Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. Gregorio Paltrinieri Withdraws From 1500 Freestyle, Will Not Defend World Title At the last World Championships, Gregorio Paltrinieri narrowly snuck into the 1500 freestyle final as the seventh qualifier, but he proceeded to turn on the jets and explode to win the gold medal, his third career first-place finish at Worlds in the event. Paltrinieri built up a sufficient lead to escape the closing speed of American Olympic champion Bobby Finke, and he challenged the world record throughout, with the Italian eventually recording the second-fastest time ever at 14:32.80. However, there will not be a follow-up performance in 2023 as Paltrinieri has announced his withdrawal from the 1500 free. According to numerous sources including Eurosport and Gazzetta, the 28-year-old is returning home to Italy after a disappointing eighth-place finish in Wednesday’s 800 free final. Previously, Paltrinieri won a pair of open water medals in Fukuoka, silver in the 5K and gold in the 6K team event after placing fourth in the 10K, but he has been unable to replicate his usual results in the pool. When he explained his decision to finish the meet early, Paltrinieri blamed physical fitness and not his mental preparation as the reasoning for his struggles. “I’ve missed six weeks of training. I haven’t had continuity of work,” Paltrinieri said, according to Eurosport. “The sea (open water swimming) allows you to overcome some adversity and physical problems. The swimming pool does not.” Paltrinieri suggested he will target the World Championships scheduled for February 2024 in Doha as his next check-in leading into the Paris Olympics. Paltrinieri has captured one Olympic medal of each color in his career, 1500 free gold in 2016 followed by 800 free silver and 10K bronze in 2021. Read more from Eurosport here and from Gazzetta here.
