Adam Ramsay-Peaty was beaten for the first time at a European Aquatics Championships as he finished fifth in the 100m breaststroke final in Paris.
The 31-year-old, who has 16 European Championships golds, had previously never lost a heat, semi-final or final at the event.
Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi won the race in 58.58 seconds, with Ivan Kozhakin finishing second and Italy’s Simone Cerasuolo third.
Ramsay-Peaty finished 0.01secs and one place ahead of Great Britain team-mate Filip Nowacki.
The three-time Olympic champion, who is the 100m breaststroke world record holder, said “nothing makes sense” after a disappointing Commonwealth Games last month, where he won two bronze medals.
His time of 59.10 in Paris was 0.55secs faster than at the Commonwealth Games, where he was beaten by 18-year-old Nowacki, who made history for Jersey by claiming gold in the 200m breaststroke in Glasgow.
Ramsay-Peaty later took part in Great Britain’s mixed 4x100m medley relay final, swimming an impressive split of 58.9 in the breaststroke leg, but the team finished fourth.
Elsewhere at the championships, Great Britain’s Katie Shanahan dominated the 200m backstroke to win gold by 1.49secs with a time of two minutes 06.13secs.
The 22-year-old won silver in the same race at the 2022 European Aquatics Championships in Rome.
GB’s Angharad Evans, 23, also claimed a new championship record in the women’s 100m breaststroke semi-final with a time of 1:04.97.
