Sarah Sjöström returns to European waters a year after becoming a first-time mum when she goes in the 50 fly prelims in Paris.
The Swede gave birth to son Adrian in August 2025 and returned to competitive racing at the Stockholm Swim Open in April.
David Popovici makes his first appearance at Paris 2026 in the 100 free in which he won at the previous two editions.
Angharad Evans makes her continental long-course debut in the 100m breaststroke after making her title breakthrough at the Commonwealth Games.
Women’s 50m Butterfly
Sjöström is the most decorated swimmer in the history of the European Championships with 28 medals since her first appearance at Eindhoven 2008 where the 14-year-old won the 100 fly.
The triple Olympic champion is a five-time champion in this event and she led the way in the sixth and final heat in 25.40 to top the field heading into the semis.
Roos Vanotterdijk of Belgium was second through in 25.57.
Men’s 100m Freestyle
An enduring memory of Roma 2022 was the sight of Popovici sitting on a lane rope, arms outstretched, after lowering the WR to 46.86 and consigning Cesar Cielo’s longstanding mark in the process.
Then 17, the Romanian bowed to each corner of the Foro Italico as the crowd rose as one.
He also won the 200 free in the Eternal City and repeated the double two years later at Belgrade 2024.
Now 21, Popovici went in the 10th and final prelim where he led home three men on 47s, the Olympic champion rolling into the wall in 47.13.
Home favourite Maxime Grousset was a no-show in the eighth heat, withdrawing as a precautionary measure ahead of the 50 fly final, the Frenchman having fractured his foot in June. Kristof Milak became the first man to break 48secs in 47.92.
Egor Kornev has been a revelation on the sprint stage this year with the Russian rattling Andrii Govorov’s 50 fly WR in the semis on Monday night.
He twice broke 47secs at the Russian nationals in June with his 46.96 topping the rankings coming into Paris. He headed the penultimate heat in 47.97.
Women’s 100m Breaststroke
What a difference 12 months can make. Evans was desolate last year after finishing 18th in prelims at the Singapore worlds after arriving atop the world rankings.
The spectre threatened to derail a swimmer who has an abundance of talent and application but who experiences nerves and an active mind.
She dug deep for her breakthrough victory at last month’s Commonwealth Games where she went on to win the 100/200 double.
The University of Stirling swimmer came through with a fine second 50 on Tuesday morning, sandwiched between Mona McSharry and Benedetta Pilato, to win the last prelim in 1:05.45 and head the field into Tuesday evening’s semis.
It was also a championship record, slicing 0.08 off the previous standard of 1:05.53 held by Yulia Efimova since Glasgow 2018.
McSharry (1:05.97) and Pilato (1:06.20) were the next swiftest through with Ellie McCartney clinching the final spot in 1:07.96.
Men’s 200m Backstroke
The roof at the Olympic Aquatic Centre threatened to blow off as it rose to a crescendo in the fourth and final prelim.
Olympic champion Hubert Kos was ahead throughout and a model of stability in the water.
Out in lane seven, however, Nathan Muratory had other ideas and he stormed through with a 29.07 final 50 to post 1:54.87. The 18-year-old hoisted himself on the lane rope to celebrate with a jubilant crowd that greeted the news it was a world junior record by turning the noise up a further notch.
Muratory headed the prelims ahead of teammate Mewen Tomac who clocked 1:55.14 followed by Kos (1:55.37), Apostolos Siskos (1:55.64) and Yohann Ndoye Brouard and Roman Mityukov who both posted 1:55.91.
However, the two-per-nation rule means only two athletes per country can progress from prelims meaning world bronze medallist Ndoye Brouard misses out.