Israeli Open Water Swimmers Begin European Championship in Paris Ahead of 2028 Olympics

The Israeli open water swimming team will start competing tomorrow in the European Swimming Championships held in Paris. The open water events take place in the Seine River, the same stretch used for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The competition begins with the Olympic 10-kilometer race, the main focus of the Israeli team's preparation. Jonathan Achdut (Hapoel Jerusalem) will compete in the men's 10K, while Ofek Adir (Hapoel Bat Yam), Emily Golus, and Rivka Androvich (both from TLV Swim) will race in the women's event.

Following the 10K, the schedule includes 5K races featuring Achdut and Adir, and a 3K knockout race with all four Israeli swimmers participating. The team is accompanied by head coach Neil Mizrahi, coach Eran Goral, and delegation head Sharon Heller. Last year, at the European Championships in Stari Grad, Croatia, the Israeli 10K swimmers achieved their best results to date, with Achdut and Adir finishing 19th in their respective events and Golus placing 22nd.

Coach Mizrahi emphasized that the European Championships are the team's primary goal this year and a critical step toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The team aims to qualify at least one Israeli swimmer for the upcoming Games. Mizrahi also noted the organizers' ongoing water quality monitoring and contingency plans, highlighting the tactical challenges posed by swimming with and against the Seine's current.

The Seine's open water conditions differ from sea or lake swimming, with variable currents and temperatures requiring adaptability. The weather in Paris is warm but rain is not expected, which benefits the Israeli team currently training on-site to acclimate. The race course consists of eight laps of 1.25 kilometers each, with currents playing a key tactical role.

The Seine has a history of water quality issues, including bacterial contamination during the 2024 Olympics, but Paris authorities invested 1.4 billion euros in river cleanup, and current tests show acceptable water quality. The Israeli team combines experienced swimmers Achdut and Adir with promising younger athletes. This marks Achdut's fifth and Adir's third European Championship, Golus's second, and Androvich's debut at the senior European level.