Gregorio Paltrinieri warns of Seine water risks for Paris swimming championships

Italian distance‑swimming champion Gregorio Paltrinieri has publicly questioned the safety of the Seine River for the open‑water events of the European Aquatics Championships in Paris. He recalled that at the 2024 Paris Olympics, dozens of athletes suffered illness after competing in the 10 km race on the Seine, and he, together with other top swimmers, has sent letters to the event organizers demanding guarantees or an alternative venue.

The French authorities have invested more than €1.4 billion in river clean‑up and now monitor water quality, currents and weather daily, closing bathing areas if standards are not met. Nevertheless, athletes remain cautious as the championships schedule the 3 km sprint, 5 km, 10 km and mixed‑team races between 4 and 8 August. Organisers insist the river meets safety criteria, but Paltrinieri and fellow swimmers such as Florian Wellbrock and Ginevra Taddeucci continue to call for a contingency plan.

The dispute highlights ongoing concerns about the suitability of the Seine for elite open‑water competition despite recent environmental improvements.