Vasas, close to perfection, roar to European triumph after 21 years Men's Euro Cup and Challenger Cup Finals Water Polo, 2nd leg

 

Twenty-one years after the last big victory of Vasas, in the Cupwinners’ Cup, the Hungarian club claimed another European trophy. They came up with an almost flawless performance, netting 12 out of 15 man-ups tore their rival Savona apart so they earned an eight-goal win after the tied first leg.

Euro Cup Final, 2nd leg

A Hid-VasasPlaket (HUN) v RN Savona (ITA) 15-7 – aggregate: 23-15

To heat up the capacity crowd in Budapest, some archive footage was played on the giant screen before the teams’ intro, featuring Vasas’ last European triumph in the Cupwinners’ Cup in 2002. An hour later, another trophy was added to the Hungarian club’s rich treasury.

The hosts stormed to a 5-1 lead right away with an astonishing performance: they were 5/5 in man-ups, four of those goals were scored from the 2m line, which is a real booster for the scoring side and can have devastating effect on the defenders. This is something barely seen even at league matches, so not surprisingly, Savona – sometimes playing way too aggressively – struggled in front and missed three 6 on 5s, made only one.

The following period was a bit more balanced, though at one stage the visitors seemed to be in deep trouble as Vasas kept on scoring from extras and led 8-2. Then the Magyars ran a bit out of steam in the last three minutes and Savona could climb back to 8-4, thanks to their star centre-forward Lorenzo Bruni who netted two, one from the centre, as the lonely action goal in the first half.

It was a short-living recovery from the Italians, though, as Vasas returned to its rumbling mood. They scored twice – again, from man-ups – and reset the six-goal lead in 80 seconds. Then Drasko Brugljan scored the hosts’ first action goal in the final series while Branislav Mitrovic denied the Italians in back-to-back man-downs. Towards the end Vasas had only seven seconds left to finish a man-up, but they used only three to make it 12-4 – this 4-0 thrashing closed down the contest, even though there were eight more minutes to play. (Indeed, Vasas just did what they had done in their home matches in the Euro Cup: in the previous three, they bested their respective rivals by 5-6 goals, now they did even better.)

The fourth was devoted to permanent celebrations – for official note: Vasas closed the game with an incredible 12 for 15 in extra –, and the eight-goal difference remained amidst funny circumstances. The Vasas bench jumped to the pool in joy when it turned out that the buzzer signed the end of a possession time and 0.9sec remained on the clock. Because of that, Savona was awarded a penalty, it was buried for 15-7 – so a bit historically the coach of the Hungarians Slobodan Nikic was tossed into the water twice. Kind of highlighting how badly this famous club wanted to lift a European trophy after 21 long years.

This was the first Euro Cup victory for them, to be added to the two Champions League (Champions Cup) and three Cupwinners’ Cup victories from the past. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the competition (once named LEN Trophy), the Hungarians got one closer to the Italian clubs – this was the 8th triumph for the Magyars in these series while Italy still top the ranks with 10.

 

Quotes

Slobodan Nikic, coach, Vasas

“We played our best in the season in the most important match of the season. We were aware how important this match is for our club and for our fans, we prepared really well and we managed to execute our game-plan almost perfectly. We learned a lot form the first leg where we played mediocre and still came away with a draw. We though we were the better side and we wanted to prove that. I’m so happy that we could deliver a performance like this today.”

Angelo Angelini, coach, Savona

“Vasas were stronger and played a lot better, right from the beginning. They made their man-ups while we couldn’t use the spaces in offence, and we were not able to defend well in man-downs either. Still, for our club it was a fantastic journey, we are really happy that we reached the final and could play in such a great atmosphere, in front of full stands. We have seven players who played a European final for the first time, for them it’s a great experience, they can learn a lot from these matches.”

Challenger Cup Final, 2nd leg

Apollon stun Terrassa, claim historical trophy

Terrassa could hold on till the middle of the third period, then a 0-4 run from Apollon proved to be decisive in this epic game which produced 32 goals. The hosts could never recover from the shock, so the Greeks could lift the trophy at the end of the first edition of the LEN Challenger Cup – also a historical first big win for their club.

Challenger Cup Final, 2nd leg

CN Terrassa (ESP) v GS Apollon Smyrnis (GRE) 14-18 – aggregate: 25-30

Apollon arrived at Spain with a single-goal lead, but they staged a stunning start and jumped to a 1-4 lead. The host reacted well, pulled two back still in the first period and kicked off the second with a quick double to take the lead for the first time in the match.

That also kicked off a series of twists and turns as Apollon then managed to score three goals in a row to go 5-7 up, while Spaniards were unable to find the net for long minutes. Then, in a sudden, they hit twice in 35 seconds, so with 0:03 to go it was 7-7. Still, the Greeks led at halftime as Nikola Bogdanovic’s distant shot ended up in the net, just beating the buzzer.

The home side returned to the field as determined as ever and in 41 seconds they went ahead again for 9-8 with two action goals. Apollon responded with a double too, but Ricard Alarcon netted an extra to make it 10-10. Since 4-4, the lead was changing constantly – so what came in the following couple of minutes, a 0-4 rush by the Greeks, had devastating consequences on the outcome, at least from a Spanish angle.

Two goals in 38 seconds gave a two-goal lead for the visitors, while Terrassa were unable to handle the mounting pressure in front of their capacity crowd. 44 seconds later Emmanouil Solanakis put away another extra, soon the Greeks killed a man-down and Lazar Vickovic’s action goal completed the big run for 10-14. In 2:32 minutes, the game was virtually over – the hosts could never recover from this shock.

Terrassa could pull one back twice early in the fourth, then had two man-ups at 13-16 to come closer, missed both and when Vickovic netted his 5th of the game from a 6 on 5 for 13-17, he sealed the Greeks’ victory. The Spaniards even wasted a 6 on 4, before an exchange of goals closed down this epic, 32-goal final, to give way to the Greeks’ wild celebrations.

Mario Mola (ESP) and Emma Pallant (GBR) crowned Duathlon World Champions in Ibiza

 

He is a three-time World Triathlon Champion and, on Saturday afternoon in Ibiza, the smile on Mario Mola’s face was just as broad as it had been for his Gold Coast win back in 2018, the Majorca native earning the 2023 Duathlon World Championship title after Britain's long distance specialist Emma Pallant had also shown her versatility to deliver a brilliant women's gold.

MEN'S REPORT

The pace was on from the very first strides of the opening 5km run, Mola pulling clear into transition and then biking solo for half the 20km bike before being caught by the large train that had formed behind. Multiple attacks were held at bay before a controlled 2.5km final effort to the tape, edging France’s former champions Benjamin Choquert and Krilan le Bihan into second and third.

“At the start of the season I thought I’d give the duathlon a shot, but these guys are unbelievable, so I am incredibly happy to be here and get the win in front of my home crowd,” said a smiling Mola. “I knew the course was one where people can see you from a long way away so to break is difficult, but I thought I’d give it a go and try to make it work. Arnaud came and wanted to push but I saw the French team were working well together and close. My experience in Caorle was that if you’re not in front out of T2 you are in trouble, so I made sure I was well placed.”

 

Favourites come clear of congestion

The 52 elite and 19 U23 athletes lined up at the start made for a congested opening 200m as they jostled for the early advantage heading into a flat and fast 5km out and back then around the sun-soaked Santa Eulalia Harbour.

James Teagle (GBR) was clearly eager for daylight up ahead, but it wasn’t long before Mola had picked his way to the front and began to set the pace for those around him, the field stringing out significantly so there were 30 seconds separating the top 10.

 

Mola solo effort ends

Another Brit, Hugo Milner was in hot pursuit along with Belgium’s Arnaud Dely and Valentin Andre of France, but Mola was sensing a big opportunity and set out alone to attack the first 6.5km bike loop.

Nathan Guerbeur was among those working to keep tabs on the flying Spaniard and the French were looking threatening as ever, but it was Dely who made the move to try and catch Mola as the halfway point approached.

There was little appetite to try and push on together though, and soon the packs merged into one, taking the final lap with just the occasional attack none of which came to anything meaningful.

 

Experience pays over final 2.5km

Into transition positioning was looking key, Erwin Vanderplanke (BEL) in and out first, Mola and Choquert close in with Samuele Angelini of Italy and Andre still looking dangerous.

It soon became a battle between the hugely experienced pair of Choquert and Mola to see who was able to hold off the other, and after a little cat and mouse a surge with 1km to go saw Mola clear. Choquert never let go but the elastic had gone and it was the local hero who coasted home to a hugely popular win, Choquert followed over the line by 2022 World Champion Krilan le Bihan, Arnaud Dely and Riccardo Martellato rounding out the top five.

“It was a strong race this year, the French, Belgians and Spanish all very strong, so it was good to have second and third,” said Le Bihan. “He was really fast in that first run, Choquert started the second one fast, but once Mario past through us it was really hard to stay with him!”

 

Women's Report

The heat was rising in Ibiza as the 32 women lined up for the first elite action of the 2023 World Triathlon Multisport Championships, eyeing the Duathlon world title in Santa Eulalia.

The 5km run, 20km bike, 2.5km run course was fast and flat, and there was no pause for breath as the athletes attacked from the outset, only for Emma Pallant and Zsanett Bragmayer to break clear of the pack and turn it into a two-person race for the title.

It was the British long-distance star who took gold just as she had way back in 2016, Hungary’s Bragmayer delighted with a hard-earned silver and Monday’s aquathlon still to come, Japan’s Ai Ueda with bronze.

“I didn’t realise it had been seven years since my last World Championships,” said Pallant. “So much has changed since and this being a sprint is totally different format so I was a bit nervous and doubting my slowtwitch a little bit and transitions so definitely felt the pressure! I’m used to killing the legs a bit but getting the speed was important and I had to back myself. I wanted to break on the bike but thought it would be the second lap and not into the headwind but that was it!’

Kaiser and Ueda look to stretch field early

With defending champion Joselyn Abreu not starting, the door was open for a heated battle to the top, and the pace was on from the outset as Japan’s Ai Ueda looked to set the early pace along with Germany’s Celine Kaiser and crowd favourite Maria Varo Zubiri.

Bragmayer couldn’t quite match their early speed, finding herself half a minute back as the first athletes hit transition with 16m49 on the clock and headed out onto the 3-lap, 20km bike segment.

It wasn’t long before Bragmayer was back among the leaders though, joining the likes of Giorgia Priarone (ITA) and Marion Le Goff (FRA) in a 13-deep pack even before the dead turn.

 

Bragmayer makes a move

After a brief assessment of her situation, Bragmayer made the move to pull clear, only Pallant able to respond, and soon the two had 30 seconds over the chasers left trying to reorganise themselves.

That never quite came together. By the end of lap two the gap was up to a minute, nearly two minutes by the time they hit transition for the final time, and there were suddenly only two possible names on top of the first elite podium in Ibiza.

 

Pallant pulls it back

Bragmayer was fluid into the running shoes, Pallant took her time, but that moment of composure helped fuel an imperious final 2.5km burst that quickly saw her catch and then pass the Hungarian, Bragmayer accepting her fate and delighted to come away with silver as Pallant soaked up her moment to win by 23 seconds.

Further back, Ueda was able to dig in and find the edge over the battling Giorgia Priarone to take the bronze, Varo in fifth ahead of Sandrina Illes (AUT). Italy scored a double gold in the U23 and Junior world championships, Asia Mercatelli and Noemi Bogiatto winning the golds respectively.

“It is amazing, I wanted to be on the podium once these championships, I didn’t expect it to be today!” said Bragmayer. “It all came together, my tactics worked and Emma really helped on the bike. I knew there would be a gap out of the first run and I had to control myself, and I knew I had the power to catch the group then make the attack. I didn’t look back to see who was coming with me, she just came up and we got into it.”

“I’m so happy to get the podium!” said Ueda. “My plan was to go out fast in the first run and get a small group on the bike, but Emma and Zsanett escaped on the bike and I couldn’t stay in touch. I was side by side with Giorgia at the end, and really pleased to podium.”

For the full results, click here. https://triathlon.org/results/result/2023_world_triathlon_duathlon_championships_ibiza/583802?mc_cid=1c1e66fa58&mc_eid=6139649918

 

Parade of Nations opens 2023 Multisport World Championships in style ahead of Saturday's Sprint Duathlon action

 

A carnival of colour began the 2023 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Ibiza as the flags of 61 nations were paraded along the Santa Eulalia waterfront on Friday afternoon before gathering in the town square for the formal opening and oaths.

Alongside World Triathlon President Marisol Casado were FETRI President Jose Hidalgo, the Mayor of Santa Eulalia, Carmen Ferrer Torres and Vicent Marí, Presidente of the Consell d’Eivissa.

“This is the sixth edition of these championships, and the first time since before the pandemic that we have been able to hold them all in one location,” said Marisol Casado. “For that I extend our enormous gratitude to the Local Organising Committee and FETRI for bringing us all here. We have been fortunate to hold these world championships in some outstanding venues since 2017, and this year we continue that tradition in grand style.”

The duathlon competitions are the first on the schedule, with Saturday’s Sprint Duathlon World Championships getting under way with the Age Group racing from 8am followed by the elites as local favourite and three-time World Triathlon Champion Mario Mola looks to break the French grip on the title the have held over the past three years.

It’s a 5km run, 20km bike and 2.5km run that awaits the elites, uphill out of town then snaking around Santa Eulalia harbour on foot before a 3-lap bike, up-and-back bike with a rolling incline, a pan-flat final run to the tape. For full coverage, tune in to TriathlonLive.tv. from 11.30am.

 

Joselyn Abreu chasing hat-trick of titles

In the women’s race, the defending champion Joselyn Breu Abreu is chasing a third straight title. The Venezuelan loves to attack from the outset, but this will be her first major race for 10 months and it will be a huge test on the White Isle.

Conversely, World Games champion Maurine Ricour (BEL) arrives off the back of a European Championship silver last month. The woman she out-ran last year to the title in Birmingham, Alabama, is the great Ai Ueda of Japan, a four-time World Championship medallist for whom gold has proven to be agonisingly out of reach. Could Ibiza be the place to scoop the prize?

Italy’s Giorgia Priarone and Spain’s María Varo Zubiri were side-by-side onto the final 5km in Targu Mures 12 months ago before their medal challenges faded. Varo will hope the home crowd can spur her on to great things in Ibiza.

Reigning Aquathlon World Champion and last year’s duathlon silver medallist Celine Kaiser (GER) seeks to go one better than she did in Targu Mures after two good showings in the Arena Games in recent weeks.

Sandrina Illes (AUT), Marion Le Goff and Marion Legrand of France and Hungary’s Zsanett Bragmayer are all capable of delivering medal-winning performances, Bragmayer also likely to be packing a post-Arena Games hunger for the podium more than ever.

 

Strong French men’s squad ready for medals

In the men’s race, it will be hard to look beyond a French delegation that has dominated the medals over the years.

Boasting a one-two-three sweep in 2022, gold and silver in 2021 and gold in 2019, the talent runs deep, with three different names coming out on top of those three podiums; Krilan le Bihan, Nathan Guerbeur and Benjamin Choquert.

All of them will start in Ibiza, as well as the versatile Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger, that medal potential providing plenty of incentive to an equally potent Belgian squad that boasts Arnaud Dely – European U23 silver medallist here four years ago and a mixed relay world champion and last year’s U23 Duathlon and Cross Duathlon World Champion Thibaut de Smet.

 

Mario Mola steps into the action

If there is one man that can upset the form guide, however, it is Spain’s Mario Mola. A three-time World Triathlon Champion who dominated the highest level of the sport from 2016 to 2018, you may have to go back 14 years for his last Duathlon World Championship appearance (he won silver as a junior in 2009), but he proved last year that he still has the speed over 5km required to take what would be a hugely popular title here.

Beyond those key names, Netherlands’ Dan de Groot and Brazil’s national champion Francisco Viana are among the athletes from 16 nations hoping to deliver the race of their lives on Saturday morning.

Full start list available here. https://www.triathlon.org/events/start_lists/2023_world_triathlon_multisport_championships_ibiza?mc_cid=db44fb694f&mc_eid=6139649918

ABOUT WORLD TRIATHLON

World Triathlon is the international governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of triathlon and all related multisport disciplines around the world, including duathlon, aquathlon, cross triathlon and winter triathlon. Triathlon made its Olympic debut in Sydney 2000, with a third medal event, the Mixed Team Relay, added to the programme at Tokyo 2020, while para triathlon was first added to the Paralympic programme at Rio 2016. World Triathlon is proudly committed to the development of the sport worldwide, with inclusion, equality, sustainability and transparency at our core as we seek to help triathletes at all levels of the sport to be extraordinary. 

www.triathlon.org

Paralympic USA, World Champions Headline 2023 Para Swimming World Championships Roster

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – U.S. Paralympics Swimming today announced the 22 athletes – 16 women and six men – named to the roster for the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships, which are scheduled for August in Manchester, England.

The team was selected based on results at last weekend’s Para Swimming World Series in Minneapolis, at which Team USA athletes brought home 40 medals across the three-day competition.

“After some incredible performances in Minneapolis, we are very confident in the roster that we’ll be bringing to square off against the world’s best this summer,” Erin Popovich, director of U.S. Paralympics Swimming, said. “Alongside our veteran athletes who have competed at this level before, we had some newcomers step up and earn spots on their first world championships team. We can’t wait to see them race in Manchester.”

Headlining a stacked roster for Team USA are Paralympic and world champions, led by 29-time Paralympic medalist Jessica Long (Baltimore, Maryland), who is set to make her eighth world championships appearance. Long has amassed 52 world championships medals in her illustrious career, including 35 golds.

After sweeping her events at the 2022 Para Swimming World Championships in Madeira, Portugal, McKenzie Coan (Clarkesville, Georgia) returns looking to add to her 16 career worlds medals. Coan was a force in Madeira last summer, winning the 400-meter, 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle S7 races and adding a silver as part of the 4x100-meter relay 34 points team. The six-time Paralympic medalist secured three world series podiums in Minneapolis to secure her spot.

Another athlete returning after a dominant performance at worlds in 2022 is Paralympic silver medalist Leanne Smith (Salem, Massachusetts), who put together an unprecedented seven-for-seven performance in Madeira. Her seven golds led Team USA at the meet and gave her 10 world titles in her career.

Joining the trio of Long, Coan and Smith in the pool are a host of Paralympic and world champions. Paralympic gold medalists Hannah Aspden (Raleigh, North Carolina), Mikaela Jenkins (Evansville, Indiana), Elizabeth Marks (Colorado Springs, Colorado) and Morgan Stickney (Cary, North Carolina) return to the pool seeking continued success on the world stage.

Marks, a five-time Paralympic medalist, won three medals – including two gold – in Madeira last summer and will make her third world championships appearance. Stickney, meanwhile, followed her double gold performance in Tokyo with another dominant win in the women’s 400-meter freestyle in Madeira. The reigning world and Paralympic champion in the event, Stickney also recently broke the Americas Record in Minneapolis last week to secure her second worlds team berth.

Jenkins and Aspden, also double gold medalists in Tokyo, are making their third and fourth career world championships appearances, respectively. Jenkins has four worlds medals to her name, including bronze in last year’s 100-meter butterfly S10 competition, while Aspden took silver in the 100-meter backstroke S9 in Madeira.

Three-time Paralympic medalists Lizzi Smith (Muncie, Indiana) and Colleen Young (St. Louis, Missouri), as well as two-time Paralympic medalist Julia Gaffney (Mayflower, Arkansas), and Paralympic silver medalist Ahalya Lettenberger (Glen Ellyn, Illinois) round out the Paralympic medalists returning to the world championships stage on the women’s side.

Young had a standout meet in Madeira last summer, earning world titles in her 100-meter breaststroke and the 200-meter individual medley races. She also snagged a gold and a bronze at last weekend’s world series en route to a spot on her sixth world championships roster. Lizzi Smith joins her Madeira teammate on the 2023 roster after a stellar performance in the women’s 100-meter butterfly in Minneapolis. Gaffney, who has amassed 12 worlds medals throughout her career, will look to add to that count in her fourth worlds appearance. Meanwhile Lettenberger, who is finishing up her last season as a student-athlete on the Rice University swim team, makes her third world championships team.

Two-time Paralympian and world champion McClain Hermes (Dacula, Georgia) will compete in her third world championships in Manchester. She is joined by high school junior Audrey Kim (Salt Lake City, Utah), an up-and-coming teen making her second worlds roster. Kim had an impressive showing at her worlds debut in Madeira, earning silver as part of the mixed 4x100-meter freestyle relay team.

The six men on Team USA’s roster are led by Paralympic medalists Matthew Torres (Ansonia, Connecticut) and Jamal Hill (Inglewood, California). Each bronze medalists from Tokyo, Torres and Hill made their world championships debuts in Madeira, where they earned two silver medals apiece. They are joined by 2022 worlds silver medalist Morgan Ray (St. Augustine, Florida) who set an American Record in his signature 100-meter breaststroke in Minneapolis last weekend and qualified for his second worlds team.

The other veteran athlete on the men’s side, 2020 Paralympian Lawrence Sapp (Waldorf, Maryland) returns to the pool for his third world championships. Sapp had a strong showing in Minneapolis, picking up two medals, including a win in the 100-meter butterfly.

Five athletes will make their world championships debuts for Team USA, including Minneapolis standouts Olivia Chambers (Little Rock, Arkansas) and Christie Raleigh Crossley (Toms River, New Jersey), both of whom burst onto the national and international Para swimming scene in the past year.

Chambers, a sophomore at the University of Northern Iowa who was named Swimmer of the Meet at the 2022 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships in December, followed that performance with a gold and two bronzes in Minneapolis to secure her spot on the world championships team. Raleigh Crossley, meanwhile, made a statement at the world series meet in Italy with a world record in the women’s 50-meter backstroke S9 before winning the 100-meter backstroke in Minneapolis.

Rounding out a stacked roster for Team USA are three additional athletes making their first appearance at world championships. Paralympic silver medalist David Abrahams (Havertown, Pennsylvania), who recently returned to training due to injury, nabbed two medals in Minneapolis and will compete at his first major international meet since the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. National team member Noah Jaffe  (Carlsbad, California), a biochemistry major at Cal Berkeley, found the podium three times en route to his first major international competition roster for Team USA. Jaffe also was part of the inaugural U.S. Para team to compete at last summer’s Duel in the Pool in Australia alongside Coan, Hill and Lizzi Smith.

Making her first major international appearance for Team USA is national team member Hannah Nelson (Yankton, South Dakota). Nelson qualified for her first Para swimming national team this year and has steadily improved en route to her first worlds roster.

The 11th edition of the event, the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships kick off July 31 in Manchester, England. More than 600 swimmers from approximately 70 nations are expected to compete. Follow U.S. Paralympics Swimming on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates and results from the team.

For media requests and photo inquiries, please contact Kristen Gowdy at Kristen.Gowdy@usopc.org.

 

2023 U.S. Paralympics Swimming World Championships Team

Women

Hannah Aspden

Olivia Chambers

McKenzie Coan

Julia Gaffney

McClain Hermes

Mikaela Jenkins

Audrey Kim

Ahalya Lettenberger

Jessica Long

Elizabeth Marks

Hannah Nelson

Christie Raleigh Crossley

Leanne Smith

Lizzi Smith

Morgan Stickney

Colleen Young

 

Men

David Abrahams

Jamal Hill

Noah Jaffe

Morgan Ray

Lawrence Sapp

Matthew Torres

PALLANUOTO ITALIA A1 femminile Sabato con playoff e playout

 

Sabato 29 aprile torna la serie A1 femminile. Si giocano gara 2 delle semifinali playoff che potrebbero già emettere verdetti definitivi. La SIS Roma, che ha chiuso in testa la regular season, affronta fuori casa la Pallanuoto Trieste sconfitta 12-9 due giorni fa. L'altro match si gioca a Catania, davanti alle telecamere di Waterpolo Channel con telecronaca di Ettore Miraglia e il commento tecnico di Francesco Postiglione, tra L'Ekipe Orizzonte e la Plebiscito Padova, con le etnee vincenti 10-8 in Veneto nel primo round. Playout. In acqua anche RN Florentia e Brizz nuoto per lo spareggio salvezza. Gara 1 in programma alle 15 a Firenze; gara 2 il 6 maggio alle 17.30 a Catania ed eventuale bella il 13 maggio alle 15 di nuovo in Toscana.

Semifinali playoff

Gara 1 - mercoledì 26 aprile

Plebiscito Padova-L'Ekipe Orizzonte 8-10 - trasmessa in diretta su Waterpolo Channel

SIS Roma-Pallanuoto Trieste 12-9

così in gara 1

 

Gara 2 - sabato 29 aprile

16.30 L'Ekipe Orizzonte-Plebiscito Padova - live su Waterpolo Channel

Arbitri: Navarra e Petronilli

18.30 Pallanuoto Trieste-SIS Roma

Arbitri: Guarracino e Zedda

 

Ev. Gara 3 - mercoledì 3 maggio

20.00 SIS Roma-Pallanuoto Trieste

20.00 Plebiscito Padova-L'Ekipe Orizzonte

 

Finali playout

Gara 1 - sabato 29 aprile

15.00 RN Florentia-Brizz Nuoto

Arbitri: Pinato e D. Bianco

 

Gara 2 - mercoledì 3 maggio

17.30 Brizz Nuoto-RN Florentia

 

Ev. Gara 3 - sabato 6 maggio

15.00 RN Florentia-Brizz Nuoto

Coppa Len a Piombino Giovedì 4 maggio la conferenza stampa

 

13 maggio 2022-13 maggio 2023. Esattamente un anno dopo torna la Coppa Len a Piombino per la seconda tappa organizzata dall'Olimpic Nuoto con il supporto fondamentale della Federazione Italia Nuoto. L'evento sarà presentato ufficialmente giovedì 4 maggio con una conferenza stampa, in programma dalle 11.30, presso la Sala Consiliare del Comune di Piombino. Interverranno il vice presidente vicario Andrea Pieri, il sindaco di Piombino Francesco Ferrari e il presidente della Olimpic Nuoto Alfredo Mangione e l’azzurra Giulia Gabbrielleschi

Sarà come sempre spettacolo e competizione d'alto livello nel comune livornese diventato nel corso degli anni uno tra i centri di riferimento delle attività del fondo italiano e della preparazione delle squadre nazionali, per lunghi periodi in allenamento a Poggio all'Agnello. Basti ricordare che Piombino nel 2012 ha ospitato il campionato europeo di specialità durante il quale l'Italia conquistò 4 ori e 2 bronzi coi successi di Martina Grimaldi, Alice Franco e Rachele Bruni, anche in team con Simone Ercoli e Luca Ferretti.

Al via della tappa di Coppa LEN ci saranno olte 100 atleti in rappresentanza di 17 nazioni. Si gareggerà nella suggestiva cornice delle acque sottostanti la terrazza panoramica di piazza Bovio: circuito di 2 km da ripetere cinque volte. Partenza della 10 km maschile alle 9.30; cinque minuti dopo il via alla competizione femminile.

L'evento è stato organizzato rispettando tutti i disciplinari di eco-sostenibilità e sarà certificato da RINA Italia attraverso i suoi ispettori presenti sul campo gara per determinare il rispetto di tutte le prescrizioni.

Nel corso della manifestazione è prevista la premiazione dei medagliati europei della 25 chilometri nuotata nel mare di Ostia ed interrotta dopo 19 chilometri. Mario Sanzullo è campione europeo, Dario Verani d'argento e e Matteo Furlan di bronzo per la tripletta tutta italiana; in ambito femminile confermato il primo posto della francese Caroline Jouisse avanti alle italiane Barbara Pozzobon d'argento e Veronica Santoni di bronzo. Con la decisione assunta dalla LEN il 25 novembre il medagliere record dell'Italia agli europei di Roma è diventato di 72 medaglie (25-26-21); al secondo posto la Gran Bretagna con ventisette medaglie (10-8-9), al terzo posto l'Ucraina con diciassette (10-6-1).

NAZIONI PRESENTI. Italia, Argentina, Brasile, Croazia, Francia, Germania, Hong Kong, Irlanda, Polonia, Repubblica Ceca, Slovacchia, Slovenia, Spagna, Stati Uniti, Turchia, Ucraina e Ungheria.

LA NAZIONALE PER PIOMBINO. Gregorio Paltrinieri (Fiamme Oro/Coopernuoto), Domenico Acerenza, Mario Sanzullo e Andrea Manzi (Fiamme Oro/CC Napoli), Dario Verani (Esercito/Livorno Acquatics), Pasquale Sanzullo (Carabinieri/CC Aniene), Marcello Guidi (Fiamme Oro/RN Cagliari), Ivan Giovannoni (Esercito/Aurelia Nuoto), Davide Marchello (Aurelia Nuoto), Matteo Furlan (Marina Militare/Team Veneto), Giulia Gabbrielleschi (Fiamme Oro/Nuotatori Pistoiesi), Ginevra Taddeucci (Fiamme Oro/CC Napoli), Rachele Bruni (Fiamme Oro/Aurelia Nuoto), Arianna Bridi (Esercito/Trento Nuoto), Barbara Pozzobon (Fiamme Oro/Hydros), Silvia Ciccarella (Carabinieri/CC Aniene), Veronica Santoni (CC Aniene), Andrea Filadelli (Marina Militare/Superba), Giulia Berton (Marina Miliare/Nuoto Venezia), Sofie Callo (Fiamme Oro/Superba). Nello staff, insieme al coordinatore tecnico Stefano Rubaudo, i tecnici Fabrizio Antonelli, Massimiliano Lombardi, Giovanni Pistelli, Andrea Volpini, Pietro Bonanno, Fabio Venturini, Simone Menoni, i fisioterapisti Federica Borghini, Beatrice Vietti; videoriprese di Roberto Baldassarre.

IL CIRCUITO. Sei tappe con apertura ad Eilat, in Israele; dopo Piombino, il calendario prevede il 17 giugno Belgrado, in Serbia, il 19 agosto Samornik in Slovacchia, il 3 settembre Veles, in Macedonia. Conclusione a Barcellona il 23 settembre. Nella prima tappa vittorie di Ginevra Taddeucci e del transalpino Marc Antoine Olivier, che ha preceduto gli azzurri Domenico Acerenza e Marcello Guidi. Nel 2022 dominio azzurro nel circuito e classifica generale vinta da Gregorio Paltrinieri, che ha preceduto Domenico Acerenza, Marcello Guidi e Mario Sanzullo; tra le donne si è imposta Giulia Gabbrielleschi avanti a Ginevra Taddeucci.

I podi azzurri della Coppa Len 2023

1^ tappa Eilat (Israele)

10 km maschile

2. Domenico Acerenza

3. Marcello Guidi

10 km femminile

1. Ginevra Taddeucci

 

I podi azzurri della Coppa Len 2022

1^ tappa Eilat (Israele)

10 km maschile

1. Kristof Rasovszky (Hun)

2. Domenico Acerenza

3. Gregorio Paltrinieri

10 km femminile

1. Ana Marcela Cunha (Bra)

2. Oceane Cassignol (Fra)

3. Ginevra Taddeucci

 

2^ tappa Piombino

10 km maschile

1. Sacha Velly (Fra)

2. Marcello Guidi

3. Gregorio Paltrinieri

10 km femminile

1. Leonie Beck (Ger)

2. Rachele Bruni

3. Giulia Gabbrielleschi

 

3^ tappa Alghero

10 km maschile

1. Gregorio Paltrinieri

2. Domenico Acerenza

3. Marcello Guidi

10 km femminile

1. Mira Szimcsak (Hun)

2. Rachele Bruni

3. Giulia Gabbrielleschi

Svøm Danmark Kunstsvømmere samlet for første gang efter stort udtagelsesevent

 

Af: Klaus Bach Christensen, kommunikationskonsulent

For godt en måned siden afholdt disciplinudvalget for kunstsvømning i SvømDanmark et udtagelsesvent til juniorholdet. Kunstsvømmere fra hele landet deltog, hvoraf 10 kvalificerede sig til juniorholdet, der ledes af trænerteamet bestående af Maiken Svanholm og Cecilie Højmark.

I starten af april var kunstsvømmerne så samlet for første gang i Hobro, og det var en stor succes.

"Det gik over al forventning. Svømmerne klarede de mange timer i vandet rigtig flot, og vi fik mange ting til at lykkes. Temaet er superfedt, og vi (Maiken og jeg) fornemmer, at musikken gør det lidt sjovere at svømme koreografien,” fortæller træner Cecilie Højmark.

Træningssamlingen bød på masser af teambuilding med henblik på at skabe en stærk holdånd og et stærkt fællesskab. Derudover blev en masse løft testet, ligesom kunstsvømmerne prøvede kræfter med en større del af koreografien, der er inspireret af Mexicos fantastiske holdkoreografi fra 2019.

Som afslutning på samlingen fik kunstsvømmerne hver især individuelle noter med hjem. Således ved de og deres daglige trænere, hvad der skal øves frem mod den næste samling for at nå holdets samlede målsætning.

”Vi har stor tro på det hold, vi har udtaget, og vi kan se et stort potentiale i holdet - både på et individuelt plan og som hold. Jeg er sikker på, vi går et spændende år i møde, og jeg glæder mig enormt meget til at bidrage med videreudvikling, nye kompetencer og godt fællesskab,” siger Cecilie Højmark.

Juniorholdet har et mål om at deltage i en international konkurrence i indeværende år og yderligere en konkurrence i 2024. World Aquatics har i denne sæson offentliggjort et nyt pointsystem for kunstsvømning, og juniorholdet har store ambitioner om at komme ud at vise sig frem på den internationale scene og indsamle point.

Kunne du tænke dig at vide mere om kunstsvømning, er der meget mere at hente på Instagram og Facebook.

Danmarks juniorhold består af:

Lisa Børsting, Gladsaxe Svømmeklub

Sigrid Jensen, Hovedstadens Svømmeklub

Natasja Andersen, Hobro Svømmeklub

Veronica Dyhre, Gladsaxe Svømmeklub

Amke-Lina Spillner, Aarhus1900 Svømning

Emma Valstorp, Gladsaxe Svømmeklub

Ane Marie Høgh, Hovedstadens Svømmeklub

Vera Zivanovic, Hobro Svømmeklub

Katrina Johnsen, Gladsaxe Svømmeklub

Amanda Törnqvist, Hovedstadens Svømmeklub

Tus brazadas tienen el poder de cambiar el mundo

 

¡Por fin podemos presentarte el calendario de la temporada 2023 de Brazadas Solidarias!

Entre el 13 de mayo y el 7 de octubre, tenemos preparados 16 travesías y eventos en piscinas en Andalucía, País Vasco y Cataluña en los que volveremos a dar lo mejor de nosotros y de todo el equipo de voluntariado para que disfrutes como nunca de la natación con espíritu solidario.

Vicente Ferrer estaba convencido del poder de la acción por los demás como motor de la humanidad. Nosotros, también. Sabemos que tus brazadas solidarias tienen el poder de cambiar el mundo. Y por eso hemos creado estas imágenes que unen a los nadadores con el mágico y poderoso elefante, nuestro emblema, para ilustrar todos los materiales de la temporada.

Este año, cada una de tus brazadas, todas tus inscripciones en las pruebas del circuito, servirán para apoyar la construcción de un centro educativo para niños y niñas con parálisis cerebral en Dornala (Andhra Pradesh, India) de la mano de la Fundación Vicente Ferrer.

Estamos entusiasmados con poder hacer realidad este proyecto que cambiará la vida de 70 niños y niñas y la de sus familias y comunidades. Te iremos contando todos los detalles en próximos envíos.

Por ahora, te enviamos el calendario y un fuerte abrazo de parte de todo equipo.

https://www.brazadassolidarias.com/

PALLANUOTO ITALIA Playoff femm. e Champions. A Roma e Catania gara-1, Recco ok

 

Mercoledì con i playoff femminili e la Champions league maschile. Nelle gare d'andata delle semifinali passano la Sis Roma e l'Ekipe Orizzonte Catania. Le etnee in diretta su Waterpolo Channel, con il commento di Ettore Miraglia e Francesco Postiglione, sbancano la piscina del Plebiscito Padova battendo le venete per 10-8 in quella che è stata la finale delle ultime quattro di cinque edizioni scudetto con due vittorie per parte. Merito delle rossoblu che con una partenza sprint conducevano già 4-1 e poi 7-3 a fine secondo tempo. Mvp della partita l'azzurra Dafne Bettini non solo per i 5 gol ma per come gestisce le soluzioni in attacco e la maturità acquisita in tutte le fasi di gioco nonostante i soli 20 anni appena compiuti. Per Padova, che ha provato a reagire con le triplette dell'ex Barzon e dell'ungherese Valyi, tanti in errori con l'extraplayer (3/10) soprattutto nei momenti cruciali dove anche il portiere Condorelli è stata decisiva parando un rigore alla due biancorossa. Quest'anno le catanesi hanno già vinto contro le venete la Coppa Italia per 9-7 ad Ostia.

Nell'altra semifinale la Sis Roma batte 12-7 Pallanuoto Trieste, nonostante un inizio stentato. Dopo il 2-1 in partenza con l'ottima Santapaola (tripletta) per le ospiti, Roma sgassa nel secondo periodo con il break di 5-0 aperto da Di Claudio e chiuso da Giustini (tris). Con il solco tracciato Roma mantiene le distanze e le porta fino alla fine. Due rigori parati dalla ex portiere Sparano a Ranalli e Picozzi. Rotto il ghiaccio per le giallorosse che fanno l'esordio stagionale nei playoff dopo un cammino straordinario nella stagione regolare: 17 vittorie e una sconfitta, maturata all’ultima giornata in casa dell’Orizzonte, la miglior difesa (105 gol subiti) e soprattutto il miglior attacco, capace di segnare ben 305 reti con una media di 16,9 gol a partita. Non a caso i primi tre posti della classifica cannonieri sono occupati da altrettante giocatrici capitoline: Chiara Tabani (47 gol), Sofia Giustini (46) e dalla mancina australiana Abby Andrews (44), come la connazionale dell’Ekipe Orizzonte Alice Williams

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. Il Brescia non sbaglia a Sabadell, il Novi Beograd frena nuovamente a Dubrovnik e così i lombardi vedono ancora più vicino il traguardo della vittoria del girone B di Champions League. Il 14-10 ottenuto dalla squadra di Bovo in Catalogna vale il +5 in classifica sui serbi, il che vuol dire che basterà un punto nelle prossime due partite contro Ferencvaros (a Budapest) o Jug (a Mompiano) per centrare l’obiettivo e assicurarsi un avversario più morbido nei quarti di finale della Final Eight di Belgrado, a cui il gruppo guidato dal capitano Christian Presciutti, che ha annunciato il ritiro a fne stagione, è qualificato ormai da tempo.

Nell’ultima trasferta di stagione regolare vince la Pro Recco che continua la corsa verso la conquista del secondo posto dietro lo Zodiac. Nell’incontro valevole per la dodicesima giornata del girone B del preliminary round di Champions League i campioni d'Europa, secondi in classifica con 30 punti, doppiano in trasferta il VK Radnicki per 16-8, con triplette al centro dell'australiano Younger e il croato Loncar. I detentori del titolo, già qualificati per la Final Eight, chiuderanno poi il loro percorso nella prima fase del torneo affrontando in casa lo Jadran Spalato e l’Olympiacos. Differita su Sky Sport Arena alle 22:30.

vai al sito ufficiale https://championsleague.len.eu/

foto Deepbluemedia.eu

Australian Women Set to Show Off Freestyle Talent and Depth Again in 2023

 

by DAVID RIEDER - SENIOR WRITER SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE

Australian Women Set to Show Off Freestyle Talent and Depth Again in 2023

Last week’s Australian Championships were hardly more than a tune-up, a glorified exhibition. Sure, national titles are plenty meaningful, but without selection for any major meets on the line, most of the country’s top performers had little need to disrupt their training, especially with the country’s World Championships selection trials just two months later and the World Championships in Fukuoka just one month after that.

But even without needing to swim their best, the Aussie women issued stern reminders of their abilities in the freestyle events: depth and speed currently unmatched among the rest of the world, and that’s why they will undoubtedly be favored once again to win world titles in the 400 and 800 free relays in July.

This Australian women’s 400 free relay group has one loss in a decade — and it was a narrow defeat at the 2017 World Championships, with the group finishing 0.29 behind the victorious Americans. Before that, the Aussies had finished a mere 0.12 behind the U.S. in 2013 at Worlds. Otherwise, going back to 2012, Australia has won three Olympic gold medals, three world titles, three Commonwealth Games gold medals and two Pan Pacific Championships triumphs. Of those 11 wins, Cate Campbell has been part of nine (all except last year’s world title and Commonwealth Games win), followed by Emma McKeon’s eight golden relays and Bronte Campbell’s seven.

Last year, reigning 100 free Olympic champion McKeon skipped the World Championships, and Australia still defeated runnerup Canada by 1.20 seconds in this relay. That team was led by two swimmers who were not part of the finals quartet from the Olympics one year earlier: Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack, with Meg Harris and Madison Wilson joining them. In the early going of 2023, O’Callaghan (52.63) and Jack (52.64) have the two quickest times in the world in the 100 free with their times from the Australian Championships, with McKeon (53.22), Harris (53.46), Wilson (53.78) and Cate Campbell (53.78) not far behind.

Add up those top four times, and the resulting composite relay is 3:31.95, two tenths quicker than Canada’s silver-medal time from Budapest last year. And yes, that’s without any of the swimmers performing close to their best and without relay exchanges. Beating the Aussies in this event is a pipe dream.

The situation has been far different in the 800 free relay, where Australia has entered the 2021 Olympics and 2022 World Championships as favorites but failed to win gold on either occasion. But at the Commonwealth Games last year, the team of Wilson, Kiah Melverton, O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus crushed the world record, their time of 7:39.29 beating the Americans’ world-title-winning mark by over two seconds.

Once again, the first top swims of 2023 only augment Australia’s favorite status. At last week’s championships, O’Callaghan edged out Titmus, the Olympic champion and second-fastest performer ever, with a blistering finishing split. O’Callaghan touched in 1:55.15, and Titmus took second in 1:55.28. Third and fourth, however, were swimmers hardly known for their 200 free speed.

Jack swam a time of 1:55.37, clobbering her previous best of 1:57.29. Same story for Kaylee McKeown, the double Olympic backstroke gold medalist, who dropped from 1:58.21 to 1:56.88.

Combine those times with the best marks of Titmus (1:53.09), O’Callaghan (1:54.01), Wilson (1:55.86) and Melverton (1:55.94), and you get the idea of the sort of special swim Australia could be capable of this year. Make no mistake: the Americans will have a chance at another upset with Katie Ledecky likely to be joined by an improving teenage group (Bella Sims, Erin Gemmell, Claire Weinstein and Katie Grimes are among the possibilities), and you can’t count out a Canadian team led by Summer McIntosh. But the talent level dictates that this is an Australian race to lose.

It’s early in the long course season with plenty of major developments to come, but the Australian women have opened the year in the same position as they finished 2022: freestyle favorites.

Torri Huske Signs NIL Agreement with WME Sports, Will Remain at Stanford

 

by DAN D'ADDONA — SWIMMING WORLD MANAGING EDITOR

Torri Huske has signed with WME Sports for NIL representation, but will remain an amateur swimmer at Stanford University.

Huske is an Olympic medalist and one of the top U.S. swimmers in a plethora of events.

She is the current World Champion in the long-course meters (LCM) 100M butterfly. In addition, Huske is the current American record holder in both the 100-meter butterfly and the LC 50M butterfly. At the 2022 Fina World Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, she became one of only four American women in history to win six medals (three gold and three bronze) at a World Championships.

At 18, Torri Huske competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay, swimming the butterfly leg of the relay in the final. She also  placed fourth in the 100-meter butterfly, and fifth in the 4×100-meter mixed medley relay where she also swam butterfly on the finals relay.

At the 2019 World Junior championships, Torri Huske won five gold medals and one silver medal. She won two gold medals and one silver medal in relay events at the 2021 World Short Course Championships.

In March, she swam to a couple of runner-up finishes at the NCAA Championships for Stanford. Her performance was deceiving because she broke multiple NCAA records, but so did someone else.

“The No. 1 thing I have to remember is perspective. I have to compare myself to myself. I am dropping time and that is what is most important in knowing my training is paying off,” Huske said. “I am happy that I am still improving.”

Read more about WME Sports here. https://www.wmeagency.com/

ASCA award recognizes coaches who exemplify extraordinary commitment to their swimmers and programs

 

by KYLE MILLS

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – The American Swimming Coaches Association is now accepting nominations for the 2023 ASCA Impact Coach of the Year Award. This award recognizes coaches who have committed extraordinary time and energy to positively impact the lives of others through their dedication, hard work, and service.

Finalists for the ASCA Impact Coach of the Year Award will be honored at the Awards Celebration at the 2023 ASCA World Clinic on September 7, 2023, at the Dallas Sheraton.   The winner of the award will be revealed that night.

“This award recognizes and celebrates coaches who are doing tremendous work behind the scenes and out of the headlines. They are doing so much on a daily basis for so many. We want to recognize those exceptional individuals and share their stories. They are the heart and soul of this sport,” said ASCA Board President Mike Murray, head coach at Victor Swim Club.

A written nomination must include a narrative that highlights the specific reasons for the nomination and up to three supporting letters of recommendation. Nominees must be nominated by an ASCA member.

The nomination period for the 2023 ASCA Impact Coach of the Year Award will be open until May 17, 2023.

Click here https://form.jotform.com/231013658494154

for more information on the ASCA Impact Coach of the Year Award and to access the nomination form, or go to www.swimmingcoach.org.

Paris 2024 unveils its Triathlon and Para triathlon courses through the heart of Paris

 

In line with its goal of showcasing sports and athletes in the capital’s most beautiful settings, Paris 2024 has today revealed the courses for the Olympic Games triathlon and the Paralympic Games Para triathlon. They will start and finish at the Pont Alexandre III. These demanding courses are characterised by their technical challenges, ensuring an amazing experience for the athletes, the crowd and television viewers alike.

Paris 2024 has today unveiled the courses for the Olympic Games triathlon events (individual men’s and women’s events and mixed relay) and the course for the Para triathlon events of the Paralympic Games (categories PTS2 to PTS5, PTVI and PTWC).

Developed in collaboration with World Triathlon and the relevant public authorities, these three distinct courses are particularly demanding for athletes and will highlight some of the most beautiful monuments in Paris. The starting point will be a floating pontoon positioned at the base of Pont Alexandre III bridge (on which a 1,000-seats spectator stand will be built), giving spectators the chance to see the start and finish of the triathlon and Para triathlon events, as well as the transition zone (between disciplines), ensuring a truly thrilling show.

An iconic venue of Paris 2024, Pont Alexandre III links Les Invalides and Le Grand Palais and will be a hub for the magic and excitement of the Games. The bridge is located right next to other competition venues such as Place de la Concorde and the Esplanade des Invalides and is close to the Champ-de-Mars Arena and the Eiffel Tower Stadium. It will also serve as host to the Marathon Swimming events and the finish of the Olympic Road cycling events (men’s and women’s time trials).

During the triathlon and Para triathlon events, some of the most beautiful monuments and symbolic landmarks in Paris will be put in the spotlight. After their swim in the Seine, the athletes will take in Le Grand Palais, Le Petit Palais, l’Assemblée nationale, Le Musée d’Orsay, Avenue des Champs-Elysées (with the Arc de Triomphe in their sights), Avenue Montaigne, Quai d’Orsay and Quai Anatole France as well as Boulevard Saint-Germain on the biking and running phases.

As with all the road events at Paris 2024, these will be a chance for spectators to support and cheer the athletes along the course and to celebrate the Games in a festive, sociable atmosphere in the heart of Paris with access along the routes free of charge.

 

Scenic urban routes to showcase the athletes and their performances

Paris 2024 has chosen to create demanding, technical courses on a sporting level, while ensuring the athletes’ safety. Scenic and urban, lively and energetic, these courses will provide the ideal setting for a thrilling and dramatic competition. They have also been designed to have the least impact possible in terms of their suitability (street furniture, resurfacing, etc.) and to meet World Triathlon’s specifications, particularly in terms of the width of the lanes, incline and distance, avoiding unnecessary turns and corners for handcycles and wheelchairs, and the kind of road surface (particularly regarding cobbles).

These three courses will be tested during the test events organised by Paris 2024 from 17th to 20th of August 2023, in international triathlon and Para-triathlon competitions. The test events will include installing and dismantling the floating starting pontoon and other complex structures, testing the biking and running courses for the triathlon and Para triathlon events and the management of traffic and influxes in and around the venues.

Details of the Olympic triathlon courses

The individual triathlon events of the Olympic Games will take place on 30th and 31st of July 2024, starting at 8am.

On 30th and 31st of July 2024, the 55 male and 55 female triathletes who have qualified for the Olympic Games will compete to determine the successors to Kristian BLUMMENFELT (NOR) and Flora DUFFY (BER).

The start will take place from a floating pontoon at the base of Pont Alexander III. After a 1.5km swim in the Seine the triathletes will arrive in the transition zone (swim to bike) on Pont Alexandre III after climbing 32 steps, a first in the history of the Olympic Games.

They will then mount their bikes for a 40km bike race (seven loops of 5.715km). They will head along Avenue Winston Churchill, passing in front of Le Grand Palais and Le Petit Palais before reaching two of the most beautiful avenues in the world, the Champs-Elysées and Avenue Montaigne, crossing the Seine over Pont des Invalides and onto Quai d’Orsay. Onwards onto Boulevard Saint-Germain before returning to the banks of the Seine via Rue du Bac and Quai Anatole France and Quai d’Orsay.

At the end of the seven bike laps, the triathletes will reach the transition zone (again on Pont Alexandre III) for the third and last phase of the event, the run. On the programme, 10km (4 laps of 2.5km) through the heart of Paris with the finish line on Pont Alexandre III in front of 1,000 spectators, for what is sure to be one of the highlights of the Olympic fortnight.

 

 

Mixed Relay

One week later, the Olympic Games triathlon mixed relay event will take place at 8am. On 5th August 2024, around 18 teams of four triathletes (two women and two men per nation) will compete in the mixed relay event to try and emulate Great Britain, the champions at Tokyo 2020.

This time, as approved by World Triathlon for all the events in this Olympic cycle, the female athletes will be closing the race with a relay order as follows: male athlete; female athlete; male athlete; female athlete.

Each athlete will complete a 300m swimming loop in the Seine between Pont Alexandre III and Pont des Invalides, 5.8km of biking (two laps of 2.9km) via Pont Alexandre III, the Champs-Elysées and Avenue Montaigne, Rue François 1er, Place du Canada, Pont des Invalides and Quai d’Orsay. To finish, the athletes will complete their race with a 1.8km run (two 900m laps) between Pont Alexandre III and Pont des Invalides, with some of the most beautiful monuments in Paris as a backdrop.

 

 

Para triathlon course

The Paralympic Games events will benefit from the same incredible setting on 1st and 2nd of September 2024! Since this project began, Paris 2024 has demonstrated the same level of ambition for both the Olympic and the Paralympic Games, with the same iconic competition venues for both Games.

This will also be the case for the Para triathlon events, which will (with a few exceptions) use the same course, providing Para triathletes with a fitting setting at the heart of Paris for their exciting performances. For the third edition of the Para Triathlon at the Paralympic Games, Paris 2024 will provide courses with undulating terrain that is sure to build the crowd’s suspense right up to the finish line. Technical and demanding courses that could give Alexis Hanquinquant (FRA) a chance to win his second consecutive Paralympic title.

The 120 Para triathletes competing in the six categories will set off on 1st and 2nd of September 2024, battling it out for the 11 Paralympic titles at stake.

Athletes in the PTS2 to PTS5 categories (physical or neurological disability using regular or time trial bikes) will be the first to compete on 1st of September, followed by athletes in the PTWC (lower limb disability or spinal cord injury requiring the use of a handcycle for the biking part and a sports wheelchair) and PTVI (visual disability) categories on 2nd of September.

They will set off from the floating pontoon at the base of Pont Alexandre III for a 750m swimming loop to Pont des Invalides before returning to the Ports des Invalides and the first transition zone (swim/bike). Then the athletes will take on a first distance of 1,500m bike course, accessing Quai d’Orsay via a ramp just upstream from Pont de l’Alma before returning to Pont Alexandre III and doing five loops of 3.7km to complete the 20km bike course. This loop will go along Avenue Winston Churchill, passing in front of Le Grand Palais and Le Petit Palais, Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Avenue Montaigne and Rue François 1er before crossing the over the Seine at the Pont des Invalides. They will then reach the second transition zone (bike/run) on Pont Alexandre III, and head back to Port du Gros Caillou before returning via Quai d’Orsay.

As the setting for what promises to be a breath-taking climax, the course will take Le Cours de la Reine, Pont de la Concorde and Quai d’Orsay, before making two loops and a 180 degree turn on the Boulevard Saint-Germain for a dramatic finish on Pont Alexandre III, completing a 5km race. We already cannot wait!

Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024: “At Paris 2024, we wanted to put the spotlight on triathlon, due to its popularity as both an Olympic sport since its first appearance at the Games in 2000 and in wider society, where it is gaining more and more fans. Particular care has been taken to create the triathlon and Para triathlon courses, which will be equally spectacular, in the heart of the city and next to some of the most beautiful Parisian monuments. With the swimming event in the Seine, the Paris 2024 edition of the triathlon and Para triathlon will ultimately contribute to leaving a legacy for the region and the people of Paris, with the swimmability of the Seine and the Marne representing a major goal ever since the bidding phase. Once again, we’re going to be in for a treat, and we can’t wait to see the athletes in this magnificent playground!

Marisol Casado, President of World Triathlon:  “The course of the triathlon and Para triathlon events in Paris is just everything that we have been dreaming of for years for the family of triathlon. The heartbeat of the city will echo in the rhythm of the race, as athletes will swim, bike and run right in the heart of the City of Lights. I can only imagine how wonderful it will be to see the best triathletes and para triathletes of the world sprint through the bustling streets, weaving past such historic landmarks and cheered on by a roaring crowd. To crown the Olympic and Paralympic champions in one of the most beautiful landscapes of the world will be just amazing. I am sure that the triathlon and Para triathlon races in Paris 2024 will leave an indelible mark on both the athletes and the city itself”

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games: “Triathlon has pulled out all the stops! For five days, the triathlon and Para-triathlon events will take place in one of the most beautiful and prestigious stages in the world next year. Around the Seine and its banks, from Avenue des Champs-Elysées to Le Grand and Petit Palais, from Les Invalides and Pont Alexandre III to Le Musée d’Orsay, the world’s best triathletes and Para-triathletes will enthral the countless spectators on hand to encourage them, as well as the millions of television viewers, for what will undoubtedly be one of the most unforgettable memories from the Games.”

Pierre Rabadan, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of sport, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Seine, said: “The Triathlon and Para Triathlon competitions could not have asked for a better stage during the Paris 2024 Games: the heart of Paris, and in particular the Seine, which will host the swimming events. The routes of these Olympic and Paralympic events will cross the most prestigious and iconic boulevards, districts and riverbanks of the French capital, which are part of the unique heritage of Parisians. Athletes, spectators and viewers will experience a historic and festive moment of sport during these events! Thanks to intensive collective work to reclaim the river, driven by the Mayor of Paris, these exceptional routes are now a concrete and essential reality. The Seine will be at the heart of the Paris 2024 project, for these Games of a new era which, in the long term, will allow the opening of bathing sites to the general public from the summer of 2025.”

Léonie Périault, three-time world champion and bronze medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the mixed relay: “It’s going to be a special moment of the Olympic Games. Having the chance to perform at home, in a postcard setting, is really exciting! We can’t wait to get there. We will rely heavily on the French public and supporters to create a crazy atmosphere all along the course and to help us go for medals. The course will be technical, and challenging, with its own specificities and we can’t wait to discover during the test event this summer.”

Alexis Hanquinquant, five-time world champion and Paralympic champion at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: “Being able to defend my Paralympic title at home, in France, is going to be magical and it’s an opportunity that should be seized! The Paralympic Games are a moment that we all look forward to as athletes, but even more so when we have the chance to compete at home, in front of our public, at the very first Paralympic Summer Games organised in France. The course promises to be very spectacular - even if as an athlete we will be more focused on competition than on the beauty of the sites! – urban and will make for some great images with incredible sites and monuments.”

Léo Bergère, European and World champion in men’s elite race and mixed relay in 2022: “We are already looking ahead! The revealing of the routes is always an important moment in the preparation of a competition, it is the moment when it becomes more concrete when we feel that it is getting closer. We visualise the route, the transitions, the key moments, and the strategic places, which could allow us to make a difference on the course. The Olympic Games on home soil is a once-in-a-lifetime event for an athlete. We look forward to it. And even more to have the chance to have our competitions in this dream setting”

 

ABOUT WORLD TRIATHLON

World Triathlon is the international governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of triathlon and all related multisport disciplines around the world, including duathlon, aquathlon, cross triathlon and winter triathlon. Triathlon made its Olympic debut in Sydney 2000, with a third medal event, the Mixed Team Relay, added to the programme at Tokyo 2020, while para triathlon was first added to the Paralympic programme at Rio 2016. World Triathlon is proudly committed to the development of the sport worldwide, with inclusion, equality, sustainability and transparency at our core as we seek to help triathletes at all levels of the sport to be extraordinary. 

www.triathlon.org

PHOTO Laura Lindemann of Germany in action REUTERS/Thomas Peter