Apostolos Siskos wins 200m butterfly bronze at European Aquatics Championships with Greek record 1:54.13

Bronze with a national record

Apostolos Siskos won the bronze medal in the 200m butterfly at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris on 15 August 2026, clocking 1:54.13. The time broke his own Greek national record of 1:55.55, which he had set in the semifinal of the same event. Siskos had already made headlines by establishing that semifinal mark, and in the final he lowered it for the second time in the competition. The Olympiacos athlete, nicknamed "the typhoon" by Greek media, climbed the podium for the second time in three days at the championship, having previously claimed silver in the 200m backstroke. Greek outlets said Siskos had written history for Greek swimming.

The final

Siskos positioned himself fourth at the first 50 metres and slipped to sixth by the 100-metre turn. A strong surge over the closing 100 metres, described by Greek media as a "mythical" comeback, carried him past Alberto Rasetti and into third place. Gold went to France's Léon Marchand, the Olympic champion in the event, who won convincingly in 1:51.72. Hungary's Richard Marton claimed silver in 1:54.06, with Siskos coming within what Greek media called "a breath" of the silver.

Siskos dedicates medal to homeland and firefighters

After the race, Siskos dedicated the bronze to the Greek people on the 15 August public holiday, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, and to firefighters battling wildfires. He told Greek broadcaster ERT that he had not expected to reach the podium and felt he had nothing to lose. The swimmer said he pursued the medal relentlessly and earned it rightfully, adding that he wanted to savour the moment. Siskos's reference to firefighters reflected their ongoing efforts to extinguish wildfires.

I didn't expect it in any case, I had nothing to lose, I chased it and took it rightfully. Today is the day of the Virgin Mary, happy years to all Greeks, I brought it for the homeland and the firefighters who are fighting their own battle. I did it to enjoy it and now I'm enjoying it a little more.

Marchand's home celebration

Marchand, competing in front of a home crowd in Paris, was feted by his compatriots during the medal ceremony. French spectators sang the national anthem with passion, at times abandoning the melody entirely, creating what Greek reports called an incredible moment for the Olympic champion. The crowd's enthusiastic tribute to their compatriot added to the atmosphere of the championship in the French capital.

Two medals for Greece in three days

Siskos's bronze represents his second personal medal of the championship and the second overall for Greece. His semifinal time of 1:55.55 had already established a new Greek national record, and he lowered it again in the final to 1:54.13. The swimmer, who competes for Olympiacos, reached the podium twice within three days in Paris across two different events: the 200m backstroke, where he won silver, and the 200m butterfly, where he took bronze. At the medal ceremony, Siskos appeared overjoyed, conscious that his performances had captivated audiences across Greece on the August 15 holiday.