Livigno, July 29, 2026– In just a few days, the curtain will rise on the 2026 European Aquatics Championships, taking place in Paris from July 31 to August 16, in the very same venues that less than two years ago hosted the unforgettable Olympic performances of Italy’s swimming stars. While the medals will be awarded in the French capital, an important part of the journey to Paris has already taken place in Livigno. Once again, the AQ1816 Olympic Preparation Centre has served as one of Europe’s leading hubs for altitude training, confirming a role that has been built over time and strengthened across multiple Olympic cycles.
For years, the Italian National Team has chosen Livigno as the destination for its altitude training camps during the most important phases of the international season. A partnership that continues to grow stronger and has seen some of the world’s greatest swimmers train at the Olympic Preparation Centre. This trust is shared by numerous international federations which, during the first half of 2026 alone, brought their national teams to Livigno, including Hungary, France, Israel, Slovenia, Poland and Sweden, further reinforcing the resort’s reputation as an international benchmark for altitude training.
In the lead-up to the European Championships in Paris, the final days of preparation at AQ1816 accompanied several of the key members of the Italian team. Among them, Gregorio Paltrinieri, Simona Quadarella, Ginevra Taddeucci, Manuel Frigo and Carlos D’Ambrosio completed a crucial phase of their training in Livigno before travelling to the French capital, where Italy will compete with one of the strongest squads of the entire championships in both pool swimming and open water events.
During the Sport Talks held over the Stralivigno weekend, two of Italy’s leading swimming stars publicly shared their thoughts on this stage of the season, offering valuable insight into the journey that leads elite athletes towards major international competitions.
Simona Quadarella described the period leading the Italian team to Paris, midway through the Olympic cycle between Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028:
“We’re halfway through this new Olympic cycle, but it honestly feels like time has flown by. Four years may seem like a long time, but they go by quickly, especially because there are always important competitions along the way. There’s never really time to switch off. This season I’ve taken a slightly more balanced approach, keeping myself busy with other experiences too, such as completing my degree and spending time in Australia, which helped me grow both as an athlete and as a person. Now that the European Championships are just around the corner, though, the desire to compete is back, and I can’t wait for the challenges ahead.”
The same perspective was echoed by Gregorio Paltrinieri, who highlighted the importance of consistency and the role altitude training continues to play in his preparation:
“After Paris 2024, I kept training with the goal of reaching the next Olympic Games. We’re now halfway through that journey, and every season matters, whether it’s a European Championships or a World Championships. Every race gives you a real assessment of where you are and helps you make adjustments to arrive even stronger at the next big event. In open water swimming, around 90% of the very best athletes are European, so the level will be incredibly high. The training group I’m part of is probably one of the strongest in the world, and that’s a huge source of motivation because every day it pushes me to improve. I first came to Livigno in 2015, so by now I’m a regular when it comes to altitude training. It’s fundamental for us because it allows us to maintain almost the same training loads we have at home while benefiting from improved physiological adaptations. When we return to lower altitude, that translates into better performance and, above all, better sensations in the water.”
As Paris prepares to welcome Europe’s best swimmers, Livigno continues to play a key role behind the scenes, helping elite athletes build the performances that lead to international success. Through a dedicated high-performance training ecosystem, AQ1816 has established itself as one of Europe’s leading altitude training centres and a destination recognised by the international swimming community as a benchmark for elite preparation.
