World Records set in Myrtha pools reach 197 in Paris
Three world records were set in the Myrtha competition pool at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Saint-Denis during the 2026 European Aquatics Championships, taking the total number recorded in Myrtha pools worldwide to 197.
The first two belonged to Italy’s Sara Curtis. In the women’s 50m backstroke, the 19-year-old clocked 26.63 in the semi-finals to lower the existing world record. She then returned in the final to improve it once more, stopping the clock at 26.56. Germany’s Johannes Liebmann, also 19, produced the third. His time of 14:26.79 in the men’s 1500m freestyle cut 3.88 seconds from the previous world record and made him the first man to complete the distance in under 14 minutes and 30 seconds.
Between them, the two swimmers set all three world records recorded during the Championships. Their achievements were part of a remarkable seven-day swimming programme in which 33 records across different categories were set and one was equalled. Beyond the performances themselves, the results marked another significant moment in the history of the Olympic Aquatic Centre. Originally developed for Paris 2024 with long-term use built into its design, the venue is centred on a 70-metre competition pool constructed using Myrtha’s modular stainless-steel technology.
Two movable bulkheads and a movable floor enable the pool to be configured for a range of competition, training and community needs. Its Strahlenturbulenz wall-inlet system has been designed to optimise water circulation while limiting currents that could affect swimmers’ performance. Together, these solutions give the facility the flexibility to stage major international competitions while continuing to serve its local community.
The journey to 197 began on 14 June 1995 in Canet-en-Roussillon, France. There, Denis Pankratov completed the men’s 200m butterfly in 1:55.22 to set the first world record in a Myrtha pool. His time remained the global benchmark for more than five years. More than three decades later, attention is already turning to the next opportunities. The 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup will visit Baku from 1 to 3 October, Tashkent from 8 to 10 October and Astana from 15 to 17 October, with all three stops taking place in facilities equipped with Myrtha pools.
With only three more world records needed to reach 200, the next milestone may not be far away. Three decades on, Myrtha pools remain where the world’s fastest swimmers make history.
