Thilda Häll Shatters Swedish Record Twice at 2026 European Swimming Championships

At the 2026 European Swimming Championships in Paris, Swedish swimmer Thilda Häll delivered a remarkable performance by breaking her own national record twice in the 800-meter freestyle event. Initially setting a new Swedish record of 8:33.12 during the heats, Häll went on to improve her time to 8:31.52 in the final, finishing sixth overall. The gold medal in the event was claimed by Italy's Simona Quadarella, who completed the distance in 8:15.55, securing her fourth European Championship title.

Häll, who recently relocated to the USA for both studies and training, credited her dramatic improvement to the supportive training environment and fierce competition she now experiences regularly. “I have a huge team that I train with, for the first time I have a girl to swim against at every training,” she remarked, highlighting how this shift has elevated her swimming. While proud of her achievements, Häll acknowledged some lingering self-doubt when racing against seasoned Olympic medalists.

Amidst her success, Häll is contemplating withdrawing from the 200-meter freestyle event, recognizing it as her weaker discipline. Her coach is expected to discuss this potential strategic decision with her. The European Championships, hosted in Paris from August 10 to 16, have provided a significant platform for Swedish swimmers, with SVT broadcasting extensively and commentary from experts including Niklas Nord and Lars Frölander.

Thilda Häll’s record-breaking swims not only set new benchmarks for Swedish swimming but also signal her rising presence on the European and international scene, with expectations high for her future competitions.