Good morning, swimming enthusiasts! It's an exciting day as we dive into the second preliminary session of the 2026 European Championships in Paris. With some of the most anticipated events on the schedule, we're in for a treat as we witness the stars of the sport in action for the first time this meet. From the women's 50 butterfly to the men's 800 freestyle, there's something for every fan to enjoy.
Women's 50 Fly — Prelims
The women's 50 butterfly is a highlight of the morning session, and swimming fans will be eager to see Sarah Sjostrom take the water for the first time at these Championships. She's the heavy favorite to earn the top seed in tonight's semifinal, with Belgium's Roos Van Otterdijk close behind in second place. Sjostrom's world record of 24.43 from 2014 sets the bar high, and it will be fascinating to see if she can defend her European Championship title from the same year. The European Junior Record holder, Anastasiya Shkurdai of Belarus, will also be in the mix, aiming to make a splash at just 21 years old.
In my opinion, Sjostrom's dominance in this event is undeniable. Her technique and speed are unparalleled, and I predict she will once again set the pace for the rest of the field. What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential for a new record, given her current form. Sjostrom's performance will be a litmus test for the rest of the field, and I can't wait to see how she stacks up against the competition.
Men's 100 Freestyle — Prelims
Directly following the women's 50 fly, the men's 100 freestyle takes center stage. David Popovici, the European record holder, will race as the top seed, with more than four tenths of a second separating him from his closest competitor, Egor Kornev. Popovici's performance will be crucial in determining the pace of the race, and I expect him to set a strong tone for the rest of the field.
What many people don't realize is the depth of talent in this event. While Popovici is the clear favorite, Kornev has been very strong already this meet, and he could narrow the gap between them. France's Maxime Grousset, who was also very strong in the 50 fly semifinals last night, will also be in the mix. I think this race will be a true test of the field's depth, and I can't wait to see how the favorites fare against the rising stars.
Women's 100 Breaststroke — Prelims
The women's 100 breaststroke has the potential to be one of the most exciting events of the session, with Great Britain's Angharad Evans holding the top seed in 1:04.96. This will be our first chance to see Evans racing these Championships, and it will be a strong litmus test for how the rest of her week will go. She will not have an easy path to a middle lane tonight with a plethora of breaststrokers hot on her heels, including reigning World Champion Anna Elendt.
If you take a step back and think about it, this race will be a true test of the field's depth. While Evans is the clear favorite, Elendt and the rest of the field will be pushing her to her limits. I think this race will be a true showcase of the talent in this event, and I can't wait to see how the favorites fare against the rising stars.
Men's 200 Backstroke — Prelims
Hubert Kos leads the men's 200 backstroke field, and we will be on World Record watch over the next few days as he hunts Aaron Peirsol's supersuit record of 1:51.92. This will also be his first event of the championships, though he's got a busy schedule ahead of him. Kos's performance will be crucial in determining the pace of the race, and I expect him to set a strong tone for the rest of the field.
One thing that immediately stands out is the potential for a new record. Kos's time will be a true test of his abilities, and I think he has the potential to break Peirsol's record. What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential for a new benchmark in the sport, and I can't wait to see how Kos fares against the rest of the field.
Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay — Prelims
The mixed 4×100 medley relays will be the 2nd-to-last event of the session, and our season-best add-ups show that this could be another very close race where one wrong move could see a team miss the final entirely. The United States currently holds the world record, and Great Britain holds the European record, so this race will be a true test of the field's depth.
What this really suggests is the potential for a thrilling race. With so many strong teams in the mix, I think this event will be a true showcase of the talent in the sport. I can't wait to see how the favorites fare against the rising stars, and I think this race will be a true test of the field's depth.
Men's 800 Freestyle — Prelims
Finally, the men's 800 freestyle preliminaries will wrap up the session. Newly minted European record holder Johannes Liebmann is the top seed by just under two tenths ahead of countrymate Sven Schwarz. Liebmann's performance will be crucial in determining the pace of the race, and I expect him to set a strong tone for the rest of the field.
A detail that I find especially interesting is the potential for a new record. Liebmann's time will be a true test of his abilities, and I think he has the potential to break the European record. What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential for a new benchmark in the sport, and I can't wait to see how Liebmann fares against the rest of the field.
In conclusion, the second preliminary session of the 2026 European Championships promises to be an exciting one. With so many talented athletes in the mix, I think this meet will be a true showcase of the sport's depth and diversity. I can't wait to see how the favorites fare against the rising stars, and I think this meet will be a true test of the field's depth.
