Return to Paris: Italy’s Olympic open water bronze medallist Ginevra Taddeucci in search of extra success – and an Eiffel Tower picture

Italy’s Ginevra Taddeucci, now 29, gained bronze within the ladies’s 10km open water swimming occasion on the Paris 2024 Olympics. Last yr she gained world silver within the 3km knockout dash, 5km, 10km and staff occasion. She additionally gained 5km gold and 10m silver plus 5km blended staff relay silver on the European Open Water Swimming Championships in Stari Grad earlier than securing the general ladies’s title within the World Aquatics Open Water Cup sequence.

Looking again now in your Paris 2024 experiences, which do you most clearly recall?

Probably the clearly recollection I’ve Is the end of the 10km, touching on the end and realising what I’ve achieved.

 What do you keep in mind of the Olympic environment and the town? Did it really feel totally different to different competitions?

The Olympic Games has a distinct environment. It’s a pageant of all sport. At different occasions it’s often solely swimming most of time or solely open water swimming. in Paris you can meet individuals from all sports activities and share your expertise with everybody.

How totally different as an athlete and an individual do you suppose you might be heading into Paris 2026 in comparison with Paris 2024?

Paris was the purpose of begin for my profession as an athlete. Since then I’ve continued to develop right into a mature athlete.

How a lot of a confidence booster was it to come back away from final yr’s World Championships with silver medals in each competitors you entered?

I’m nonetheless the identical Ginevra! I’m glad for the 4 medals however my confidence wasn’t boosted by that. Open water will not be like pool swimming – each competitors is totally different. It will not be solely a sport of situation but in addition of scenario.

What are your ambitions for Paris 2026?

My ambition Is to have enjoyable in Paris and to do my finest in each occasion during which I participate.

How important will the Paris 2026 Championships be for you when it comes to a marker on the path to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics?

In open water each competitors Is a step in the direction of the following occasions. So these European Championships will probably be a chance for rising forward of subsequent occasions just like the world championships.

Were you in a position to have family and friends watching you in Paris? If so, how particular was that and can it occur once more this summer season?

Yes – I had my household and my boyfriend watching me after I competed In Paris. I believe it is going to most likely be the identical this summer season.

Did you might have a lot likelihood to expertise Paris as a metropolis in 2024? Any explicit locations/scenes that resonated strongly? What will probably be in your metropolis wishlist this summer season?

I didn’t have a lot likelihood to expertise Paris in 2024. When I’m there in the summertime I hope to see once more the Alexander III bridge the place we had the Olympic medal ceremony.

I additionally hope to re-visit the Eiffel Tower with my boyfriend. We had o depart quickly after competitors in 2024 and we didn’t have the possibility to take photos there collectively…

Open water swimming on the European Aquatics Championships Paris 2026 will happen from August 4 to eight.

Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics