Ginevra Taddeucci doesn't give up, she doubles down. The 29-year-old Florentine, after winning the European gold medal in the 10km, also achieved the feat of winning the 5km, becoming the first Italian to win the 5km and 10km open water events at the same European Championships. A feat achieved only by Gregorio Paltrinieri at the 2021 European Championships in Budapest. In the Seine, on the Île aux Cygnes circuit west of the Eiffel Tower, Taddeucci leads and finishes in 1:02:31.2 seconds. Behind her, Hungary's Viktoria Mihalyvari Farkas takes silver in 1:02:33.4 seconds. The bronze medal goes to a determined Barbara Pozzobon in 1:02:35.1 seconds.
“"Paris continues to bring me luck, I hope to continue like this," commented Ginevra Taddeucci. "I was looking for a podium finish and didn't expect to win. It's always nice to stand on the podium with teammates; we're a very strong and capable team. Barbara Pozzobon and I know each other very well, and we try to help each other a lot during the race." Indeed, the 32-year-old from Treviso, registered with Fiamme Oro and Hydros and coached by Fabrizio Antonelli, delivered a solid performance, leading for two-thirds of the race: first setting the pace, then staying in the wake of Ginevra Taddeucci and Hungary's Viktoria Mihalyvari-Farkas.
August 5th was a memorable day for Italian open water swimming, thanks in part to Gregorio Paltrinieri, who took bronze on the final lap when he changed pace, gained positions, and overtook France's Velly before threatening Betlehem for silver in the final funnel. Paltrinieri—registered with Fiamme Oro and Coopernuoto and coached at the Federal Center in Ostia by Fabrizio Antonelli—once again demonstrated his ability to read the races. The other two Italians placed in the top six: Domenico Acerenza—Italian champion in the distance and fourth in the 10k on the Seine at the 2024 Paris Olympics—was fifth in 55:54.4. Marcello Guidi, bronze medalist at Stari Grad 2025, finished sixth in 55:54.9.
“"Yesterday I wore number four and finished fourth, today I wore number three and finished third," Paltrinieri joked. "It was a very tough race, and I struggled throughout the middle. I knew I was strong in the final stretch, and then I saw I was catching Velly. This is my first medal in the Seine. Ahead of me are two great athletes who are making history. Being there with them is important, even in a season where I've never felt great.".
