The 2026 European Championships Mixed 4x100 Free Relay Final was a thrilling display of swimming prowess, with the Neutral Athletes B team claiming the gold medal and setting a new championship record. The race began with a dramatic twist as France's Maxime Grousset, known for his lightning-fast starts, blundered before the start, disqualifying his team. This left the field open for the Neutral Athletes B team, who delivered an exceptional performance. Egor Kornev, the Russian swimmer, set the pace with a stunning 47.05 leadoff, nearly matching his Russian record from the individual event. Luca Hoek Le Guenedal, another standout performer, swam a solid 47.56, just three-tenths off his Spanish record. The Italian team, led by Carlos D'Ambrosio, also impressed with a 47.86 split, while Sean Niewold from the Netherlands contributed a 47.95. The British team, featuring Alexander Cohoon, managed a 48.29 split, and Robin Hanson from Sweden clocked a 48.76. The Czech team, with Jakub Krischke, finished with a 49.39 split.
The rolling splits revealed a competitive race. Matthew Richards from Great Britain recorded the fastest men's split at 47.41, just half a second faster than his leadoff in the medley relay. Thomas Ceccon from Italy split a solid 47.56, while Ivan Girev from the Neutral Athletes B team was 47.67, just shy of his lifetime best. Miguel Perez-Godoy from Spain was six-tenths faster than his flat start best, and Ludvig Bartolek from Sweden split 48.07, eight-tenths under his individual event time. Merlin Belmon from the Netherlands posted a 48.55 split, and Cedric Gabali from France, known for his versatility, clocked a 48.07, undercutting his morning split by two-tenths.
The women's side of the relay was equally captivating. Marrit Steenbergen from the Netherlands dominated with a 50.74 split, undercutting her own all-time split record by 0.13 seconds and nearly a full second under her flat start best. Kira Manokhina from the Neutral Athletes B team held on for silver with a 53.02 split, while Daria Klepikova from the same team beat her flat start best by eight-tenths with a 52.21. Sara Curtis from Italy posted the second-fastest split in the field at 51.79, just nine-tenths under her Italian record. The Czech team, with Barbara Janickova and Barbara Seemanova, set a new national record with their 5th-place finish, while Spain's Maria Daza Garcia and Irene Ciercoles Galve, both young swimmers, showed promise with splits of 53.50 and 54.04, respectively.
This race showcased the depth of talent across Europe, with several swimmers breaking personal records and contributing to their team's success. The Neutral Athletes B team's victory, coupled with the championship record, highlighted the importance of team dynamics and individual excellence in swimming. As the Championships continue, the competition is sure to intensify, with swimmers pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the pool.
