Yonatan Achdut and Ofek Adir Reach Semifinals at European Open Water Swimming Championships

Israeli swimmers Yonatan Achdut and Ofek Adir advanced to the semifinals in the knockout race concluding the European Open Water Swimming Championships on August 7, 2026. Adir finished ninth in the preliminary 1,500-meter race, qualifying for the semifinals where she placed tenth in the 1,000-meter event, about 15 seconds shy of the fifth-place finish needed to reach the final. Achdut also progressed to the semifinals by a photo finish, securing the tenth and final qualifying spot. In the semifinals, he finished ninth, nine seconds behind the fifth-place swimmer who advanced to the final. This competition marked the first European Open Water Championships for the Israeli team since the retirement of Matan Roditi. The team, currently rebuilding, faced a particularly strong European field featuring top swimmers from leading nations in the sport. The Israeli Swimming Association expressed particular encouragement from Adir's performance in the 5-kilometer race, where she competed closely within the leading pack and finished just one minute and 15 seconds behind the winner.