The short version
- Filip Nowacki won the men's 200m breaststroke final with a time of 2:07.70, narrowly defeating Dutch rival Caspar Corbeau.
- The victory marks another major title for the 18-year-old, who previously won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
- Lauren Cox and Freya Colbert added to Great Britain's medal tally by securing bronze in their respective events.
Filip Nowacki captured the gold medal in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke final at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, delivering a performance defined by a decisive late surge. The 18-year-old British swimmer touched the wall in two minutes and 7.70 seconds, securing the top spot in a tightly contested race that saw margins of victory measured in fractions of a second.
The finish was particularly dramatic as Nowacki edged out Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands, who finished just behind with a time of 2:07.78. The narrow gap between the first and second places underscored the intensity of the competition. Luka Mladenovic from Austria claimed the bronze medal position with a time of 2:08.91, completing the podium in an event that highlighted the depth of talent in European swimming.
For Nowacki, this victory serves as a significant continuation of his recent success on the international stage. Just last month, he made history for Jersey by winning gold in the same event at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. His ability to maintain high-level performance across different major competitions suggests a rising trajectory in his career, bolstered by his existing status as world junior champion in both the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke events.
Great Britain’s presence in Paris extended beyond Nowacki’s individual triumph. Fellow Briton Gregory Butler competed in the same final, finishing in fifth place with a time of 2:09.45. While he did not reach the podium, his participation reflects the strength of British swimming depth in the breaststroke discipline during this championship cycle.
In other events at the championships, Lauren Cox secured a bronze medal for Great Britain in the women’s 50-meter backstroke final. She finished with a time of 27.15 seconds, placing behind France’s Mary-Ambre Moluh, who took silver with a time of 27.06. The race was dominated by Italy’s Sara Curtis, who claimed gold.
Curtis’s victory was historic in its own right, as she set a new world record with a time of 26.56 seconds. This performance improved upon her own semi-final record established earlier in the week, where she had broken the previous mark held by Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown. Curtis had initially lowered the record to 26.63 seconds on Wednesday before shaving off another 0.23 seconds in the final.
Freya Colbert also contributed to Great Britain’s medal count by winning bronze in the women’s 200-meter freestyle final. She finished with a time of 1:55.81, trailing behind the winner and runner-up. Barbora Seemanova took the gold medal while setting a new championship record of 1:54.38.
The silver medal in the women’s 200-meter freestyle went to Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands, who finished with a time of 1:54.65. The close competition among the top finishers in both breaststroke and freestyle events illustrated the high level of performance across multiple national teams at the Paris championships.
Nowacki’s success adds to a growing list of achievements for young British swimmers on the European circuit. His dual titles as world junior champion, combined with his Commonwealth Games gold and now this European title, position him as a key figure to watch in upcoming international competitions, including potential Olympic qualifiers.
The championships in Paris have showcased not only individual brilliance but also the competitive balance across Europe. With records being broken and tight finishes determining medal outcomes, the event has provided clear indicators of form and fitness for swimmers aiming to peak for future global tournaments.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC Sport↗Nowacki wins European 200m breaststroke gold in thrilling finish
- BBC News↗GB teenager Nowacki wins dramatic European gold
