World medallists gather in Paris for EA Open Water Swimming Cup as change of venue announced
Recent world medallists will be among those chasing honours at the European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Cup leg 3 taking place in Paris tomorrow.
The hosts have serious ambitions in the men’s race, fielding a team of eight swimmers, including 20-year-old Sacha Velly, men’s winner of last month’s leg 2 in Setubal.
Velly, 19th in the 5km race in Singapore, had a stellar season in the junior ranks last year, winning the European and world 10km titles.
Italy has also fielded a strong team of nine swimmers, including Vincenzo Caso, world silver medallist behind Velly in Alghero last year.
Also representing Italy will be Dario Verani, the 2024 European 25m gold medallist, and Andrea Filadelli – who got his defence of overall EA Open Water Swimming Cup title underway with victory in the opening leg that took place at the Cypriot resort of Protaras in May.
Filadelli finished seventh in the world 10km race.
The women’s race appears to offer a golden opportunity for Monaco’s Lisa Pau, who won world 10km bronze in Singapore and finished seventh in the 3km knockout sprints.
Also in the field is Turkey’s Su Inal, who was 27th in the world 5km race.
Meanwhile recent heavy rain in Paris has caused a change from the originally scheduled venue at Quai Grenelle on the River Seine to the Bassin de la Villette, with the men’s and women’s races starting respectively at 08.30 and 08.35.
A communication from European Aquatics organisers read: “Based on the water analyses received by the city of Paris and the French Swimming Federation, we kindly inform you that the European Aquatics Open Water Swimming cup leg 3 will not be organised at Quai Grenelle as initially planned due to the non- respect of the water quality standards.
“This situation is due to the rain that Paris experienced during these last days.”
Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics
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