Filip Nowacki, an 18-year-old swimmer from Jersey, won gold in the men's 200m breaststroke final at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris on 13 August 2026, choosing to delay opening his A-level results so he could remain fully focused on the race. He touched the line in two minutes 7.70 seconds, edging out Dutch swimmer Caspar Corbeau, who finished in 2:07.78, in a finish decided by just 0.08 seconds according to Olympics.com.
The victory continues a remarkable summer for Nowacki, who last month became Jersey's first Commonwealth Games medallist in 36 years after winning gold in the 200m breaststroke and silver in the 100m breaststroke, finishing ahead of Olympic champion Adam Peaty in the latter event.
How did the final unfold?
Nowacki produced a late surge to overhaul Corbeau in the closing stages of the race. According to European Aquatics, he overtook the Dutch swimmer, who holds the world short course record, over the final 25 metres to snatch the title. Nowacki had entered the final as the fastest qualifier, having clocked 2:08.60 in the heats, according to a regional broadcaster's report.
Nowacki sat his A-levels in Economics, Mathematics and Physics but chose not to check his results immediately, explaining his reasoning before he eventually opened them.
As much as I want to know how I have done and hopefully celebrate with my friends, I don't want to risk being distracted whilst in this major competition.
I know I need to be fully focused so another 24 hours wait I can live with.
He also reflected on how his swimming success might soften any disappointment over his exam results.
I think if it's obviously not the way I want it to go, it's almost balanced itself out with what's just happened there in the pool, but you know, fingers crossed I make it into uni.
What is Nowacki's swimming history?
Nowacki began swimming in Jersey at the age of four before moving to Millfield School in Somerset for his sixth form studies, where he combined elite training with academic work. He said the school's approach to balancing commitments allowed him to maintain a demanding training schedule throughout his exams.
Millfield are really good at helping you balance commitments, so I haven't had to drop any training sessions like a lot of my peers in club programmes.
I've done eight sessions a week consistently throughout the exam period and not compromised my studies with the support of my teachers.
His European title in Paris is being described as his first senior international championship medal, according to Olympics.com, though he had already established himself at junior level. World Aquatics records show he won the 200m breaststroke junior world title in 2:07.32 at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships, according to World Aquatics. A separate report from Swimming World Magazine noted that his senior European gold adds to a European junior title he won the previous year, alongside his Commonwealth and world junior crowns.
What happens next?
Nowacki is set to compete in the 50m breaststroke at the European Aquatics Championships on the Friday morning following his 200m victory, according to a national broadcaster's sports report. Away from the pool, he plans to enrol at Loughborough University from September, joining its Swimming Performance Centre and studying Economics, according to Millfield School.
Key Facts
- Filip Nowacki won the men's 200m breaststroke at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris on 13 August 2026 in 2:07.70, beating Caspar Corbeau by 0.08 seconds.
- He delayed opening his A-level results in Economics, Mathematics and Physics to avoid distraction before the final.
- He had qualified fastest for the final with a time of 2:08.60.
- His European senior title follows a 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships gold in 2:07.32 and Commonwealth Games success last month.
- He is due to compete in the 50m breaststroke on the Friday following his 200m win and plans to study Economics at Loughborough University from September.
