Defne Kurt wins gold at European Para Swimming Championships in Kocaeli

The 2026 European Para Swimming Championships, held at the Gebze Olympic Swimming Pool in Kocaeli, Turkey, has commenced. The event is expected to host athletes and coaches from 38 countries, with a total delegation exceeding 700 people, including international federation representatives and media. This marks the first major para swimming championship hosted by Turkey.

On the opening day of the competition, Turkish para swimmer Defne Kurt secured a gold medal in the women's 50m freestyle S10 final with a time of 27.45 seconds. This victory marks Kurt's first European Championship title, following her performance at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, where she won five gold medals. Kurt is scheduled to compete in several other events, including the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly, and the 200m individual medley.