2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 23 to 30, 2023
- Fukuoka, Japan
- Marine Messe Fukuoka
- LCM (50m)
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Gregorio Paltrinieri has scratched the men’s 1500m freestyle at the 2023 World Championships, taking place in Fukuoka, Japan. His decision was made in agreement with the national team staff. The decision comes on the heels of an 8th-place finish for Paltrinieri in the 800 freestyle where he posted a time of 7:53.68.
After the 800-free final, the captain of the national swimming team flew from Japan back to Italy. As the reigning 1500 freestyle world champion, Paltrinieri will be a notable absence from the field. Paltrinieri has already collected two medals at this meet in the open water field, taking gold in the team open water event and silver in the 5k. He also swam the 10k race and finished in 5th place overall.
Towards the beginning of these World Championships, Paltrinieri said that he had missed many weeks of training during the season due to physical problems and that he had tried to get back in shape in view of the World Championships. Yesterday, after 800m freestyle final, he said the following:
“The others were strong. It was a struggle from the first 50, I jumped in already tired. Too bad, I knew about the problems but I didn’t think I’d pay so much for yesterday’s effort”… “but strength is needed in the pool. The 1500? I don’t know”
Paltrinieri has returned to Italy and will work on recovery as he gears up for the Paris 2024 Olympics, which begin almost exactly one year from today.
Without Paltrinieri, the men’s distance field is still quite loaded. The top seed heading into prelims will be Florian Wellbrock (14:34.89) who won the 5k and 10k open water races before narrowly missing the final of the men’s 800 freestyle (9th, 7:45.87). Rising star Daniel Wiffen is #2 in the 1500 with 14:34.91 and Mykhailo Romanchuk is third with a 14:36.10. Other top entrants include champ Bobby Finke (14:36.70) and Lukas Martens (14:40.28).
What an ace that man is.
Get some summer Greg.
What a brutal schedule he’s swam. I wish him the best.
It doesn’t make much sense. He had good enough physical conditioning to compete in the 5k and 10k open water events and place fairly well but didn’t have it for the 1500 in the pool?
You normally don’t see people racing a 5K in the week after running a marathon.
He had enough to do one of this races not one after the other.
This isn’t like Paltrinieri.
I vividly remember watching Paltrinieri in the heats of the 800 at Tokyo. He was recovering from mono. He looked like he had absolutely nothing in the prelims, and barely qualified for the finals. In fact, I half expected him to scratch. In the finals, he put up one of the gutsiest performances I’ve ever seen. It was as if he said to his competitors, “I don’t have much, but I’m bringing everything, and you’re just going to have to catch me.” He won the silver. Later in the competition, he somehow managed to win the bronze in the 10K….in 84 degree water.
Running the open water competition prior to the pool events got… Read more »
I listened to his interview, he wasn’t sick, no mental problem, just his fitness. He said that podium was not in his reach, so he basically said that without going to the podium swimming the race was not worth it. To me this is a very soft attitude. And btw he is (was) captain of Italy. Great example yeah. You know what’s even scarier ? So many people today think this is normal and acceptable ( based on the thumbsdowns I received).
It’s not the 50; it’s the 1500. Swimming that race not fit hurts. I totally get his move.
Lol soft?. You couldn’t even complete the man’s warm up.
Agree 100%. Even if your form is clearly off, you still have to give 100%.
Did Popovici skip the 100 free because he was off ? The problem ( his words )
was not even mental, just his fitness.
Let’s be honest, he didn’t want to arrive last embarassing himself knowing that he was not on form and he quitted, that’s what happened.
But what’s more scarying is the fact that so many people consider this as normal. Today’s society is really getting softer, and it’s scarying.
Todays society getting softer while we are swimming some of the best times ever recorded. Ok boss 🥞
Todays society getting softer because skipping a race when you feel podium is out of reach is considered normal behaviour.
His body his choice.
really bummed to hear he’s out, hope to see him back at his best next year.
I assume they are going to shuffle around the heat seeding. First seeded heat will have Wiffen, Finke, Hafnaoui. Second seeded heat Wellbrock, Romanchuk, Martens, Short, Costa. Big advantage to the second heat knowing what time they need to do, but it’s also the more stacked heat
Wrong. Wellbrock is in the second seeded hat, Finke and Wiffen in the third. So advantage for BF and DW.
Wellbrock is the top seed with Paltrinieri pulling out, so he’ll be in the last seeded heat. Unless they don’t reseed and leave lane 4 empty in the last heat.
Only the fastest two heats are circle-seeded in the 1500.
If you need a break from the sport just like Peaty or Milak no problem, fine.
But once you are in a competition, you have to finish it (with the sole exception of when your life is at stake like Gymnastics or Motorsport for example).
Recently there is this trend where people confuse mental awareness with quitting,
to the point where quitting is even justified and accepted, considered as normal behaviour. And I love Greg, I’m italian, but this is just not right.
Where did you find that rule, if you start you HAVE to finish?
It’s called respect for the sport. Did Popovici skip the 100 free because he was off ?
Do you really think his competitors feel disrespected? I doubt it. I suspect they understand perfectly why a swimmer who had some injury or illness or training or other issues and then came and gave a few races a shot (and clearly is not in top form) would make such a perfectly reasonable decision. And if they’re not offended – why should others feel “disrespected”? I find this thinking odd. Good for him for coming and giving it a shot.
I listened to his interview, he wasn’t sick, no mental problem, just his fitness. He said that podium was not in his reach, so he basically said that without going to the podium swimming the race was not worth it. To me this is disrespect not for the athletes but for the sport. And btw he is (was) captain of Italy. Great example yeah.
I do agree if a captain I would like it if he stayed to lead and cheer on his team. I defer decisions about participating in the event to the athlete.
Ok TSXIMDAD but do you agree that it’s NOT normal to skip a race just because you think podium is not within your reach ? Am I really saying something so absurd or crazy ?
He finished every race he started, he did not get out of the 800. When your gas tank is empty you are done (unless you want to push the car around).
It’s called respect for the sport. Did Popovici skip the 100 free because he was off ? Let’s be honest, he didn’t want to arrive last embarassing himself knowing that he was not on form and he quitted, that’s what happened.
You keep comparing the 100 to the 1500 in high level competition. Those are two different animals when it comes to fitness levels and mental preparedness. Especially after competing in the open water the week prior.
A highly talented athlete might be able to remain competitive in the 100 with suboptimal training / fitness. Not gonna happen in the 1500. Athletes scratch events all the time.
I’m torn on this one. I’ve swum a 1500/1650 or two when my fitness wasn’t there. In the best of times, it’s15 – 20 minutes trapped in a knife fight with your own thoughts.
I’d love Romanchuk & Wiffen on the podium but first off let’s see if the race is as exciting to watch as the 800
Let’s see what it takes to qualify. The 800 heats were Darwinian.