Belarus’ Pekarski claims European Aquatics Championships bronze

Belarusian swimmer Grigori Pekarski won a bronze medal at the 2026 European Aquatics Championships in Paris.

Grigori Pekarski claimed third place in the 50m butterfly. In the final, he clocked 22.68 seconds. In the battle for bronze, the Belarusian finished 0.04 seconds ahead of Italian world and Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon. Russia's Egor Kornev won gold in 22.52 seconds, with Maxime Grousset of France just 0.02 seconds behind him.

“I’m lost for words. I still can’t believe it. I did the same thing I had done in the previous heats. The main thing was not to get carried away and to execute everything cleanly. I managed to do it, and I’m very happy,” Pekarski said.

Grigori Pekarski finished sixth among 78 swimmers in the heats and seventh after the semifinals, before setting a new Belarusian record in the final.

The medal was the first of his career at a European championship.

Pekarski will next compete in the 100m butterfly in Paris.