Giulia Gabbrielleschi gives applause to the European Open Water Swimming Championships, currently taking place in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Wearing the colors of Italfondo, the Pistoia champion, a member of Nuotatori Pistoiesi and Fiamme Oro Napoli, won the bronze medal in the 10 kilometers. After a race always conducted in the leading positions, Gabbrielleschi, third in Golfo Aranci 2023 and seventh in Rome 2022, finished in third place in 2 hours 00’585, behind the German Leonie Beck, stationed at the Centro Federale Polo Acquatico Frecciarossa of Ostia, third in Golfo Aranci and first in Soma Bay (2h00’54“8), and Barbara Pozzobon, third in the LEN Cup in Piombino 2023 and vice champion of Europe in the 25 kilometers in Rome 2022 (2h00’54“9) . The other Italian, Veronica Santoni, finished sixteenth in 2h01’58“8. Tactical race, with slower pace than the World Championships, where with the Australians and Americans making the selection the pace rises. The perceived temperature in the water was 27 degrees.
“I was trying to save as much energy as possible – Giulia says at the finish line –. I arrived at the appointment not in very good shape, considering that I spent three weeks training at altitude to finalize the 60th Settecolli Trophy, where I will try to get the time limit for Paris. Actually, I felt quite good. Congratulations to Barbara Pozzobon, who escaped: I didn’t see her, however, that Leonie Beck would pass: she always has a very strong finish.”
His coach, Massimiliano Lombardi, was also called up to the Azzurri technical staff on this occasion. “Giulia had a strong race, from start to finish. They took turns at the front, but she always remained in the first two positions. In the final, the world champion Leonie Back emerged, dragging her teammate Barbara to second place Pozzobon. But in the top positions, for the entire race, there was only Giulia”.
Now Gabbrielleschi should face the 5km today at 12 (he will decide at the last moment whether to go into the water) and compete in the Team Event on Saturday 15 June, from 9, together with his teammates Ginevra Taddeucci, Andrea Filadelli and Marcello Giudi. Then there will be the eagerly awaited 1500m freestyle at the Sette Colli Trophy on Friday 21 June.
Gianluca Barni
