Marrit Steenbergen Leads Strong Field Set to Race at the Giant Open in Paris
Two years after hosting the Olympic Games, Paris will welcome top swimmers to the city this summer for the European Aquatics Championships. But this week at the Olympic Aquatics Centre in Saint Denis, the Giant Open will be held in the French capital, featuring a strong field.
Racing in the same pool as the upcoming European Championships, swimmers will compete in the Giant Open from March 20-22. It’s not a surprise that many of France’s top competitors will be present. Among them will be: Beryl Gastaldello, Analia Pigree, Yohann Ndoye Brouard, David Aubry, Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, Melanie Henique, Marc Antoine Olivier, Damien Joly, Marie Wattel, Pauline Mahieu and Maxime Grousset. The world champion in the 50 and 100 butterfly, Grousset has enjoyed a strong start to 2026, including marks of 22.78 and 51.15 in the fly events at the Lausanne Cup.
The French meet has attracted the interest of British swimmers as well. Olympic champions Tom Dean and Duncan Scott are expected in Paris, along with Freya Anderson and Adam Peaty. Peaty just made his post-Olympics return to long-course competition at the Edinburgh International (March 13-15). First, he raced the 100 breaststroke, going 1:00.74. The 50 breaststroke followed, with Peaty going 27.33.
The bronze medalist in the 200 IM at last summer’s World Championships in Singapore, Mary-Sophie Harvey will be in Paris after competing at the Lausanne Cup. The 26-year-old from Canada is entered in six events – the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 200 medley and 400 medley. Italy’s Simone Cerasuolo is expected to swim in the 50 and 100 breaststroke, the 50 distance where he is the reigning world champ.
Marrit Steenbergen is the biggest name from the Netherlands scheduled to race. The world champion in the 100 freestyle is entered in five events. On top of her signature event, she will also race the 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 50 backstroke and 100 backstroke. Other notable Dutch swimmers entered in the Giant Open are Maaike Waard and Nyls Korstanje.
Olympic silver medalist Apostolos Christou will be among the 12 Greeks in Paris, and he will race the 50-100-200 backstroke. Apostolos Siskos, who placed fifth in 200 backstroke at the World Championships in Singapore, will compete in the 100 and 200 backstroke and in the 200 butterfly.
