Kocaeli 2026: Three male stars to watch

The World Para Swimming (WPS) European Championships returns in 2026, with Turkiye staging the competition for the first time from 7 to 12 September in Kocaeli. 

The Championships will take place at the Gebze Olympic Swimming Pool and feature over 160 medal events, 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 names to look out for: 

David Kratochvil (Czechia) 

Class: S11

Kocaeli will mark Kratochvil’s third European Championships and much has changed in his career between his first and second appearances. Five years ago in Madeira he was a newcomer, reaching five finals in seven races. When he returned to Madeira in 2024, he did so the reigning 400m freestyle S11 world champion. 

This time, the 18-year-old arrives as a Paralympic champion, a five-time world champion and the third athlete from his country to be nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards. He also won five golds at the European Para Youth Games in Istanbul last year.

Individual events at Kocaeli 2026 

Six: men’s 50m freestyle S11, 100m freestyle S11, 400m freestyle S11, 100m backstroke S11, 100m butterfly S11 and 200m individual medley SM11.

European Championships appearances 

Two: Madeira 2020 and Madeira 2024.

Medal record 

Three Paralympic medals: one gold, one silver and one bronze at Paris 2024

Eight World Championships medals: five golds (one at Manchester 2023 and four at Singapore 2025), one silver and two bronzes at Singapore 2025.

Five European Championships medals: one gold, three silver and one bronze at Madeira 2024.

David Kratochvíl’s World @Para_swimming Championships in 2025 featured four gold medals, one silver, two bronzes and a world record 💪

Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Nominee#Laureus26 | @Paralympics pic.twitter.com/xAqNzerNVS

— Laureus (@LaureusSport) March 17, 2026

Simone Barlaam (Italy) 

Class: S9

Any list of athletes to watch at the Paralympic Games, World Championships or European Championships will include the 26‑year‑old swimmer. The Euros are a particularly special stage for Barlaam, who first caught the world’s attention with four golds and one silver at Dublin 2018 – a performance that helped lift Italy to the top of the medals table for the first time, doubling their podium count from Funchal two years earlier. 

The four‑time Paralympic champion was also nominated for this year’s Laureus World Sports Awards, one of two Italian athletes recognised alongside tennis star Jannik Sinner.

Individual events at Kocaeli 2026

Six: men’s 50m freestyle S9, 100m freestyle S9, 400m freestyle S9, 100m backstroke S9, 100m butterfly S9 and 200m individual medley SM9.

European Championships appearances

Three: Dublin 2018, Madeira 2020 and Madeira 2024.

Medal record 

Eight Paralympic medals: four golds (one at Tokyo 2020 and three at Paris 2024), three silver (two at Tokyo 2020 and one at Paris 2024) and one bronze at Tokyo 2020. 

Twenty-six World Championships medals: 23 golds (two at Mexico City 2017, five at London 2019, six at Madeira 2022, six at Manchester 2023 and four at Singapore 2025), two silver (Mexico 2017 and London 2019) and one bronze at Mexico City 2017.

Fifteen European Championships medals: 12 golds (four at Dublin 2018, four at Madeira 2020 and four at Madeira 2024), two silver (Dublin 2018 and Madeira 2020) and one bronze (Madeira 2020).

🔙 Two years ago, 🇮🇹 Simone Barlaam showed off his skills outside the pool with this brilliant drawing of Lizzie, the mascot of #Madeira2024.

Now, Gulf is waiting for his turn at #Kocaeli2026. No pressure, Simone… but expectations are high. 👀😂

Deal? 🤝#ParaSwimming pic.twitter.com/Kr1sddtEzk

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) August 21, 2026

William Ellard (GB) 

Class: S14

A two-time Paralympic gold medallist in the S14 class, for athletes with intellectual impairments, Ellard arrives in Turkiye fresh from his Commonwealth Games title in Glasgow in the men’s 200m freestyle S14 – one of the events in which he is also the reigning Paralympic champion (he also owns a gold from the mixed 4x100m freestyle S14 relay). 

Ellard is the only Glasgow 2026 winner competing in Kocaeli and comes as the defending champion in this event and in the men’s 100m butterfly S14, following his successful debut in Madeira four years ago.

Individual events at Kocaeli 2026 

Four: men’s 200m freestyle S14, 100m backstroke S14, 100m butterfly S14 and 200m individual medley SM14.

European Championships appearances 

One: Madeira 2024.

Medal record 

Three Paralympic medals: two golds and one silver at Paris 2024.

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

Four European Championships medals: two golds, one silver and one bronze at Singapore 2025.