Stari Grad gearing up for European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Championships 2025 – EA Open Water Swimming

The Adriatic city on the northern facet of the island of Hvar will welcome Europe’s elite open water swimmers for 4 days of racing, from May 28 to 31. As beforehand introduced, the 5km and 10km occasions will return to the schedule, in addition to the brand new 3km knockout dash competitors, which just lately made its debut within the World Aquatics Open Water Cup. The motion takes place simply weeks earlier than the summer season’s World Championships in Singapore.

The European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Championships has a wealthy custom relationship again to 1989, which noticed Stari Grad internet hosting the primary ever version of the competitors. This yr’s version of the competitors is the 21^st version of the Championships, and the eighth stand-alone version.

Italy arrives with a formidable report in open water, having topped the medal desk in Belgrade 2024 with three golds – together with Gregorio Paltrinieri’s spectacular dash end within the 10km – alongside three silvers and two bronzes. The Olympic and world champion continues to be a cornerstone of the Italian staff, bringing expertise and endurance to an in any other case youthful squad.

Their nearest rivals final yr have been a combination of Hungary, France, and Germany. David Betlehem, Hungary’s rising star, claimed the boys’s 5km title in Belgrade and in addition took a bronze within the 10km. He can be one to look at once more ought to the Hungarians area that contingent, particularly if he traces up alongside compatriot Kristof Rasovszky, the Olympic gold medallist within the 10km from Paris that summer season.

The girls’s competitors in Belgrade was dominated by Germany’s Leonie Beck, who earned gold within the 10km the 5km. Despite her taking a while away from the game and attempting her hand within the media, the nation will make sure you lean on their depth of expertise in Croatia later this month.

The version previous to that scintillating exhibiting in Belgrade got here at 2022’s European Aquatics Championships in Rome. At that competitors, host nation Italy as soon as once more claimed the most effective staff accolade, with a clear sweep of the boys ‘s and team events, as well as four medals in the women’s. It was additionally Sharon Van Rouwendaal’s most up-to-date European medal, as she took gold within the girls’s 5km occasion. Germany and France continued their robust showings, which can undoubtedly comply with in Stari Grad.

That pattern was nearly completely replicated in 2021’s version of the competitors in Budapest. Italy have been as soon as once more the most effective performing staff, which means that they are going to be aiming to make it 4 in a row in 2025. At that competitors within the Hungarian capital, Paltrinieri and Van Rouwendaal each took brace’s within the males’s and ladies’s respective 5km and 10km occasions, with Germany’s Lea Boy additionally taking a gold medal. She can be a one to look at this yr, no matter her look in Stari Grad.

Expect beautiful backdrops, shifting techniques and excessive drama as the most effective in Europe tackle the pristine – and doubtlessly unpredictable – waters of Stari Grad. Stay tuned to this website for information, full previews and dwell protection all through the Championships.

Stephen Stanley for European Aquatics