Paris 2026: Quotes From Day 2 Of The European Swimming Championships ...Middle East

By Giusy Cisale on SwimSwam

2026 EUROPEAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The second night of swimming at the 2026 European Aquatics Championships featured two Italian victories, France’s first gold medal of the meet and several Championship Records.

Below are the main athlete reactions from Day 2. Quotes were provided by European Aquatics and the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN). Statements given to FIN have been translated from Italian.

Marie Wattel — Gold, Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay, 3:39.64

Marie Wattel anchored France to its first gold medal of Paris 2026. France won in 3:39.64 ahead of the Netherlands and Neutral Athletes B.

“It was amazing and such a special moment for everyone,” Wattel told European Aquatics. “We were very emotional because most of our families were here. We wanted to enjoy every second, and we are very proud of the team.”

“We were shaking a little before the final because of the noise from the crowd, but we were also very motivated. They helped us because we were not only four people behind the blocks tonight. We were thousands.”

Marrit Steenbergen — Gold, Women’s 100 Freestyle, 51.90

Marrit Steenbergen won the women’s 100 freestyle in a Championship Record of 51.90. It was her third Championship Record of the event after swimming 52.62 in the heats and 52.44 in the semifinals.

“I’m happy with the place and the Championship Record,” Steenbergen told European Aquatics. “The most important thing is getting your hand on the wall first, so it was mission accomplished.”

“This was the most important race for me. I still have many races to go, but this was the one I wanted the most. Now that it is out of the way, I have some fun races ahead. My shape is good, so I will keep building from this.”

Steenbergen shared the podium with Dutch teammate Milou van Wijk, who took silver in 52.71.

“It is great to have a Dutch one-two,” Steenbergen said. “She did really well, and having that strength on the team is important for the relay. It is very encouraging.”

Sara Curtis — Bronze, Women’s 100 Freestyle, 52.72

Sara Curtis earned the first long course European medal of her career, placing third in 52.72. She finished .01 behind Van Wijk and .03 outside her Italian Record of 52.69.

“I’m really happy because this is my first European long course medal,” Curtis told European Aquatics.

Speaking to FIN, Curtis added:

“I’m almost speechless. This medal is very important for me, for my development and for my family. I have written an important page in the history of Italian swimming. I’m exhausted, but extremely happy.”

Curtis became the first Italian woman to win a European medal in the 100 freestyle.

“I was also happy with my opening speed because I didn’t want to go out any slower,” she said. “I hoped to be slightly better at the finish, and I missed the silver medal by one hundredth. But this result will push me to work more on my finishes.”

Nicolò Martinenghi — Gold, Men’s 100 Breaststroke, 58.58

Olympic champion Nicolò Martinenghi won the men’s 100 breaststroke in 58.58. He finished .10 ahead of Ivan Kozhakin, while Italian teammate Simone Cerasuolo took bronze.

“This is incredible,” Martinenghi told European Aquatics. “Paris probably has a bigger piece of my heart now than Budapest, where I won my first world title.”

“I wanted to give something back to Paris because Paris has given so much to me. My parents and my girlfriend were here. The crowd was incredible, and before the start I knew I could win, even though it was a difficult race.”

Martinenghi gave a more emotional account of the victory to FIN.

“I have no words. I deserve this. I deserve it so much,” he said. “Today’s race came from the heart, from desire and from wanting to come back. I tried to give everything I had. I didn’t care how I arrived here. I wanted to finish without regrets.”

“Today I felt like the strongest swimmer and felt I had something more than the others. I had to win for myself.”

The result followed what Martinenghi described as one of the most difficult seasons of his career.

“I told my teammates that I probably had one chance in 20 of winning gold, but I would fight for that chance until the end,” Martinenghi said. “I also said that if I won, I might retire. That probably won’t be the case.”

“It has been an extremely difficult year. I was emotional before the race, which didn’t even happen at the Olympics. There were moments when swimming seemed to have moved into the background, even though that wasn’t what I wanted.”

“When you realize you still have the heart to fight, you are no longer afraid. This is my world, and it is still what I want to do. You won’t get rid of me that easily.”

Simone Cerasuolo — Bronze, Men’s 100 Breaststroke, 58.90

Simone Cerasuolo took bronze from lane eight in 58.90, earning his first European medal in the 100 breaststroke.

“Yesterday I was very nervous and wasn’t happy with my time,” Cerasuolo told European Aquatics. “Now I’m very happy to win a medal—my first European medal in the 100 breaststroke.”

Speaking to FIN, Cerasuolo said he entered the final determined to improve on his semifinal performance.

“I was angry about how the semifinal went,” he said. “Today I was ready for anything. I felt good and had the feeling that I shouldn’t be afraid of anyone.”

“Nicolò is an example for all of us. He gives us the desire to fight. My final 10 meters came only from the heart.”

Simona Quadarella — Gold, Women’s 800 Freestyle, 8:15.55

Simona Quadarella won her fourth European title in the women’s 800 freestyle, finishing in 8:15.55. Germany’s Isabel Gose took silver in 8:18.44, followed by Maya Werner in 8:22.55.

“Gose started fast because she is stronger over the first part of the race,” Quadarella told FIN. “I knew I had to wait and begin to increase my pace during the second half. That is what happened, and I’m happy.”

Quadarella became the first woman to win four European long course titles in the 800 freestyle.

“I have won many European titles, but winning more is always motivating,” she said. “Winning is difficult, but confirming yourself as champion is even harder. In the end, that gives you even more satisfaction.”

“My family is here, and my niece will come to watch the 1500 on Friday. I hope I can give her something special. It was a great day for the whole team. We started well yesterday, and now everyone is finding their rhythm.”

Katie Shanahan — Gold, Women’s 200 Backstroke, 2:06.13

Katie Shanahan won the women’s 200 backstroke in 2:06.13, more than a second ahead of defending champion Camila Rebelo.

“I really wasn’t expecting that,” Shanahan told European Aquatics. “I knew I was in a good place after the heats and semifinals, and tonight I really wanted to get my hand on the wall first. I had finished second at the European Championships three times.”

Shanahan also described the physical setbacks she faced during the season.

“This has been the hardest year of my career,” she said. “In January, I couldn’t swim and had to spend 10 days out of the water because I was in so much pain with my back.”

“An MRI showed overload problems and inflammation in a disc, so I had to start again from almost nothing. Then I was ill before trials, and in May I fractured my hand. There have been so many things going on this season. If you had told me in January that I would swim this time, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

Thomas Ceccon — Fourth, Men’s 50 Butterfly, 22.72; 200 Backstroke Finalist, 1:55.86

Thomas Ceccon finished fourth in the men’s 50 butterfly in 22.72, missing the podium by .04. Twenty minutes later, he qualified eighth for the 200 backstroke final in 1:55.86.

“Looking back at the 50 butterfly, I’m disappointed because matching my best time would have been enough for a medal,” Ceccon told FIN. “It doesn’t change much, although winning a medal is always nice. The altitude training doesn’t affect a 50 very much. The level needed to win was around 22.50.”

Ceccon then turned his attention to the 200 backstroke final, where Hubert Kós qualified first in a European Record of 1:52.30.

“The 200 was good,” Ceccon said. “I had only 20 minutes between the two races, and I think very few swimmers in the world can compete in two such different events with so little recovery.”

“My splits were good, and I feel good in the water. Tomorrow will be a battle because Kós went out in 53 seconds. I think I can improve on the time I swam this morning.”

Quotes are courtesy European Aquatics and the Italian Swimming Federation.

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