Photographic coverage at the European Aquatics Championships Paris 2026 and the European Aquatics Masters Championships 2026 took on a new angle thanks to the installation of underwater cameras.
This additional facility provided swimming images of startling clarity and novelty from the Olympic Aquatics Centre and the X-Bionic Sphere in Samorin.
The pictures selected here were taken by European Aquatics photographer Istvan Derencsenyi working with underthewatermedia.com. They present some of the world’s finest swimmers as you have never seen them before…
France’s four-times Paris 2024 champion Leon Marchand won his first European titles in the men’s 400m freestyle and, pictured, the men’s 200m butterfly.
Ellen Walshe set two Irish records in winning the women’s 200m and 400m individual medley double.
Hungary’s Vivien Jackl pictured during the women’s 1500m freestyle final.
Ireland’s Nathan Wiffen takes on two versions of Greece’s Vasileios Kakoulakis in the men’s 400m freestyle heats.
Sweden’s Linus Forsgren is the nearest of three gliders during the men’s 100m breaststroke heats.
Ilia Borodin of NAB drives on to victory in the men’s 400m individual medley final.
Power lines in the men’s 4x200m freestyle final.
Switzerland’s Noe Ponti heading for men’s 100m butterfly bronze.
Silas Lindberg of the Faroe Islands and Denmark’s Mathias Christensen contend in the men’s 200m freestyle heats.
Sweden’s 32-year-old double Paris 2024 gold medallist Sarah Sjostrom, returning to Championship action after a 20-months break in which she had a son, claimed 50m freestyle silver (pictured) and 50m butterfly gold.
Taking the long view on the men’s backstroke at the EA Masters Championships 2026.
More action from the EA Masters Championships 2026, this time from the men’s 400m freestyle final.
Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics
