French swimming enjoyed a memorable day in Paris thanks to Mary-Ambre Moluh, who delivered a historic performance during the second day of finals at the 2026 European Aquatics Championships.

The 20-year-old not only etched her name into the record books, but also played a starring role on a night in which France celebrated another continental title in front of its home crowd.

A barrier no European woman had ever broken

Moluh led off France’s mixed medley relay with an extraordinary performance in the 100m backstroke, stopping the clock at 57.99 seconds. With that time, she became the first European woman to break the 58-second barrier in the event.

The French swimmer covered the opening 50 meters in 28.04 seconds and completed the second half in 29.95, lowering the previous continental record by nine hundredths of a second.

The previous mark belonged to Great Britain’s Kathleen Dawson, who had recorded 58.08 seconds at the 2021 European Championships in Budapest.

Moluh joins an exclusive list

Her time in Paris also made the Frenchwoman the seventh-fastest swimmer in history in the 100m backstroke.

The world record remains in the hands of American Regan Smith, who owns a time of 57.13 seconds. Moluh also ranks among the world’s top performers in the event during the 2026 season.

The result confirms the French swimmer’s outstanding form after she had already set a new French national record in the 50m backstroke with a time of 27.20 seconds in June.

A golden night in front of the French crowd

The French quartet went on to claim the European title with a time of 3:39.64, completing a historic evening that began with Moluh’s continental record.

The Netherlands finished second in 3:40.92, while the Neutral Athletes B team completed the podium in 3:41.52.

For Mary-Ambre Moluh, the performance represents another major step in a rapidly rising career that has already established her as one of the leading names in European swimming.