World Records set in Myrtha pools reach 197 in Paris

The Myrtha competition pool at the Olympic Aquatic Center in Saint-Denis was the site of three world records during the 2026 European Aquatics Championships. Those performances pushed the total number of world records set in Myrtha pools to 197.

Italy’s Sara Curtis delivered the first two. The 19-year-old lowered the women’s 50-meter backstroke world record to 26.63 in the semifinals. She returned for the final and broke it again, finishing in 26.56. Germany’s Johannes Liebmann, also 19, claimed the third record with a historic swim in the men’s 1500-meter freestyle. His time of 14:26.79 cut 3.88 seconds from the previous world record and made him the first man ever to break the 14-minute, 30-second barrier.

The two swimmers combined for all three world records set during the Championships. They were part of a week that produced 33 records across different categories, along with one record that was tied. The performances also added a new chapter to the Olympic Aquatic Center’s history. Originally developed for Paris 2024 and planned for long-term use, the venue features a 70-meter competition pool built with Myrtha’s modular stainless-steel technology.

Two movable bulkheads and a movable floor make it possible to reconfigure the pool for competition, training and community activities. Its Strahlenturbulenz wall-inlet system is designed to optimize water circulation while reducing currents that could affect swimmers’ performance. Together, these features allow the facility to host major international competitions while supporting everyday use by the local community.

The path to 197 started on June 14, 1995, in Canet-en-Roussillon, France. That day, Denis Pankratov completed the men’s 200-meter butterfly in 1:55.22, setting the first world record in a Myrtha pool. His time remained the global standard for more than five years. More than three decades later, the total stands at 197. The next opportunities will come during the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, which will stop in Baku from October 1 to 3, Tashkent from October 8 to 10 and Astana from October 15 to 17. All three events will take place in facilities equipped with Myrtha pools.

With only three more world records needed to reach 200, the next milestone may be just ahead. Three decades on, Myrtha pools remain where the world’s fastest swimmers make history.