Paltrinieri Surprises LEN With Open Water Swimming Cup Leg #5 Victory

LEN OPEN WATER SWIMMING CUP – LEG #5

• Saturday, October 9th
• Alghero, Italy
• Mixed 10k
• Results

Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri did it again, winning his 2nd consecutive LEN Open Water Swimming Cup leg by wrapping up the victory here in Alghero.

Ironically, the LEN posted pre-race that G-Palt was not going to be among the elite field, although the Italian had other plans, posting on social media, ‘Tomorrow’.

After taking the men’s 10k last week in Piombino, the 27-year-old led a one-two Italian punch this time in leg 5, with teammate Domenico Acerenza touching the time pad just one second later. French ace Marc-Antoine Olivier was the bronze medalist in this race.

As for the women, Germany was also a 1-2 force with which to be reckoned, as Leonie Beck and Jeanette Spiwoks got it done for gold and silver. Bronze went to Giulia Gabrielleschi of the host nation.

Of note, Dutch Olympic medalist Sharon van Rouwendaal was entered but did not swim this race.

As such, this is how the 2021 LEN Open Water Series panned out in terms fo winners per leg:

LEN Open Water Cup, Season 2021

• Leg 1: 14 August – Ohrid (MKD) Winners: Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA) & Martina de Memme (ITA)

• Leg 2: 19 September – Rijeka (CRO) – Cancelled

• Leg 3: 25 September – Barcelona (ESP) Winners: Florian Wellbrock (GER) & Jeanette Spiwoks (GER)

• Leg 4: 3 October – Piombino (ITA) Winners: Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) & Giulia Gabbrielleschi (ITA)

• Leg 5: 9 October – Alghero (ITA) Winners: Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) & Leonie Beck (GER)