The swimming event for Special Olympics athletes took place on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Paralimni - Deryneia Municipality Swimming Pool in Paralimni, as part of the European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Cup 2026 in Protaras.
The awards were made by the Mayor of Paralimni - Deryneia, Mr. George Nikolettos, who congratulated the athletes.
From the Cypriot participation, Dimitris Giannis won the silver medal, Georgios Christodoulou the bronze medal and Ioanna Paphitis the silver medal.
The opening leg of the European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Cup 2026 was also scheduled to take place in Protaras, but it was ultimately not possible to hold the event due to adverse sea conditions. Following an on-site assessment and consultation with team representatives, it was determined that the necessary safety and smooth running conditions for the event could not be ensured. The main problem was the strong waves on the coastline, which did not allow boats to enter the sea to prepare for the race course.
150 athletes from 32 countries are participating in the Protaras International Swimming Open Water Competitions 2026.
The Masters category matches are expected to be held tomorrow.
See pictures:
