Roman Mityukov Sweeps All 3 Backstroke Golds in Switzerland

Roman Mityukov just reminded everyone why he's one of the world's best backstrokers, sweeping all three backstroke events at the 2026 Swiss Long Course Championships in Uster, Switzerland.

The 25-year-old Olympic medalist completed his trifecta on Sunday, winning the 100-meter backstroke in 53.43 seconds. He had already claimed victories in the 50-meter (25.10) and 200-meter (1:55.36) earlier in the competition, leaving his competitors far behind in every race.

Mityukov's 100-meter performance came within just 0.11 seconds of his own national record of 53.32, set in 2023. He finished more than a second ahead of silver medalist Flavio Bucca (54.94), showing the kind of dominance that puts him eighth in global rankings for the 2025-2026 season.

The Swiss Championships also showcased another national hero. Noe Ponti, the 24-year-old national record holder, won the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 1:56.15, more than three seconds ahead of silver medalist Enrico Sottile.

Why This Inspires

Mityukov's sweep shows what focused dedication can achieve. He didn't just win three events, he excelled in each one, proving his versatility across sprint and distance backstroke. His near-record performance in the 100-meter demonstrates he's still pushing himself to improve, even after Olympic success.

The meet also highlighted Switzerland's growing swimming talent. From Mityukov's backstroke dominance to Ponti's butterfly prowess to Antonio Djakovic winning the 400-meter freestyle, Swiss swimmers are making waves on the world stage. These athletes are inspiring the next generation of swimmers in their home country.

At 25, Mityukov is entering his prime years as a swimmer. With the next Olympics on the horizon and his times getting faster, he's showing that Swiss swimming has a bright future ahead.