Gregorio Paltrinieri To Miss 10k In Doha; Acerenza & Verani Seek Olympic Spots
Gregorio Paltrinieri will not compete in the 10km at the World Championships in Doha with Dario Verani and Domenico Acerenza attempting to claim two quota places for Italy at Paris 2024.
Florian Wellbrock, Kristof Rasovszky and Oliver Klemet among the men and Leonie Beck, Chelsea Gubecka and Katie Grimes in the women, have already secured Olympic qualification thanks to finishing in the top three in their respective races at last year’s Fukuoka worlds.
However, the remaining places will be decided at Doha Old Port with at least the top 13 swimmers in each of the marathon races securing a slot to join the Fukuoka medallists as well as an additional representative from each of the five continents, with host country France guaranteed at least one spot for a maximum of 22 in each race.
Gregorio Paltrinieri: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
There are a maximum of two quota places per federation for each race with athletes who have qualified for the 800 or 1500 freestyle at the Games also able to fill a quota spot.
Paltrinieri booked his Paris ticket at the Italian Open in November with the Italian Federation opting to instead rely on Acerenza and 25k specialist Verani to book two spots for the open water in the River Seine in August.
Should they be successful, Paltrinieri would take up one of the places in Paris.
They pointed to the demands of Paltrinieri’s programme were he to compete in the 10k – with the men’s race going on Sunday 4 February – given the 1500 is two weeks later on 18 February, the final day of the Doha pool competition.
Neither was it felt that the water temperature, which is around 19/20 degrees, was best suited to the Italian.
The three-time Olympic medallist will instead continue his preparation at altitude in Livigno before arriving for the 5k race on 7 February where he’ll race alongside Acerenza.
Acerenza was fourth in Fukuoka, a year after finishing second at Budapest 2022 before winning the European title weeks later.
Verani won the 25k title in Budapest, adding silver at Rome 2022.
The federation said:
“The (2022) European champion and (2022) vice world champion of the 25 kilometers Dario Verani knows that he will swim to aspire to the greatest result in the world championship and to win the Olympic ticket which will then be given to one of his training and national team partners.
“Barring unforeseen circumstances, the hope is that the Azzurri representing Italfondo at the Olympics will be Paltrinieri and Acerenza.”
Ginevra Taddeucci – sixth in Fukuoka – and Arianna Bridi will compete in the women’s 10k with Barbara Pozzobon and Giulia Gabbrielleschi going in the 5k.