The future stars of European artistic swimming are set to take center stage as the 2026 European Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships gets underway in Munich, Germany, from June 30 – July 4.
Returning to Germany for the first time since 2006, the championships will take place at the historic Olympia Schwimmhalle, part of Munich’s iconic Olympic Park and one of the venues of the 1972 Games. Over five days of competition, athletes aged 15 to 19 (20 for male swimmers) from 31 nations will contest 11 medal events.
Spain arrives in Munich as the nation to beat after dominating the championships and topping the medal table over the past four editions. In Athens in 2025, the Spaniards claimed the Team Trophy with four gold, four silver and one bronze medal, including victories in all three team events.
Among Spain’s leading contenders this year are 16-year-old Eneko Sanchez, who has carried impressive form into the season after winning three silver medals at the Pontevedra World Cup just a few weeks ago, and Naia Alvarez, the reigning European Junior Champion in duet technical. Alvarez will return to this event alongside Daniela Suarez, with both athletes having gained valuable experience as part of Spain’s senior national team this year.
When asked about the nation’s success at the past championships, Sanchez explained he and the team view it as huge motivation rather than pressure.
“It’s big motivation for us [to do just as good]. Our country is very powerful in artistic swimming, in technique and in routines in general, so we want to continue that. There’s a little bit of pressure, obviously, but not so much because we know we worked a lot on our routines and we are very confident with them.”
However, the participation of the Individual Neutral Athletes across all events, including the team routines, is set to add another layer of intrigue. Several of the athletes return as reigning European Junior Champions, such as two-time mixed duet champions Alina Rumiantseva and Zakhar Trofimov, who will be among the favourites once more. Trofimov will also aim to retain his men’s technical solo title and add another medal in the free routine.
A few other newcomers have already found success earlier on this season in the Xi’an World Cup. 17-year-old Ekaterina Shtatnova claimed bronze in the free solo, while Anastasiia Sidorina paired up with Kristina Chekhanova to win silver in the free duet. Sidorina is also the reigning European Junior Champion in free duet, and will surely look to defend her title.
Italy will be among the challengers for podium finishes across the board. The Italian delegation is led by Filippo Pelati, who returns to the junior championships after focusing on senior competitions last year.
After winning three golds at his last appearance at these junior championships in 2024, he will be aiming to add further success to his already impressive résumé, swimming here in both men’s solo and the acrobatic team events.
Overall, the 19-year-old is the most decorated and experienced athlete in the field, with multiple medals at world and European level across the youth, junior and senior ranks. Most notably, he is the reigning world bronze medalist in the men’s free solo, reigning European silver medalist in both men’s solo events, and just clinched a World Cup Super Final bronze medal in the solo free last week.
Several other rising stars will be looking to make their mark. Slovakia‘s Zofia Strapekova has enjoyed a strong World Cup campaign in the women’s technical solo, notably winning silver earlier this year, while Türkiye‘s Selin Hürmeric, the reigning World Youth silver medalist in solo, is another exciting prospect.
Strapekova, also one of the more experienced athletes in this field, will only be focusing on the technical solo, as her duet partner Lea Anna Krajcovicova has been sidelined with injury. The 18-year-old is aiming to improve on her eighth place finish from last year.
“It’s very important for me to be here. We have been doing World Cups since the start of the year, working towards this competition. Apnea time limits are in place so I have had to make changes and to move faster during the hybrid. I’m a bit nervous about that, but overall I’m excited. I have been working on my artistic impression a lot, and I’m excited to show my elements and my height.”
France‘s twins Julia and Magdalena Domin arrive fresh from a duet silver medal at the recent European Youth Championships, while Poland‘s Kacper Kasprzyk, a double bronze medalist at that competition, will contest the men’s solo and mixed duet events alongside his triplet sisters.
The home team will also be aiming to shine in front of the Munich crowd, with Germany set to compete in the technical and acrobatic team events, women’s technical and free duet, and both women’s solo competitions.
Among the home favourites is 16-year-old Johanna Karb, who often trains at the Olympia Schwimmhalle with her local club of SG Stadtwerke München and is expected to compete every day this week across five events.
“The solo and duet are more demanding for me, so I’m more nervous about them. I’m very excited to swim with the team and to show the work we have done in the last few months. I’m most excited about the acrobatic routine.”
The Munich native is also featured on the official event poster, although she admitted she still has to get her hands on one:
“I’m really happy and grateful to be on the poster. I still haven’t got one yet for myself… but I really hope I do!”
Germany’s national team coach Stephanie Marx said hosting the championships at home would be particularly meaningful for the younger members of the squad.
“I am super excited that we have the opportunity to host this competition, and for my team especially. For six girls, it’s their first international competition. Having the luxury to do that more or less at home, with family and friends in the stands cheering for them, it’s a special moment.
What I personally hope for these championships is that a lot of young kids, boys and girls, will see that and say, ‘I want to do that as well.’ It’s such an opportunity to showcase how great the team already is, but also to build the next generation.”
Asked about Russian athletes competing under the Neutral Individual Athletes designation during the press conference, European Aquatics Treasurer Andida Bouma said:
“We as European Aquatics wanted all the eligible athletes to compete without restrictions, but we also understand the specific legal circumstances and government context in Germany for these championships. So, in close cooperation with both the German and Russian Federations, and the German government organisations, we have come to this option to have them compete under neutrality in order to facilitate the visa issuance, and also to protect the interests of the athletes.
It’s important that we bring people together through sport. We are very grateful for the cooperation, the dialogue and the pragmatic solution that in the end was found. We would also like this to result in a competition that is inclusive, fair, respectful and protects the athletes.”
The championships begin tomorrow with the women’s free solo preliminary at 10:00 am, followed by the free duet preliminary at 6:00 pm. All information to follow the event is here.
ARTICLE BY CHRISTINA MARMET
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