Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri is following in the footsteps of Lewis Pugh, Doug Woodring, Bruckner Chase and many other open water swimmers who deeply care about the marine environment and mankind’s impact on Mother Nature.
At the 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships in Yas Bay in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the elite Italian dual athlete and world record holder participated in a beach club with the local swimmers before anchoring the winning FINA 4x1500m mixed relay with Martina De Memme, Domenico Acerena, and Giulia Gabrielleschi.
Paltrinieri’s words spoken on at Al Bahia Beach summed up the feelings of many, “We should give more than we take from the environment. And this is a beautiful place, Abu Dhabi, but sometimes it is ruined by plastics or something on the beach. While I am swimming, I feel part of nature. So when I am swimming and I see beautiful places ruined, I feel like it is our mission to do something and help preserve the natural environment.”
Photo courtesy of FINA.
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Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff.
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