As part of its ongoing dialogue with the athlete community ahead of the 2026 European Aquatics Championships in Paris, European Aquatics President António Silva and Sports Director Apostolos Tsagkarakis met with Athletes’ Committee member and Olympic champion Kristóf Rasovszky during the European Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Sukoró.

The meeting followed recent discussions with athletes, team leaders, the Paris 2026 Local Organising Committee and the relevant European Aquatics technical and medical committees regarding water quality in the River Seine and the health and safety measures planned for the Open Water Swimming and High Diving competitions.

European Aquatics welcomed the feedback and proposals presented by the athletes’ representative. Following a constructive exchange, the parties agreed on the following actions:

• Strictly follow the health & safety protocol, and contingency plans developed by the Local Organising Committee in Paris, procedures which were presented to athletes, team leaders and coaches during recent online information sessions.
• The athletes have the option to choose an independent water quality analysis service provider, to verify all data provided by European Aquatics and Local Organising Committee are accurate. The associated costs for such service shall be covered by European Aquatics.
• To establish a dedicated taskforce to recommend amendments to existing or future health and safety regulations of the athletes.
• If an athlete suffers as a direct result of an illness, that is reasonably determined by qualified personnel to have been caused by the athlete’s participation in a swimming or high diving event in the River Seine during the competition or official training days of the 2026 European Aquatics Championships, European Aquatics will reimburse reasonable medical expenses incurred as a direct consequence. The value and nature of such reimbursement must be agreed with European Aquatics, who will act reasonably under guidance of qualified personnel, in advance of any treatment being commenced.

European Aquatics values the continued dialogue with its athletes and their representatives and remains committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure that decisions are guided by the best available scientific evidence, established protocols and, above all, the wellbeing of the athletes.

The health, safety and wellbeing of athletes remain European Aquatics’ highest priority.ety and wellbeing of athletes remain European Aquatics’ highest priority.