Paris, August 5, 2026 – Gregorio Paltrinieri won the bronze medal in the five-kilometer event at the European Open Water Swimming Championships in Paris. The 31-year-old from Carpi finished in 55’44″7 after a comeback race, taking the podium behind the German Florian Wellbrock, gold in 55’40″2 and repeating his victory from the 10 kilometers, and the Hungarian David Betlehem, silver in 55’42″6. A medal, that of ‘SuperGreg’, built in the last lap when he changed pace, recovering positions and coming close to challenging Betlehem for silver in the final meters.
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The other Italians both finished in the top six: Domenico Acerenza came fifth in 55’54″4, Marcello Guidi sixth in 55’54″9.
Paltrinieri’s words
“It was a very tough race, in the middle I struggled a lot and the leaders pulled away a bit, but I knew I was strong in the last stretch – said the Fiamme Oro athlete –. I was catching up with the first two, I didn’t manage it but I am very happy“. “Yesterday – he said referring back to the fourth place in the 10km – I made mistakes more as a ‘person’ than as an athlete. There are moments when you lose a bit of confidence and I also lost the reference points that keep me hooked to the race. Today I tried to hold on because the situation was similar and I brought home a better result.”
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“What does this race leave me? That I can still compete – concluded the Italian -. The first two are great athletes who are making history, the fact of being with them even in a season when I never felt great makes me happy, I competed in both races”.
