European Aquatics Championships | Paris 2026: OOOVATION, Official Medal Supplier
To imagine the design of this medal, the organizers of the European Aquatics Championships | Paris 2026 entrusted OOOVATION, a French company recognized for its expertise in creating custom-made medals for major sporting events.
Designed as a symbolic object with a strong identity, the medal was developed around three main inspirations: water, movement, and light.
Its drop-shaped form immediately evokes the central element of the discipline, while its reliefs reflect the variations of the water’s surface and the energy of athletic movement. The work on volume was conceived to bring the medal to life from every angle, playing with reflections and the perception of texture
A Medal Inspired by Water
The creation of this medal naturally draws its inspiration from the element inseparable from swimming: water — a living, moving, and universal material that accompanies every effort, every trajectory, and every athletic performance. From the very first design concepts, the intention was to visually express this close relationship between the athlete and their environment by imagining a medal whose shape would immediately evoke this world.
Its silhouette therefore adopts a drop shape — a simple, clear, and instantly recognizable symbol that refers directly to the very essence of the discipline. This organic form moves away from the more traditional circular medal design, offering a more distinctive object with strong identity and meaning.
The surface was designed as a material in motion: reliefs, hollows, and volumes interact to evoke the ripples of water, waves, currents, and also the energy generated by athletic movement at the moment of effort. Each line seeks to express the constant balance between technical precision and physical power that defines aquatic disciplines.
The curves were intentionally oriented in multiple directions to create a dynamic reading of the object. Depending on the viewing angle, light reveals the reliefs differently, bringing out new lines and creating a continuous sense of fluidity. This interaction with light keeps the medal visually alive — almost in motion — as if it were symbolically extending the energy of the pool and the athlete’s journey.
The entire design was conceived so that the medal would not simply be an award, but also an emotional object — one capable of visually telling the story of effort, water, movement, and the unique moment represented by a victory or an outstanding performance.
A Design Enhanced by a Distinctive Element: the Official Competition Pin
At the top of each medal, a pin specially integrated into the ribbon faithfully reproduces the official logo of the European Aquatics Championships, creating a strong visual continuity between the event’s graphic identity and the award presented to the athletes.
Far more than a simple decorative element, this pin gives each medal an additional level of refinement and exclusivity, reinforcing its distinctive and memorable character.
Designed as a true extension of the title earned, it allows athletes to carry their achievement beyond the official ceremony by proudly wearing this symbol during official events, public appearances, sporting gatherings, or throughout their personal and professional journey.
This detail transforms the award into a lasting marker of success — one that athletes can continue to wear and value throughout their career.
The pin, measuring 30 mm in diameter and 2.5 mm in thickness, features a glossy finish that delivers a premium and highly refined appearance. Its carefully crafted design and strong visual presence make it an elegant, durable object, perfectly aligned with the prestige of the medal it accompanies.
A Responsible Creation: Recycled Materials and Premium Standards
The medal is made from recycled zinc, while its ribbon is produced from recycled PET derived from plastic bottles. This choice of materials is no coincidence: from the very beginning, it reflects a genuine commitment to more responsible production.
For the organizing committee, the objective is not to choose between beauty and sustainability. Aesthetics, quality, and environmental responsibility can — and should — go hand in hand. Using recycled materials also gives deeper meaning to the object itself: a medal that, beyond being a reward, embodies values of transmission and example.
It is also a way of meeting the expectations of a new generation of competitions, where every detail matters and nothing is left to chance — not even what rests around the athletes’ necks.
From a technical perspective, recycled zinc ensures precise relief, strong durability, and long-lasting quality. The recycled PET ribbon, meanwhile, retains the drape and consistency of a premium textile.
As for the glossy finish, it evokes the reflections of water and interacts with light depending on the viewing angle. It enhances the medal’s visual readability and gives it a strong presence during the official ceremony — that moment when the object passes from the hands of the organizers to those of the athletes.
Three Finishes to Distinguish Performance
As is tradition in major international competitions, three distinct finishes have been developed to distinguish the podium positions: Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Each medal also receives individual personalization according to the awarded categories, ensuring that every piece highlights the unique identity of the discipline and the sporting moment it celebrates.
A total of 564 medals will be presented to the athletes competing in the European Aquatics Championships.
Designed as an object with strong visual presence, the medal features a generous format of 100 mm in height and 68.4 mm in width, immediately affirming its institutional character and symbolic dimension.
Its structure was conceived with evolving relief: 7.5 mm at its thickest point and 5.5 mm at its thinnest, creating a controlled sense of volume and a dynamic reading of the piece.
Weighing 115 grams, it offers a substantial and rewarding feel in hand, fully aligned with the standards of major international distinctions.
Several Months of Design and Prototyping
Designed entirely in-house by OOOVATION, this medal required several months of reflection, sketching, adjustments, and prototyping.
The main challenge lay in its geometry:
- a shape curved along multiple axes
- preservation of relief readability
- visual balance between volume and elegance
- industrial feasibility without compromising the finesse of the design
The finishing work is based on a deliberate contrast between two surface treatments:
a glossy upper section, designed to capture light and highlight the main reliefs, extended downward by a brushed finish that adds depth, elegance, and sophistication to the overall piece.
On the reverse side, the medal incorporates a dual attachment system, ensuring perfect ribbon support and an exceptionally premium finish, even in the technical details.
This technical complexity ultimately reflects the very spirit of high-level sport: precision, high standards, and mastery.
A Medal Designed to Embody Sporting Excellence
This medal was conceived as a lasting award, carrying the strength of a memorable achievement.
It accompanies a rare moment — when years of training are transformed into a few seconds of performance.
OOOVATION is proud to present the official medal of the European Aquatics Championships 2026.
