The European Aquatics Masters Championships 2026 continued at pace in Samorín and Bratislava, with another two days of swimming producing a host of championship and European records, while artistic swimming delivered exciting duet technical, open team technical and solo free competition.
The competition itself also passed 5000 registrations, with 4041 athletes, 309 coaches, and 639 friends & family being a part of the action.
The third day of swimming saw masters athletes continue to rewrite the record books at the X-Bionic Sphere, with the mood continuing to be high amongst those pushing for new continental marks, personal bests, or memories made.
In the women’s 100m breaststroke, Pia Thulstrup of Denmark set a Championship Record in the 65-69 category, stopping the clock at 1:27.58. Nicole Heidemann of Germany also matched the championship record in the 40-44 category with 1:12.50.
The 50m Backstroke then brought one of the standout swims of the day, as Carla Stampfli of Switzerland, who previously spoke to European Aquatics about her love for the sport, produced a European and championship record of 29.86 in the 40-44 category.
Records continued across the longer events, with Kurt Frei of Switzerland setting a championship record of 7:25.80 in the Men’s 80-84 400m individual medley.
Day four brought further record-breaking performances, particularly in the sprint events. Alessio Germani of Italy delivered a European and championship record of 2:26.57 in the men’s 60-64 200m backstroke.
There were also European and championship records for Great Britain’s Ian McKay in the men’s 70-74 50m freestyle, with his 27.98 swim, and Alyson Fordham in the women’s 70-74 event, where she clocked 31.55.
Paulina Nogaj of Poland was another athlete to enjoy a memorable day, taking a championship record of 1:02.24 in the women’s 25-29 100m butterfly before adding another championship record in the 50m freestyle with 26.10.
Artistic swimming continued in Bratislava with the women’s duet technical event on day two, with athletes from across Europe taking to the pool in a wide range of age categories.
Among the leading performances were Slovakia’s Iuventa Aquatix in the 40-49 category, while Rushmoor Artistic Swimming Club from Great Britain topped the 60-69 field. The results once again highlighted the strength of competition across the different masters categories, with athletes representing clubs from right across Europe.
The male and mixed duet technical events also took place, which saw a solid number of entries scattered across the age groups. The highest score of the lot came from France’s Laurence Prost and Stephane Beaumont, with the now decade-old mixed event.
Day three brought the open team technical and women’s solo events, providing another packed programme in the Slovakian capital.
TJ Tesla Brno of the Czech Republic claimed the open team technical title in the 35-49 category with a score of 68.9305, while Rushmoor Artistic Swimming Club led the 50-64 competition with 63.1133. In the youngest category, SSC Schwenningen of Germany took victory in the 20-24 field.
The women’s solo free competition produced some of the highest scores of the championships so far. Kim Deiman of the Netherlands topped the 30-39 category with 78.6667, while Margaux Varesio of Switzerland won the 25-29 category with 76.0667. In the 60-69 category, Italy’s Michela Barbini led the way with 69.5000.
Across both days, the artistic swimming programme once again demonstrated the variety of masters competition, with technical and free routines allowing athletes of different ages and experience levels to compete for European honours.
Both programmes continue for the coming days before the diving programme begins on 24 August.
Click here for the start lists and results from the competition.
Click here to watch all of the action on EuroAquaticsTV.
Stephen Stanley for European Aquatics
