Russian & Belarusian Athletes Eligible to Compete as Neutral Athletes At 2026 European Championships
European Aquatics has confirmed that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to compete as neutral athletes at the European Championships in Paris this summer.
It follows a statement from the governing body in November 2025 that changes to World Aquatics guidelines had been extended to all continental-level events meaning neutral athletes were eligible to participate in individual and team events across all disciplines and age categories.
It caused a considerable stir with its proximity to the European Short Course Championships in Lublin, Poland in early December.
Neutral individual athletes were eligible to compete at the European Junior Championships in 2025 where they won five golds among a 13-medal haul.
Now the seniors – along with coaches and support personnel – are eligible to race for the first time in European waters since they were banned in early March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – with the support of Belarus – to start a war that is ongoing today.
Their last competition was the short-course Europeans in Kazan, Russia, in December 2021 where the hosts headed the medal table with World Aquatics having opened the door to the 2024 short-course worlds and Singapore 2025.
A statement from European Aquatics read: “For European Aquatics Senior events, subject to the applicable World Aquatics guidelines referred to above, athletes and their support personnel may participate in European Aquatics events upon application for and approval of “Neutral Athlete” status, in both individual and team events.”
The 2026 European Aquatics Championships run from 31 July to 16 August in the French capital. Should they attain neutral athlete status, the likes of Kliment Kolesnikov, Evgeniia Chikunova, Miron Lifintsev and Ilya Borodin may be among the field at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Paris St Denis.
Ilya Shymanovich and Alina Zmushka, both of Belarus, also competed as neutral individual athletes at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Swimmers attending the European Junior Championships in Munich, Germany, from 7-12 July 2026 will not have to undergo any background checks and will swim under the flags of Russia and Belarus.
European Aquatics statement:
European Aquatics wishes to inform its Member Federations about the participation of athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports in European Aquatics competitions. These procedures conform to guidance indicated in the following documents: i) a letter from the IOC Sports Director dated 19 December 2025 (document attached) and ii) World Aquatics Guidelines for Athlete Participation in Aquatics Events During Periods of Conflict (in force as of 1 February 2026) https://aquaticsintegrity.com/rules-and-regulations/
Youth and Junior Events
Athletes holding a Russian or Belarusian passport competing in Youth and Junior categories will no longer be subject to restrictions regarding participation in European Aquatics competitions, in both individual and team events. Accordingly, for all non- Senior events, athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports will be permitted to participate without background checks and in full compliance with European Aquatics protocols relating to flags, anthems, uniforms, and associated elements, provided that the relevant national sports organisations are in good standing with European Aquatics.
Senior Events
For European Aquatics Senior events, subject to the applicable World Aquatics guidelines referred to above, athletes and their support personnel may participate in European Aquatics events upon application for and approval of “Neutral Athlete” status, in both individual and team events. The procedure to be followed will mirror the process applied during the 2025 European Aquatics Junior events for the relevant Junior athletes, which is attached to this letter for your reference.
For avoidance of doubt, support personnel in all youth, junior and senior events, will follow the same process applied during the 2025 European Aquatics Junior events.