European Swimming Championships: Maxime Grousset keeps his focus on the final rounds

Wednesday 12 August 2026 - 09:25

By: Sahili Aya

European Swimming Championships: Maxime Grousset keeps his focus on the final rounds

Maxime Grousset made a measured start to his European Swimming Championships campaign on Wednesday, posting the third-fastest time in the 100m butterfly heats while deliberately avoiding an all-out effort.

The reigning world champion in the event clocked 51.03 seconds, a performance that left him satisfied despite falling short of the fastest time of the morning. For Grousset, the heats were about preserving energy and building momentum rather than chasing the top spot.

A controlled opening for Grousset

Grousset explained after the race that he had not fully recovered from the previous day's emotions and had slept less than planned. That influenced his decision to avoid pushing himself to the limit during the morning session.

He instead concentrated on swimming efficiently and maintaining control throughout the race. By the first 25 metres, he felt there was no need to increase his effort, allowing him to complete the heat without unnecessarily spending energy.

The approach produced a 51.03-second swim, a result he considered encouraging given the relaxed nature of his performance.

Rather than treating the heats as a race for supremacy, Grousset is approaching the 100m butterfly progressively, with the more important stages still ahead.

The Frenchman has bigger ambitions

Despite his cautious start, Grousset made clear that his ultimate objective is victory.

The French swimmer believes he still has room for improvement this season and has set his sights on breaking into the 50-second range. Reaching the low 50s would represent another step forward as he continues to refine his approach to the event.

His comments also suggested confidence in his ability to surprise himself when the pressure rises.

That confidence will be tested as the competition becomes more intense. Grousset expects the European field to be particularly strong, meaning he will need to increase his effort in the semifinals rather than relying entirely on the controlled strategy used in the heats.

A strong field awaits

Among the swimmers expected to play a role in the battle are Hungary's Kristóf Milák and Italy's Thomas Ceccon.

Grousset noted that Milák appeared to have adopted a conservative approach during the opening 50 metres of his heat, while Ceccon produced a quicker swim. The Frenchman nevertheless expects the rankings to evolve as the competition progresses.

The density of the European field means that there will be little room for complacency in the next round. Grousset plans to remain relatively economical in the semifinal, but he knows that he cannot afford to hold back too much.

The reigning world champion has therefore started his campaign on his own terms: calm, controlled and with his sights firmly set on the rounds that matter most.