2026 European Swimming Championships: The Final Medal Tally
Second in gold medals but far ahead in total medal count. That’s the final tally for Italy at the European Swimming Championships that just concluded in Paris. The Italian team won 13 gold medals compared to the British team’s 14, but they claimed a total of 43 medals, clearly outpacing the British (who finished with 26) as well as the Russians and Germans (both with 32).
2026 EUROPEAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS: HERE’S THE FINAL MEDAL TALLY
The women shone particularly brightly: Chiara Pellacani (5 golds in diving), Simona Quadarella (3 golds in the 400, 800, and 1,500 freestyle), Ginevra Taddeucci (2 golds, 1 silver, and 1 bronze in the waters of the Seine), and Sara Curtis (6 medals, including gold and a world record in the 50 backstroke). Applause also goes to Filippo Pelati in artistic swimming with 4 medals, and Matteo Santoro in diving with 3 medals. Thomas Ceccon finished with 4 medals, confirming his strength, but fell short of gold.
2026 EUROPEAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS: HERE’S THE FINAL MEDAL TALLY
On the final night, Quadarella stole the show, winning her third gold of the competition to bring her career total of European titles to eleven. The Roman swimmer staged a stunning late comeback against Germany’s Gose in the 400-meter freestyle, thus completing her third consecutive triple crown in the long-distance events (400, 800, and 1,500 meters)—a feat unprecedented in the history of the European Championships. “At one point, I thought I’d never win because my opponents weren’t giving an inch. But in the last lap, I told myself to give it a shot, and it went great. What makes me most proud is my consistency,” she said after the race.
2026 EUROPEAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS: HERE’S THE FINAL MEDAL TABLE
It was a bitter disappointment, however, for Benedetta Pilato and Thomas Ceccon on the final day. The Italian swimmer, who entered the 100-meter breaststroke final with the fastest time, was edged out by Lithuania’s Meilutyte by just one hundredth of a second. Ceccon faced the same cruel margin in the 100-meter backstroke, where the champion from Veneto led the race from the start only to be edged out at the finish by Greece’s Apostolos Christou. Silver medals were also won in the 4×100 medley relays, for both the men’s and women’s teams: the women’s team was beaten by Great Britain, and the men’s team by Russia.
2026 EUROPEAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS: HERE IS THE FINAL MEDAL TABLE
Sara Curtis was also a standout member of the Italian team, drawing international attention throughout the competition. The 19-year-old from Savigliano, in addition to winning gold with a world record in the 50-meter backstroke, took bronze in the 50-meter freestyle, lowering the Italian record to 23.99 seconds and becoming the third athlete in the world to break the 24-second barrier. This extraordinary achievement even earned her congratulations from Jannik Sinner, the world’s number one tennis player, who sent her a personal message. “When he wrote to congratulate me, I screamed! I couldn’t believe it!” the champion from Cuneo told RAI reporters.
2026 EUROPEAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS: HERE’S THE FINAL MEDAL TALLY
