. The Italian swam in 2:10.07 behind the Irish Hellen Walshe (2:09.81) and ahead of the Belgian Roos Vanotterdijk (2:10.10).
It is a mix of feelings instead the fourth place in the 200 butterfly of Alberto Razzetti who with 1:54.23 lowered by five hundredths the 1:54.28 set by Federico Burdisso for second place in Budapest 2020 and by twenty-four his personal best of 1:54.47 recorded at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. ‘Razzo’ was overtaken five meters from the finish by the Greek Apostolos Siskos, bronze in 1:54.13. Gold to the French and Olympic champion Leon Marchand in 1:51.72, silver to the Hungarian Richard Marton.
Promising for tomorrow is the performance of Benedetta Pilato, who won the 50 breaststroke semifinal with 29.84: the fastest time to qualify for the final. Anita Bottazzo is out.
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