Lurz (GER) wins again in Cancun (MEX), Germany dominates

Lausanne (SUI), MAJALAH AKUATIK INDONESIA - After triumphing on April 24 in the race of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Cancun (MEX), Germany’s Thomas Lurz repeated the success in the 15km-effort counting for the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix on April 26. In the clear-crystal waters of Mexico, the third stop of the Grand Prix this year, Lurz touched home in 2h59m55s51.

In a quite emotive race, attracting also many of the participants in the 10km circuit, Brian Riyckeman (BEL, sixth in the shorter race) finished second in a time of 2h59m55s83. He was followed by Lurz’ compatriot Andreas Waschburger, who got the bronze in 2h59m57s41. Less than three seconds separated the winner of the 15km race from the fifth ranked swimmer. The dominators of the first two legs of the Grand Prix season, Julien Sauvage and Joanes Hedel, both from France, did not race in Cancun.

In the women’s field, Germany also claimed two of the three medals at stake, thanks to the silver of veteran Angela Maurer (3h13m14s54) and the bronze of Nadine Reichert (3h15m45s56). The winner of the race was Jana Pechanova, from Czech Republic, touching first in 3h13m14s21. For these three athletes, Maurer had also been silver medallist in the 10km in Cancun two days earlier, while Reichert was fifth and Pechanova seventh. It was however their first successes in the Grand Prix circuit.

FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix 2012 calendar:
Race 1: January 22 in Rosario (ARG, 15km)
Race 2: January 29 in Santa Fe-Coronda (ARG, 57km)
Race 3: April 26 in Cancun (MEX, 15km)
NEXT RACE: June 17 in Capri-Napoli (ITA, 36km)
Race 5: July 28 in Lac St-Jean (CAN, 32km)
Race 6: August 4 in Lac Magog (CAN, 34km)
Race 7: August 5 in Sabac (SRB, 19km)
Race 8: August 11 in Ohrid Lake (MKD, 33km)

Foto: Thomas Lurz finishing in 2h59m55s51 - credit: Christian Palma

(fina)

Gianniotis (GRE) and Cunha (BRA) capture gold in Eilat (ISR)

Lausanne (SUI), MAJALAH AKUATIK INDONESIA – Hosting its first international open water swimming race, Eilat (ISR) welcomed 77 participants (41 men and 36 women) from 26 countries on April 1 for the third leg of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup 2012.

10km World champion Spyridon Gianniotis (GRE) continues his winning streak by taking his third consecutive gold in the men’s event in a time of 1h52m32s45. Closest challenger and 2011 World Cup winner Thomas Lurz (GER) cranked up his classic power sprint to finish second with a time of 1h52m36s25. Consistent performer Evgeny Drattsev (RUS), third in Viedma (ARG, Race 2), claimed his second bronze, clocking 1h52m36s45.

25km World champion Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) was the best among women after powering home and racing for the win in a time of 2h02m37s45. The Brazilian improves from her third-place finish in Santos (BRA, Race 1). Ekaterina Seliverstova’s (RUS) silver-medal finish was the positive discovery of the competition. The 28-year-old crossed the line at 2h02m37s80 which led to her first podium appearance while teammate Anna Guseva came one second later to score the bronze (2h02m38s85).

FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup 2012 calendar:
Race 1: January 29 in Santos (BRA)
Race 2: February 4 in Viedma (ARG)
Race 3: April 1 in Eilat (ISR)
NEX RACE: April 24 in Cancun (MEX)
Race 5: July 26 in Lac St-Jean (CAN)
Race 6: August 11 in Lac Megantic (CAN)
Race 7: October 7 in Hong Kong (HKG)
Race 8: October 14 in Shantou (CHN)

Foto:

Women's podium: Ekaterina Seliverstova (RUS), Ana M. Cunha (BRA) and Anna Guseva (RUS)

(fina)