For Roman Mityukov, a Personal Record Without a Medal at the European Swimming Championships

Roman Mityukov achieved a significant personal milestone at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, shattering his own record in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:54.07. The 26-year-old Genevan swimmer delivered a performance that far surpassed his previous best mark.

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In general, a swimmer who manages to beat their personal best in a given event has something to be satisfied about, especially when they do it by a wide margin, as Roman Mityukov did on Wednesday during the final of the 200 meters backstroke at the European Championships in Paris.

However, in the high-stakes environment of major competitions, the pursuit of medals often overshadows personal bests. Mityukov found himself on the losing end of a fiercely competitive final, as Hubert Kós of Hungary, Apostolos Siskos of Greece, and Thomas Ceccon of Italy all touched the wall faster. Consequently, Mityukov missed out on adding to his already decorated record in the 200m backstroke.

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But... there is a 'but'. In major events, regardless of the sport, one chases medals more than the clock. And since Hubert Kós of Hungary, Apostolos Siskos of Greece, and Thomas Ceccon of Italy swam faster than him, he finds himself, as they say, out of luck.

This outcome contrasts with his previous successes, which include two bronze medals at the European Championships (2021, 2024), two medals at the World Championships (bronze in 2023, silver in 2024), and a bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics. After experiencing a performance setback in 2025, Mityukov had redoubled his efforts, focusing on refining his stretching routines, mobility exercises, sleep patterns, and nutrition, with dedicated professional guidance throughout the season.

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He has thus not completed a rich record in the 200 meters backstroke: Roman Mityukov has already won two bronze medals at the European Championships (2021 and 2024), two medals at the World Championships (bronze in 2023, silver in 2024), and finally bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.