Santana clocked in at 36 minutes, 14 seconds, and 24 hundredths, narrowly beating Italian Riccardo Tigli by just seven hundredths of a second. Italian Michele Rilla completed the podium. This victory solidifies Santana's status as a leading figure in Spanish and European master swimming.
The gold medal achieved this Friday holds special significance for the sport in Telde, as Santana becomes the first swimmer from the city to win a European Master open water title. He had previously made history in July 2024 by becoming the first from Telde to reach a continental podium in this discipline, winning bronze in the 1500 meters in Belgrade.
The 2026 European Master Championship brings together thousands of participants across various disciplines. The open water competition took place in the canal next to the X-Bionic Sphere sports complex in Šamorín, Slovakia. The 3-kilometer race served as the final event of the inaugural European Master open water circuit promoted by European Aquatics.
“"Miguel once again writes a golden page for Telde's sports history. Today, we are not just talking about reaching a European podium; we are talking about hearing the name of an athlete from our city as a European champion. It is something extraordinary and deeply emotional for all of us who love and follow Telde's sports."
The Mayor of Telde, Juan Antonio Peña, congratulated the athlete, calling the victory "one of those moments that are forever written in the sporting history of a municipality." He highlighted the years of training, sacrifices, and consistency behind this achievement, emphasizing that it demonstrates that "from Telde, from one of our clubs, one can compete against the best in Europe and win."
Meanwhile, the Councilor for Physical Activity and Sports, Cristhian Santana, added that Miguel Santana "was already one of our great sporting references, but today he takes a historic step." He underscored the demanding nature of open water swimming and the athlete's competitive level, as well as the inspiration he provides to young athletes at the Club Natación Faynagua–Ciudad de Telde.
Santana's career continues to grow. Earlier this year, he became the Canary Islands Master +40 long-distance champion and set a new regional record. In May, he was the runner-up in the Spanish Master open water championship in Ibiza, and in recent years, he has accumulated numerous national titles and regional records. In November 2024, he received the Medal of Sporting Merit from Telde, recognizing his successful career.
