Official account for the International Federation of Para swimming
(www.worldparaswimming.org).
Since the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, Swimming has been one of the main sports of the Paralympics. As in the Olympic Games, competitors measure their skills in Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly, Breaststroke and Medley events. In 2009, athletes from more than 80 countries practice the sport, with male and female competitors having either a physical disability or blindness/visual impairm
05/09/2026
🇹🇷 How do you follow up a five-gold debut? 👀
Defne Kurt burst onto the major international stage at , winning all five events she competed in. 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇
Now, for just the second major championship of her Paralympic career, the Turkish swimmer gets the chance to race in front of a home crowd at .
04/09/2026
3️⃣ days until it all begins. 🇹🇷
The stage is almost set. The swimmers are on their way. And is just around the corner. 🏊♀️🏊♂️
See you in Kocaeli! 👋
03/09/2026
🇪🇸 She was only 13 when it all began. 🤯
At Madeira 2022, Anastasiya Dmytriv claimed her first major international title by becoming a world champion.
Four years on, she has Paralympic, world and European titles to her name… and she’s still only 17!🥇
From teenage breakthrough to one of Spain’s Ones to Watch at . 👀
03/09/2026
📺 Wondering where to watch ?
🌍🏊♀️🏊♂️ Follow the European Championships live from wherever you are: tinyurl.com/3pwrrfch
02/09/2026
🇹🇷 Two golds. One unforgettable Paralympic Games. 🥇🥇
Umut Ünlü delivered both of Türkiye’s gold medals at , becoming a two-time Paralympic champion at just 23.
Now 25, he’s ready for another major challenge. This time with a home crowd behind him at . 👀🇹🇷
02/09/2026
📅 Time to plan your week!
Check out the time of the sessions and the full schedule here: https://bit.ly/4qPiNPD
⏰ All times are local time in Kocaeli (GMT+3).
Save it for later! 📌
02/09/2026
5️⃣ days.
That’s all that stands between us and . 🇹🇷
The World Para Swimming European Championships Kocaeli 2026 are almost here. Who’s ready? 👀🏊♀️🏊♂️
01/09/2026
What can change between two European Championships? For David Kratochvil, quite a lot! 🇨🇿
At just 16, he claimed his first European title at . Since then, he has become a Paralympic champion in Paris and added a second world title to his name in Singapore. 🥇🌍
Two years later, Kratochvil returns to the European stage at … now 18, and with a very different résumé. 👀
01/09/2026
Your vocabulary starts here. 📖🏊
There are plenty of terms you’ll hear throughout the European Championships.
📌 Save this glossary and follow the competition like a pro.
31/08/2026
🇳🇱 Eight years ago at , Liesette Bruinsma took down a world record that had stood for eight years. ⏱️🌍
Her victory in the women’s 400m freestyle S11 was one of the highlights of that European Championships.
Now a three-time Paralympic, six-time world and seven-time European champion, Bruinsma is one to watch again at . 👀