The 2026 European Swimming Championships are set to take place in Paris, France, from August 10-16, 2026, and the women's 4x100 medley relay is shaping up to be a thrilling race. The Dutch team, led by star swimmer Marrit Steenbergen, is on a mission to end a 60-year drought and reclaim the title they last won in 1966. With a strong team behind her, including Tes Schouten, Maaike de Waard, and Milou van Wijk, the Dutch are a force to be reckoned with.
Steenbergen, who has been delivering multiple 51-point splits on the anchor leg, is also a formidable backstroke swimmer, having set a new lifetime best of 58.33. The Dutch team's strategy may involve keeping Steenbergen on the anchor leg, where she can showcase her speed, or utilizing her backstroke skills. The combination of Steenbergen, Schouten, de Waard, and van Wijk could be a winning formula, but the order of swimmers may depend on their individual performances.
The Russian team, competing as Neutral Athletes B, is a strong contender for silver. With no real weak spots across their four legs, they placed fourth at the World Championships last summer in 3:55.17. Alina Gaufutdinova, Evgenia Chikunova, Daria Klepikova, and Daria Trofimova form a powerful quartet, with Trofimova's anchor leg of 53.16 at the World Championships and a season best of 54.08. However, the Russian team's success may hinge on the individual performances of its swimmers.
Great Britain, on the other hand, faces challenges. Despite placing eighth at the World Championships last year, they struggled at the Commonwealth Games, with Lauren Cox's best swim of 1:00.35. The team's strength lies in breaststroke, with Angharad Evans splitting 1:04-point on four occasions this season. However, if Cox is off her pace, Great Britain may not have the strength on the back half to match the Russian or Dutch teams.
Italy, France, and Germany also have their work cut out. Italy needs to find a backstroker, with no one under 1:00 this season. France has the fastest backstroker in Europe, Mary-Ambre Moluh, but breaststroker Chloe Braun is yet to break 1:08. Germany, meanwhile, relies on Lisa Seidel for a strong backstroke leadoff, with a 1:01-flat time from the World Championships. The anchor leg for Germany is uncertain, with four swimmers between 54.30 and 54.47 this season.
Poland, Sweden, and Spain also face challenges. Poland's title-winning quartet from two years ago has not looked as strong, and Sweden's performance depends on whether Sara Sjostrom swims. Spain, on the other hand, has a relatively young team, with Irene Ciercoles Galve, Laura Cabanes Garzas, and Maria Daza Garcia. The final appears more likely for Spain than for the Swedes, but it would still be an achievement after placing 17th at the World Championships.
In summary, the women's 4x100 medley relay at the 2026 European Championships promises to be a closely contested race. The Dutch, Russian, and Great Britain teams are strong contenders, but the Dutch, with their star swimmer Steenbergen, may have the edge. The race will be a test of strategy, individual performances, and team dynamics, with the potential for surprises and upsets along the way.
