Monaco’s Lisa Pou faced challenging conditions during the women’s 10km marathon swim at the Paris Olympics, held in the Seine on August 8. Despite the formidable currents and a finish in 18th place with a time of 2:07:05, Pou remains determined and focused on her future.
The Seine presented unusually strong currents—approximately three times the average for the river segment between the Alexandre III and Alma bridges—making the race exceptionally difficult for all competitors. Pou, who had the honor of being one of Monaco’s flagbearers at the Opening Ceremony, struggled against the current throughout much of the race.
Dutch swimmer Sharon van Rouwendaal won the event with a time of 2:03:34, followed by Australia’s Moesha Johnson and Italy’s Ginevra Taddeucci. Pou’s coach and father, Michel Pou, noted the complexity of the race, emphasizing the challenge of navigating the strong current and managing the upstream segments.
Following her finish, Pou expressed disappointment, citing physical struggles that impacted her performance. “The race didn’t go well and was about survival from start to finish,” she said. “I’m very disappointed with my result.”
Despite her frustration, Pou is already looking ahead. “I hope to return even stronger next year,” she remarked. Prince Albert II and Princess Alexandra of Hanover were present in the stands, supporting the athletes as they completed the marathon swim.
