The 2026 European Swimming Championships in Paris are fast approaching, and the women's 200 breaststroke event is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle. With the world record holder, Evgeniia Chikunova, and the British record holder, Angharad Evans, leading the pack, this race promises to be a battle of speed and strategy. But who will emerge as the champion? Let's dive into the numbers, the contenders, and the potential surprises.
A Faster Field
The women's breaststroke events have been on a rapid upward trajectory in Europe since the 2022 championships. This year, it's highly likely that a faster time will be required to make the final than the 2022 winning time of 2:23.27. The bar is set higher, and the competition is fiercer than ever.
The Sub-20s: Evans and Chikunova
Angharad Evans and Evgeniia Chikunova are the only two swimmers in the field who have broken the 2:20 barrier in the last two years. Evans, a British record holder, first cracked this mark in April with a new British record time of 2:19.70 at the GB Swimming Championships. She became the first British woman to break 2:20 and took a significant two seconds off her previous lifetime best of 2:21.86 from 2025. However, she struggled at the World Championships, swimming 2:24.21 in the final to finish 5th. Nonetheless, her performance at the Commonwealth Games, where she won in 2:23.79, shows her potential to challenge for gold.
Chikunova, the world record holder, is the favorite to win. She set the world record in 2023 at the Russian Swimming Championships, becoming the first woman to swim under 2:18. Her 2:19.96 seed time from the World Championships is slower than Evans' 2:19.70, but she has consistently performed well in Russia. If she can get back under 2:20, she will easily earn a medal.
The Contenders: Schouten, McSharry, and Beyond
Tes Schouten, from the Netherlands, is the only other athlete in the field who has been under 2:20, with a lifetime best of 2:19.81 from the 2024 World Championships. However, she has not been under 2:20 since then, and her 2nd fastest time is 2:21.05 from the 2024 Olympic Games. After missing the 2025 World Championships due to injury, Schouten relocated to Belgium to train with former coach Mark Faber. At the Dutch Trials in July, she swam her fastest time since 2024, stopping the clock in 2:21.71, and will be aiming to pick up a medal and potentially set a new best time.
Mona McSharry, from Ireland, also picked up a new lifetime best this season, swimming 2:22.22 at the Irish Open. She took two tenths off her previous best of 2:22.49 from June 2024. McSharry took a short break after the 2024 Olympic Games but seems to be back in full form. She will likely qualify for the final and will be hoping for a medal.
Italy's Lisa Angolini is seeded just six hundredths behind McSharry in 2:22.28, which is also a lifetime best. She set it in April at the Italian Championships, taking a full second off her previous best of 2:23.87. Angolini is on a clear upward trajectory and has the potential for another massive swim in Paris.
Lithuania's Kotryna Teterevkova is the final swimmer in the field who has been under 2:23, seeded in 2:22.98. Her lifetime best is 2:22.86 from the 2023 World University Games, and her season best is 2:23.92 from April's Lithuanian Championships.
The 2:23s: Zmushka, Elendt, McCartney, and Rybak-Andersen
After Teterevkova, four athletes are in the 2:23 range. Belarus' Alina Zmushka (2:23.33), Germany's Anna Elendt (2:23.54), Ireland's Ellie McCartney (2:23.79), and Denmark's Clara Rybak-Andersen (2:23.89) are all in contention. Zmushka and Rybak-Andersen are the only swimmers who have been faster than their seed times, with Zmushka holding a lifetime best of 2:23.30 from May 2025 and Rybak-Andersen having been 2:23.67, which she set in April 2025. McCartney has the fastest season best of the four, sitting at 2:24.51 from the Saint Dennis Open in March.
The Dark Horse: Kay-Lyn Loehr
Kay-Lyn Loehr, an 18-year-old from Switzerland, is seeded 12th overall in 2:26.22, just behind Estonia's Eneli Jefimova, who is seeded in 2:25.59. Loehr has improved significantly this season, and her lifetime best is 2:26.10. She has dropped almost two seconds from her pre-season best of 2:27.95. Teenagers have shown huge improvements all the time, and if she performs well in the prelims session, she could end up in the final.
The Verdict
The gold medal in this race could realistically go to two athletes: Chikunova and Evans, who are separated by just tenths over the last 12 months. Chikunova, the world record holder, has the edge due to her multiple sub-2:20 performances. However, Evans, with her British record and recent improvements, cannot be counted out. Schouten, on a trajectory to set a lifetime best, and Loehr, the dark horse, could also surprise.
In this highly competitive field, the 200 breaststroke at the 2026 European Championships promises to be a thrilling spectacle. Who will emerge as the champion? Only time will tell.
