Will the Hungarian youth threaten the Italian experience? Will the German dominance in the women's competition continue? These are just some of the questions that arise ahead of the 21st edition of the European Open Water Swimming Championships, which takes us to a magical The Old City on Hvar.
The beauty of Stari Gradska vale, the rich tradition and experience of the organizers, along with the selfless volunteer contribution of the residents of Stari Grad and the entire island of Hvar, will be further strengthened this year with new energy and organizational standards. All of this will certainly give a special touch to this prestigious sporting event.
The schedule includes already well-known disciplines – 5 and 10 kilometer races – but also the new star of the competition: adrenaline sprint race over 3 kilometers in knockout format, which recently had its World Cup premiere. The championship comes at a perfect time, right before the World Championships, which are being held in Singapore this year.
The European Long Distance Swimming Championships carry special symbolism for Croatia and European sport – it is in Stari Grad. The first edition was held in 1989. this competition. This year's championship, 21. in order, it is also the eighth to be held as a separate competition.
Italian national team They come to Dalmatia as favorites. Last year in Belgrade they won three gold medals, including an unforgettable finish Gregory Paltrinieri in the 10 kilometers, and three more silvers and two bronzes. Olympic and world champion Paltrinieri remains a key figure in the national team – experienced, resilient and ready for another top performance, although this year the Italian team includes a number of young hopefuls.
Italy's main competitors will be the national teams Hungary, France and Germany. Hungarian David Bethlehem last year he won gold in the 5km and bronze in the 10km. If he competes again, especially paired with the Olympic champion Kristóf Rasovszky, Hungary will be an extremely difficult opponent.
In the women's competition last year, she dominated German Leonie Beck, winning gold in the 5 and 10 kilometers. Although she briefly swapped the pool for the media world after that, Germany still has a wide base of talented swimmers.
///Sretni otok: Hvar is an island with as many as 6 inscriptions on the UNESCO list
Rome to host 2022 Italy dominated again – sweeping the competition in the men's and team events and winning four medals in the women's competition. Then the legendary Sharon van Rouwendaal took her last European gold, in the 5 kilometers. Germany and France They continued their series of excellent performances, and the same scenario is expected this year in Stari Grad on the island of Hvar. Lea Boy, the gold medalist from Budapest in 2021, is certainly one of the names to pay special attention to if she appears on the starting line.
Spectacular scenes, changing strategies and tension to the last meters await us - all this in the crystal clear, but unpredictable waters of the Old Town.
