LEONIE BECK

Leonie Beck is hoping that Paris 2024 can serve as inspiration as she is the current most successful German woman in open water and can write history. Beck will be among the favourites for the women’s title when the marathon swimming gets underway in the River Seine in August.

It will be her third Games after she made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 where she competed in the 800m freestyle before finishing fifth in open water five years later in Tokyo.

She has won European and world titles in open water, including the 5k and 10k double at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka with victory in the longer race sealing qualification for the 2024 Olympics.

The Games in the French capital start less than a fortnight after the conclusion of the continental football championships, Euro 2024, which take place in Beck’s native Germany. Now she is optimistic that the Games in the French capital can have a broader impact as Olympic sports command the spotlight.

“I think the Games will be very different to Rio and Tokyo but for me Paris will be really special because as a European it’s fantastic to have an Olympic Games here, just an hour’s flight away from Germany,” Beck told European Aquatics.

“I also think it will be good for countries like Germany to get more people interested in different sports. We all know that football is ‘number one’ in most countries but this will be an opportunity for swimming, athletics, fencing and many other sports.”

“I hope in particular that those in Germany see what’s happening and want to get involved themselves.”