Egyptian swimmer Abdelrahman Sameh opened Egypt’s medal account at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games in impressive fashion after claiming gold in the men’s 50m butterfly, delivering the Egyptian delegation its first gold medal of the 20th edition of the Games.

Gold and a Record

Sameh completed the race in 23.18 seconds, securing the gold medal while also breaking the Mediterranean Games record in the event, marking an outstanding start for Egyptian swimming in Taranto, Italy.

The significance of the achievement goes beyond the 50m butterfly title, with Sameh’s triumph giving the Egyptian delegation an early boost as competition continues until September 3, with 3,803 athletes representing 26 countries.

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Egypt Eyes More

Egypt is competing across 23 sports at the 2026 Mediterranean Games, including swimming, athletics, boxing, handball, judo, karate, weightlifting, wrestling, shooting and fencing, with the delegation looking to add further medals throughout the tournament.

Egypt also boasts a strong history at the Mediterranean Games, ranking sixth on the all-time medal table with 620 medals — 156 gold, 209 silver and 255 bronze. Sameh’s triumph therefore adds another golden chapter to Egypt’s long-standing success in the competition.