Paris to Host Open Water Championships After 2024 Olympics
Two years after the Paris Olympics, the Seine will again serve as the racecourse for the 2026 European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Championships. From August 4 to 8, 2026, swimmers will battle it out on a course between Pont de Grenelle and Pont de Bir-Hakeim. The race will be the first opportunity to award medals before the pool competitions start later in August.
The men’s 10km race will feature a stacked field. Florian Wellbrock, Kristof Rasovszky, and Gregorio Paltrinieri form a core group that has defined the sport’s top level in recent years. Wellbrock, the 2025 World Champion in both 10km and 5km, is expected to be a dominant force. Paltrinieri, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, returns to the same river where he made history two years ago.
Paltrinieri has entered the men’s 5km as the defending European champion. In 2025, he beat Hungary’s David Betlehem and Kristof Rasovszky to claim the title in Stari Grad. That win ended Hungary's dominance in the other individual men’s events at that year's championships. Paltrinieri, who competes in the 5km, 10km, and knockout sprint, will test his endurance and strategy against some of the sport’s top names.
Hungary’s Rasovszky, the reigning Olympic champion, will be a key opponent for Paltrinieri. He claimed 10km gold and knockout sprint bronze at the 2025 European Championships. Alongside him, Hungary has another strong presence in Betlehem, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist and 2025 European knockout sprint silver medalist.
As in the 2024 Olympics, water quality will remain a focus for the 2026 event. August 6 is listed as a contingency day in case conditions make the race unsafe. Organizers are keeping a close eye on weather and river conditions to ensure the safety of swimmers in an event where exposure to the environment is a real risk.
France will enter Fontaine and Olivier, both top finishers in the men’s 10km at the 2025 European Championships. Germany’s Oliver Klemet, who won Olympic silver behind Rasovszky, also returns. Great Britain has Hector Pardoe, a two-time 10km World Championship medalist. Neutral athletes Ivanov and Stepanov are also entered across distances.
The men’s 10km will take place on August 4 at 10:00 a.m. local time. The women’s race follows in the afternoon at 2:30 p.m. local. The schedule will continue with the 5km on August 5, and the knockout sprint and relay on August 7 and 8.
Wellbrock, Rasovszky, and Paltrinieri Dominate Men’s 10km
Three of the sport’s top open water competitors will return to the Seine to face off in the men’s 10km race. These athletes have consistently been at the forefront of major international competitions in recent years. Paltrinieri comes into the men’s 5km with the title of European champion, a title he secured in Stari Grad in 2025.
Paltrinieri, who will take part in the 5km, 10km, and the knockout sprint, is expected to face strong competition from other elite athletes. Wellbrock and Rasovszky are among the standout names in the event, ensuring the competition is among the most intense of the championships.
Hungary’s Rasovszky, the reigning Olympic champion, will be a key opponent for Paltrinieri. He claimed 10km gold and knockout sprint bronze at the 2025 European Championships. Alongside him, Hungary has another strong presence in Betlehem, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist and 2025 European knockout sprint silver medalist.
The men’s 5km will take place on August 5, with the knockout sprint on August 7 and the mixed relay on August 8. The schedule allows for multiple events over the five-day competition, showcasing the best of open water swimming.
The 2026 European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Championships will not only serve as a major event for athletes and fans but also as a test for organizers in managing the challenges posed by the Seine’s water quality and weather conditions. With a contingency day built into the schedule, organizers have prepared for any potential disruptions to the racing.
As the event approaches, the world will watch to see how the top athletes perform on the Seine, especially with the intense rivalries that have developed between Wellbrock, Rasovszky, and Paltrinieri. Their competition promises to be one of the most exciting aspects of the 2026 championships.