Israeli Open Water Swimming Team Begins European Championship in Paris Tomorrow

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, along the section that hosted the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The competition opens with the Olympic 10-kilometer race, which has been 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 Golos, and Rivka Androvich (both from TLV Swim) will swim in the women's event.

Following the 10K races, the program 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 both finishing 19th and Golos placing 22nd.

Coach Mizrahi emphasized that the European Championships are the main target for the senior team this year and a significant milestone on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He stated the goal is to qualify at least one Israeli swimmer for the Olympics. Mizrahi also noted the organizers' ongoing water quality monitoring in the Seine and the existence of contingency plans if needed. The team is focusing on adapting to the river's current, which plays a crucial tactical and physiological role in the races.

Swimming in the Seine differs from sea or lake conditions, but open water swimming always involves variable elements such as waves, water clarity, temperature, and currents. The weather in Paris is relatively warm with no rain expected, which is favorable for the Israeli team currently training on-site to acclimate. The race course consists of eight laps of 1.25 kilometers each, with the current's direction being a key tactical factor.

The Seine has a history of challenges in open water events, including canceled training sessions during the 2024 Olympics due to high bacterial levels. Paris authorities invested 1.4 billion euros to clean the river ahead of the Olympics, and current tests show satisfactory water quality. The Israeli team combines experienced swimmers like Achdut and Adir with promising young talents. This will be Achdut's fifth and Adir's third European Championship, Golos's second, and Androvich's debut at the senior European level.