Kocaeli 2026: Three female stars to watch

The World Para Swimming European Championships Kocaeli 2026 will mark the largest international Para swimming competition ever held in Turkiye. 

The action at the Gebze Olympic Swimming will run from 7 to 12 September, bringing together many of the world’s leading Paralympic and world champions.

All races will be streamed live on YouTube - click here to watch. 

Here are three female athletes to look out for: 

Anastasiya Dmytriv (Spain) 

Class: S9

Spain’s Anastasiya Dmytriv turned 16 in August, but her resume could easily belong to someone far older. Known as “Tasy” in her home country, she is the reigning Paralympic champion and a three time world champion in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB8 – having claimed her first world title at only 13.

Dmytriv has added two more world titles as part of Spain’s 4x100m mixed medley relay 34-points team. She made her European Championships debut in Madeira, Portugal, two years ago and now heads to Kocaeli aiming to defend her title in the same event.

Individual events at Kocaeli 2026

Five: women’s 50m freestyle S9, 100m freestyle S9, 100m breaststroke SB9, 100m butterfly S9 and 200m individual medley SM9.

European Championships appearances 

One: Madeira 2024.

Medal record

Three Paralympic medals: one gold and two bronzes at Paris 2024.

Nine World Championships medals: five golds (one at Madeira 2022, two at Manchester 2023 and two at Singapore 2025), two silver (Madeira 2022 and Singapore 2025) and one bronze (Madeira 2022).

Two European Championships medals: one gold and one bronze at Madeira 2024.

SHE'S BACK TO THE TOP! 🥇

8 years after her first Paralympic title at #Rio2016, 🇳🇱 Liesette Bruinsma returns to the top of the podium in the women's 400m freestyle S11.

🥈 Xiaotong Zhang 🇨🇳
🥉 Daria Lukianenko (NPA)#Paris2024 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/3TrmYeNtTR

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) August 30, 2024

Liesette Bruinsma (Netherlands) 

Class: S11

A three-time Paralympic champion and nine-time medallist, the Dutch swimmer made her international debut at the European Championships in Funchal, Portugal in 2016 – and did so in proper fashion, claiming three golds, one silver and one bronze medal. Four months later she stood on top of the Paralympic podium at Rio 2016, firmly establishing herself as one of the greatest vision-impaired swimmers of her generation. 

Bruinsma will turn 26 during the Euros (on 9 September) and will be defending her title in the women’s 100m freestyle S11. She will face a strong challenge from her compatriot Irene van Drimmelen. 

Individual events at Kocaeli 2026 

Three: women’s 50m freestyle S11, 100m freestyle S11 and 200m individual medley SM11.

European Championships appearances 

Three: Funchal 2016, Dublin 2018 and Madeira 2024.

Medal record 

Nine Paralympic medals: three golds (two at Rio 2016 and one at Paris 2024), four silver (one at Rio 2016, two at Tokyo 2020 and one at Paris 2024) and two bronzes at Rio 2016.

Fifteen World Championships medals: six golds (three at London 2019, two at Manchester 2023 and one at Singapore 2025), six silver (two at London 2019, three at Madeira 2022 and one at Manchester 2023) and three bronzes (one at Manchester 2023 and two at Singapore 2025).

Fourteen European Championships medals: seven golds (three at Funchal 2016, four at Dublin 2018 and two at Madeira 2024), four silver (one at Funchal 2016, one at Dublin 2018 and two at Madeira 2024), one bronze at Funchal 2016.

🇨🇭 It all started at the Euros.

At just 15, Nora Meister claimed the first major international title of her career, winning the women’s 100m backstroke S7 at #Dublin2018. 🥇 pic.twitter.com/0ChewcSiJa

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) August 28, 2026

Nora Meister (Switzerland) 

Class: S6

The European Championships have a long history of showcasing emerging Para swimming talents, and Switzerland’s Nora Meister is one of the finest examples. The S6 swimmer made her international debut at just 13 at the Funchal 2016 Euros, reaching two finals in three races. Two years later in Dublin she retuned home with three medals, including two golds – the first ever for Switzerland at the Europeans. 

The 23-year-old added two more titles in 2020 and went one better at the last edition in Madeira, arriving in Türkiye as the reigning champion in the women’s 50m freestyle S6, 100m freestyle S6 and 400m freestyle S6.

Individual events at Kocaeli 2026

Four: women’s 50m freestyle S6, 100m freestyle S6, 400m freestyle S6 and 100m backstroke S6.

European Championships appearances

Four: Funchal 2016, Dublin 2018, Madeira 2020 and Madeira 2024.

Medal record

Two Paralympic medals: one silver at Paris 2024 and one bronze at Tokyo 2020. 

Nine World Championships medals: two silver at Singapore 2025 and seven bronzes (two at London 2019, two at Madeira 2022, two at Manchester 2023 and one at Singapore 2025).

Ten European Championships medals: seven golds (two at Dublin 2018, two at Madeira 2020 and three at Madeira 2024) and three silver (one at Dublin 2018, one at Madeira 2022 and one at Madeira 2024).