Paltrinieri criticizes the organizers of Paris: "The worst Olympics I have participated in"

Paris, 3 August 2024 – At the end of the 1500 meter battery Gregorio Paltrinieri, having qualified with the second overall time and appearing in excellent form, he did not send word to the Parisian Olympic organisation. Leaving aside the controversy on the Seine and its suitability for swimming ("I don't want to talk about it anymore now, I only have the 1500 meters final in mind") Paltrinieri, however, took more than one dig at what the Paris organizers sometimes seem to forget, namely the care for the athletes.

Gregorio Paltrinieri

Prompted by a question about sleeping in the Village, here is 'Greg''s outburst: "Out of the four Olympics I have participated in, this one it is without a doubt the worst. Sleep is a problem, it takes a lot of effort: I never fall asleep before two in the morning, it's too hot. In my opinion, athletes cannot be treated like this, we are the protagonists here, we should be protected but we are not. It's unthinkable do not have air conditioning in the rooms, with a climate of this type. But that's fine, that's the end of it."

The reference made by the Italian champion to the protagonism of the athletes is probably also aimed at one inaugural ceremony in which the athletes were a backdrop to a show and not the focus of the event as it has always been. Paltrinieri's outburst doesn't end here, however, there are not only sleep problems due to the temperatures, but also logistical ones, with travel: "Yes, there is also a problem with swimming. With the facilities here, we are very far from the Village, the journeys are always long and tiring."

In short, 'Greg's' opinion on this Olympics remains anything but benevolent, and to these reflections are added, obviously, those on the idea of ​​competing triathlon and 10km open water in the Seine, with enormous and very evident problems related to the safety of the athletes and the currents.

Could this also be why Paltrinieri is thinking that the Paris event could be his last participation? Maybe not, the matter is more linked to age and the wear and tear of professional life, but Paltrinieri doesn't think about it: "My last 1500m at the Olympics? – he said at the end of his heat –. Yes it could be, but not I can say it now."