Hector Pardoe - Britain

When the wind blows, some athletes are at their best. Count the Wrexham native as one who relishes racing in "real open water" conditions. The 24-year-old broke through last year with a bronze in the men's individual 10km at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha - the first British male swimmer to win an open water swimming at a global championships since Welsh compatriot David Davies earned silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 

On returning to competition:
"I'm happy to be back. I had quite a long summer, so it's great to get back into racing. It's been six months since the Olympics, and I'm excited for my first race of the season. I've never been to Egypt before, so that makes it even more exciting. The sea looks amazing—tropical blue—so I can’t wait to get in."

On his post-Olympics break:
"I took a couple of months off—spent some time out of the water, went on a lot of spontaneous holidays. I really needed it. I was mentally burnt out after the Games, so it was important to reset. But now I’m looking forward to this season, especially with the World Championships in Singapore later this year."

On his goals for the season:
"I’ve got a medal to defend, so that’s definitely a big motivation. One thing I’m focusing on this year is taking it step by step instead of looking too far ahead to LA 2028. My goal is to see what I can achieve each year in the lead-up to the Olympics. Singapore is the big target for the summer."

On the new knockout sprint event in open water swimming:
"I saw the knockout sprint at the World Junior Championships, and it looked really cool—definitely adds a new dynamic. I think that’s exactly what open water swimming needs. Sometimes, just watching us swim up and down for 10K isn’t the most exciting, but this new format can help engage a bigger audience. It’s a great development for the sport, and the added prize money is another incentive. It also allows swimmers to specialize in different distances while still competing at the highest level."

On racing in the Red Sea and dealing with wind and waves:
"Hopefully, it’s really windy! I actually like it when it’s choppy—it feels like real open water conditions. If it’s rough, it’ll be harder for people to break away early, which I think suits all of us. We’ve all had a bit of time off since Paris, maybe not trained as much as before, so keeping the race bunched up until the end would be ideal. If it comes down to a sprint finish, I feel confident—I’ve got good speed and timing for the final touch, which is one of the key skills in open water racing."

Oliver Klemet - Germany

Coming off the Paris 2024 Games, where he was rewarded with an Olympic silver medal for his gritty swimming performance in the Seine, the 22-year-old German is back to racing after a lengthy break -- one where we've seen him in action once since competing in the French capital. 

On his post-Olympic break and return to training:
"Yeah, we took about a six-week break after the Olympics and then started training again slowly. At the start of the season, I was sick a few times with a high fever, so I had to skip some World Cups last year. That’s why I wasn’t competing in the early events. But so far, this year has been really good. We had a training camp in South Africa, started the year well, and I hope to perform well tomorrow."

On his goals for the event:
"This is part of the road to Singapore for me. I’m competing in all five World Cups, so my goal is to place as high as possible—hopefully making the podium or securing a spot in the overall prize money."

On racing conditions in Soma Bay:
"We raced here two years ago when it was much warmer and less windy, but it was really wavy. We’ll see how it is tomorrow, but that’s part of open water swimming—you must be ready for anything."

On whether rough conditions suit his strengths:
"Not really. I prefer clear water and a more controlled race with a strong finishing sprint. But I need to improve in these conditions, so it’s good training."

On the finishing stretch into the marina:
"The waves can push us a bit outside the course, so positioning will be important. I’ll try to stay at the front and give my best in the finish."

Caroline Jouisse - France

With two World Cup wins and a European Championships medal on her career palmares, the Saint Mande, France native is coming off a season that saw her secure eighth place at her home Olympic Games and the World Aquatics Championships in Doha. 

On racing in challenging conditions:
"I like it when the conditions are crazy—waves are always good. The way you swim with the waves makes a difference. Some people are better at swimming against them, while others handle them differently. Last year, we had similar conditions, so I know what to expect. But open water racing is always changing—there’s no single leader the whole time, and positions switch a lot."

On whether the pack will stay together in the race:
"Yeah, I believe so. The conditions make it likely that the group will stay tight."

Caroline on Caroline| Wrangling the waves:
"It really depends on the day. Some days I handle side waves better. Other days, I manage better going against them. We’ll see what tomorrow brings."

On her preparation and recent challenges:
"It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for me. After the Olympics, I got some tough news—my coach and club could no longer train me. So it’s been a difficult time, trying to find a good place to train. But everyone has their struggles, and I’m still excited for the race."

On team activities before the competition:
"Yesterday, we did the quad experience, and it was honestly awesome. It’s great to do things together outside the pool and get to know people in a different way. I really enjoyed that."

On starting the new season:
"I’m excited to start the 2025 season and see what’s ahead."

Bettina Fabian - Hungary

The lone Hungarian representative for the Open Water Swimming World Cup 2025 season opener, the former world junior champion is coming off a season in which she took silver in the Somabay World Cup, bronze in the World Championship relay in Doha, and fifth at the Olympic Games in Paris. 

On her fitness and excitement for the race:
"I'm not really in top shape yet because I took a long rest after last season, but I’m hoping for the best. I love Soma Bay—it's my favourite venue. I'm really glad they organised this competition again this year, and I'm looking forward to it."

On what she loves about Somabay:
"I love everything—the water, the wind, the Red Sea. Egypt is a beautiful country. While swimming, I could see beautiful fish beneath me, and seeing everything below is a great part of open water racing. The wind is strong, so the waves are big, but that's just part of open water swimming. It happens a lot."

On how the conditions suit her racing style:
"I think I adapt well to different conditions, and sometimes waves actually work in my favor. They keep the pack together, so there won’t be big gaps between swimmers. I hope that’s how the race will play out tomorrow. I’m just happy to be here."

On the course layout and turns:
"I like that the course is a bit different. It’s not the usual setup with four buoys, so the tactics will change. I love turns, and I think a strong final turn can make a big difference in the race."

On the finishing sprint into the marina:
"I like that the wind isn’t as strong there as it is in the middle of the course, so the sprint finish will be even more important. Since I’m not in peak shape right now, I don’t expect my finish to be my strongest point, but I’ll do my best and hopefully secure a great result in Soma Bay."

On skipping altitude training to compete:
"I skipped the team’s altitude training camp because I wanted to race here. My goal this year is to compete in every World Cup event, and by doing that, I can develop my skills and gain more open water experience. For me, racing here was more important than the training camp with Kristof (Rasoszky) and David (Betlehem)."

On taking a break after Neom and returning to training:
"After Neom, I felt like I needed a mental break. I had just moved back to Hungary after living in the U.S., and with everything that had happened there, I needed time to reset. I had to re-learn how to swim in January, so I hope I’ll be fast tomorrow."

Ana Marcela Cunha - Brazil

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion and defending women's Open Water Swimming World Cup Overall winner is back! When we last saw the xx-year-old competing in NEOM, where she secured the 2024 season title, the Brazilian was unsure if that was the conclusion to her sure-to-be Hall of Fame career. 

First of all, congratulations! I didn’t know we’d see you back on the World Cup circuit this year.

"Yes, I’m happy to be back. This year, my main focus is the World Aquatics Championships, but it’s always great to be racing again."

On her goals for the season:
"I always aim for the top, but the most important thing is feeling happy right now."

On racing at the opening World Cup event:
"This is my third time here, and every time is different. It’s a great place—Somabay has a unique atmosphere, and the race itself always brings something new. I really enjoy it."

On the race conditions:
"Yes, this is real open water racing. With strong winds like today, you have to adjust your strategy. That’s part of the challenge and the excitement."

Gregorio Paltrinieri - Italy

One of the world's most versatile swimmers, the thirty-year-old from Carpi, Italy, made his Olympic debut at the London 2012 Games. Catching up with him poolside before his morning yardage, Paltrinieri says the fire is still there to go for his fifth Olympic Games. Read what else the World and Olympic champion had to say before the first competition of 2025. 

On returning to competition:
"I'm feeling good. I took three months off after the Olympics, so this is my first race back. I only started training again in January, so it’s been just a couple of months, but I’m happy with how I’m feeling. I really enjoyed my vacation, but I missed competing and racing. Now I’m here, and this is my first test in the lead-up to Singapore."

On his long-term goals:
"I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to do during this period. I love the Olympics and the atmosphere of the Games, so my goal is to reach 2028. It’s a long process—not just about this year, but the journey ahead. I want to enjoy it, find new motivation, and keep moving forward."

On balancing pool and open water swimming:
"I haven’t made up my mind yet. I’m still thinking about what I want to do this year and in the coming years. Right now, I just want to have fun, get back into training, and focus on open water. That’s my priority this season. But if I’m in good shape and feeling strong, I might try to do both."

On racing conditions in the Red Sea:
"I loved this competition last year—it was a great race. I hope it’ll be similar this time, but open water is always unpredictable. It depends on the conditions, but I really enjoy racing here."

On the new knockout sprint event in open water swimming:
"It’s exciting to have a new race. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll do it in Ibiza, but I definitely want to try it. It’ll be in Singapore, so I’ll probably race it there."

On the type of athlete who will excel in the knockout sprint:
"I think we’ll see more pool swimmers trying it because it’s like a sprint event for us. I expect some sprinters—quicker guys from the pool—to come in and give it a shot. It’s going to be fun to see how it plays out."