At the opening of the European Swimming Championships in Budapest, the 5km in white water saw Océane Cassignol win bronze in the women’s event while Marc-Antoine Olivier lost to Gregorio Paltrinieri in the men’s and finished with the silver medal.
The Budapest European Swimming Championships start with two medals for the French team. Reigning Olympic champion in the 10km and world champion in the 25km in 2017, Sharon van Rouwendaal confirmed during the 5km, the opening event of the open water in these European championships. The Dutchman took the lead towards the halfway point and then perfectly mastered the Italian Giulia Gabbrielleschi to win with a little over four seconds ahead of the latter.
Member of the French team crowned 5km team world champion in 2017, Océane Cassignol won her first individual medal in a major championship. The Béziers native took third place just over six seconds behind Sharon van Rouwendaal. Lara Grangeon, for her part, finished in fourth place five seconds behind her compatriot.
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The beautiful bronze medal of Océane CASSIGNOL after an intense 5 km 🔥🥉 Congratulations again @OceaneCassignol for this first international individual podium on a major championship 👏🏼🇫🇷
The counter is open!
📸 Deep Blue Media pic.twitter.com/7nBl4ksKJt— FFN (@FFNatation) May 12, 2021
Olivier gave in to Paltrinieri
However, this medal for Océane Cassignol was only the beginning for the French open water swimming team. In the process, over the distance that crowned him world champion in 2017 in this same city of Budapest, Marc-Antoine Olivier had something to play for. In the pack during the first half of the race, the Northerner settled in second place in contact with the Hungarian Kristof Rasovzky at the end of the race. However, Marc-Antoine Olivier could not resist Gregorio Paltrinieri’s final.
Member of the Italian 5km world vice-champion team in 2019, the native of Carpi did not give his rivals the slightest chance and won with a little less than two seconds ahead of the Frenchman when his compatriot Dario Verani completes the podium. Logan Fontaine and Julles Wallart, also present at the forefront in the final packing, take the fifth and seventh places respectively.
