European Aquatics Championships: Romanian Cătălin Preda wins gold in high-diving event

10 August 2026 Diver Cătălin Preda won the gold medal in the 20m platform high-diving event at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris on Saturday, August 8. Preda won the gold medal with a total of 411.60 points after four dives. Italy’s Andrea Barnaba finished second, while France’s Gary Hunt took third place. Constantin Popovici, another Romanian diver who competed in the event, finished seventh. It is the first gold medal for Romania’s delegation, made up of the two high-divers and 11 swimmers, including David Popovici, a four-time European champion and reigning world champion in the 100m and 200m freestyle. For the first time, Romania will compete in every men’s individual event at the Paris event. David Popovici will compete in the 100m and 200m freestyle races; Patrick Dinu in