The 2026 European Swimming Championships are fast approaching, and the mixed 4x100 freestyle relay promises to be a thrilling event. With the world record held by the USA, the European record by Russia/NAB, and the championship record by Great Britain, this race is sure to be a fast-paced and highly competitive affair. The Dutch, Italian, and Russian/NAB teams are all vying for gold, with the Netherlands and Italy in particular looking to improve on their recent performances.
The Dutch team, led by Marrit Steenbergen, is hoping to make a strong showing after finishing just 0.23 seconds behind the Italians at the last World Championships. Steenbergen, with her new world record of 51.68, could be a key factor in the Dutch team's success. However, the team will need to overcome some challenges, including the absence of Renzo Tjon-A-Joe and the potential for regression from the other legs.
The Italian team, on the other hand, is looking to build on its recent success. Sara Curtis, with her 53-second split, and Carlos D'Ambrosio, who is capable of replicating or exceeding his 47.34 split, are both key contributors. However, the team will need to ensure that the front half of the race is faster than last year's performance.
The Russian/NAB team, led by Ivan Girev and Daria Trofimova, is also a strong contender. Girev, with his new lifetime best of 47.63, and Trofimova, who has been consistent with her 54-second split, are both in good form. However, the team will need to ensure that the leadoff leg is strong enough to set them up for success.
Great Britain, Germany, and Spain are also expected to be competitive in this event. Great Britain, with its strong male pair of Matt Richards and Jacob Mills, and Germany, with its national record holder Joshua Salchow and Kaii Winkler, are both looking to build on their recent successes. Spain, on the other hand, has a strong front half with sub-48-second swimmers, but its female swimmers may struggle on the second half of the race.
The French team, led by Marie Wattel and Beryl Gastaldello, is also expected to be competitive, but its lack of depth in the 200 free may limit its chances of a podium finish. The Czech team, with its 53-mid range swimmers on the back half, and Poland, with its male swimmers but no female swimmers under 55 seconds, are both expected to struggle in this event.
In the mixed 4x200 freestyle relay, Germany and Great Britain are the front-runners, with both teams having quality across all four members of their quartets. Great Britain, with its Championships record of 7:26.67, is looking to defend its title, while Germany, with its bronze medal from 2024, is also a strong contender. Italy and Russia are expected to be the two nations competing for bronze behind the pair of Germany and Great Britain, with Italy having the slight edge.
Overall, the 2026 European Swimming Championships promise to be a thrilling event, with the mixed 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays providing some of the most exciting racing of the meet. With so many strong teams and fast swimmers, it's anyone's guess who will come out on top.
