by InTrieste
Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri will serve as the testimonial for the 11th edition of Barcolana Nuota, the open-water swimming competition that forms part of the Barcolana regatta festival. The race, known this year as Barcolana Nuota powered by Honda – Trofeo Luca Giustolisi, is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 5, in the Gulf of Trieste.
Paltrinieri, a world-renowned distance swimmer and Honda ambassador, will give the official start to the event, which is already drawing significant attention. More than 300 swimmers have registered with over two weeks to go, underscoring the race’s popularity among Italy’s open-water competitions.
Joining the field are fellow Olympians Luca Dotto and Piero Codia, who will compete over a nautical mile course (approximately 1,850 meters) set against the backdrop of Piazza Unità d’Italia and the Scala Reale, one of the most distinctive waterfront settings in Europe.
The event is organized by the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano in collaboration with US Triestina Nuoto Samer & Co. Shipping. Honda, a new naming partner this year, is also the automotive sponsor of the broader Barcolana festival, which spans 12 days of regattas, exhibitions and cultural events.
“Barcolana Nuota celebrates Trieste’s connection to the sea,” said Mitja Gialuz, president of the Società Velica. “With Paltrinieri as testimonial and two champions like Dotto and Codia in the water, the event continues to grow in stature.”
The race also honors Luca Giustolisi, the late Olympic water polo player, through the Trofeo Challenge that bears his name. For 2025, organizers have introduced the Honda Trophy, which will be awarded to the top male and female finishers.
Beyond elite competition, the event emphasizes inclusivity. Alongside the main race, the program features Barcolana Nuoto Pinnato, a 500-meter fin-swimming competition for athletes with disabilities, and Barcolana Waterpolo, which includes a morning invitational tournament and an afternoon exhibition match in a floating pool set up in front of Piazza Unità.
Registration for the swim remains open online until Oct. 1, with late entries accepted in person on Oct. 4. Participants receive race kits including commemorative gear and, for the first 300, official bags by Murphy&Nye.
The Barcolana Nuota is one of the opening highlights of Barcolana57 presented by Generali, a festival that culminates with the world’s largest sailing regatta.
