Team Ireland Wins Three European Youth Lifesaving Titles

11th September 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Medal Haul: Team Ireland's youth lifesavers celebrate their European Championship success on Rossnowlagh Beach, Co Donegal Credit: Water Safety Ireland

Team Ireland claimed three European titles and secured medals across the squad at the European Youth Lifesaving Championships on Rossnowlagh Beach in Co Donegal.

More than 70 athletes from nine nations competed over two days on Saturday and Sunday, 5-6 September, with Ireland finishing second in the boys' team competition and third in both the girls' and overall championship standings.

The home championships, hosted by Water Safety Ireland, featured a programme of beach and ocean lifesaving events.

Every member of the Irish team secured at least one medal during the championships.

Double Gold for Stephen Bell

Stephen Bell was among Ireland's leading performers, winning the Boys' 400m Open Water Surf Swim before taking a second individual European title in the Boys' 1km Ocean M.

Bell also won silver in the Boys' Open Water Board Race and combined with Andriy Kravchenko to take gold for Ireland in the Boys' Board Rescue Relay.

Celebration Time: Irish athletes and supporters celebrate Stephen Bell’s gold medal performance in the Ocean Man Medley at the European Youth Lifesaving Championships in Rossnowlagh. Photo: Water Safety Ireland

Ireland's female athletes also featured on the individual podiums, with Elva McCauley taking bronze in the Girls' Beach Sprint.

Isabelle Neville won bronze in both the Girls' Open Water Board Race and Girls' Ocean M.

Relay Medals Add to Irish Tally

Ireland collected further medals across the relay programme.

The Girls' Board Rescue Relay and Girls' Rescue Tube Rescue Relay teams both won silver, while Ireland also took silver in the Boys' Beach Sprint Relay and bronze in the Girls' Beach Sprint Relay.

Spain topped the boys' team standings ahead of Ireland and Italy, while Spain also won the girls' competition ahead of Italy and Ireland.

The same three nations filled the overall championship podium, with Spain taking the European team title ahead of Italy and third-placed Ireland.

The championships brought young lifesavers from across Europe to Rossnowlagh for two days of competition in surf, ocean and beach disciplines.

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