Italy's Sara Curtis shattered the world record in the women's 50-metre backstroke, clocking 26.63 seconds in a semifinal on Wednesday at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris. The time trimmed 0.23 seconds off the previous mark set by Australia's Kaylee McKeown in October 2023 in Budapest. Curtis also lowered the five-year-old European record by 0.47 seconds, erasing marks previously held by Dutch swimmer Kira Toussaint and Briton Kathleen Dawson. The 2025 European short-course champion now heads into Thursday's final as a heavy favourite.
In the men's 800m freestyle final, 19-year-old German Johannes Liebmann won gold in 7:37.59, setting a new European record and claiming his first senior international title. Compatriot Sven Schwarz took silver and Hungary's Zalan Sarkany bronze, while defending Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen of Ireland finished fourth.
Sweden's Sarah Sjöström captured her 18th long-course European gold, becoming the competition's all-time most decorated champion. Romania's David Popovici missed the 100m freestyle world record by 0.16 seconds, and Hungary's Hubert Kos took gold in the 200m backstroke in 1:53.08.