Italian Swimmers Reach Finals at European Championships
Listen to the story
The European Swimming Championships are happening now, in 2026.
Today is the third day of the competition.
Two Italian swimmers, Pirovano and Alzetta, will swim in a final.
They will swim the 400m medley for women.
A medley race uses four different swimming styles.
Another Italian swimmer, Ceccon, also has good news.
Ceccon did not swim the 100m butterfly race.
But he swam well in the 200m backstroke.
Ceccon is now in the final of the 200m backstroke.
Another swimmer, Curtis, swam in the 50m backstroke.
Curtis was first in her heat.
A heat is an early race before the final.
Many swimmers are racing at this event.
The event has races every day in the pool.
People can watch the races live on TV or online.
Vocabulary5 words
- final
- the last, most important race
- medley
- a race with four different swimming styles
- butterfly
- a swimming style using both arms together
- backstroke
- a swimming style done on your back
- heat
- an early race before the final race
Quiz
Answer key
1. The 400m medley final 2. The 100m butterfly 3. Curtis
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The European Swimming Championships are happening now, in _____.
Today is the third _____ of the competition.
Two Italian swimmers, Pirovano and Alzetta, will swim in a _____.
They will swim the 400m _____ for women.
Another Italian swimmer, Ceccon, also has good news.
Ceccon did not swim the 100m _____ race.
But he swam well in the 200m _____.
Ceccon is now in the final of the 200m backstroke.
Another swimmer, Curtis, swam in the 50m backstroke.
Curtis was first in her _____.
Many swimmers are racing at this _____.
People can watch the races _____ on TV or online.