Six years after their last podium finish in the women’s 10-kilometre event at the World Championships, Italy has once again claimed a medal in open water swimming. Ginevra Taddeucci secured silver, just hours after Gregorio Paltrinieri had also taken second place in his race. The Florence-born swimmer clocked a time of 2:07:55 in a brave performance that reinforced her credentials following her Olympic bronze.
The early stages of the race were dictated by the aggressive pace of Russian swimmer Maria Ershova, who attempted to break away from the pack but failed to create a significant gap. Among those staying close were Italy’s Taddeucci and Barbara Pozzobon.
By the second lap, the 28-year-old Taddeucci steadily moved up through the field, taking the lead as the third lap began and launching a bold attack. She established a small lead alongside Australia’s Moesha Johnson and Spain’s Maria de Valdés Álvarez. Taddeucci and Johnson began alternating at the front in what resembled a relay effort that wore down their competitors.
Despite the sustained pressure, Johnson was unable to shake off Taddeucci, de Valdés Álvarez, or Monaco’s Lisa Pou, all of whom remained in contention into the final lap. In the closing stretch, Johnson managed to navigate the final turn in the lead and touched the finishing tape in 2:07:51.3, four seconds ahead of Taddeucci and six ahead of Pou.
For Italy, there was additional satisfaction as Barbara Pozzobon finished in tenth place, 1 minute and 39 seconds behind the winner.
