Monday, May 1, 2023

Hungary’s Bragmayer and Spaniard Fernandez crowned World Aquathlon Champions in Ibiza


 

The 2023 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Ibiza finally took to the water on Monday morning in Santa Eulalia for the Aquathlon World Championships, and there were new names and familiar faces of the sport scooping up the medals.

It was a 1km swim into a flat but tight 5km run to negotiate, and the crowds were once again out in force for the third day of competition.

 

Women’s race

The Hungarian team lit up the Aquathlon World Championships in Ibiza on Monday as Zsanett Bragmayer powered her way to the 2023 world title just two days after securing duathlon silver in Santa Eulalia.

Tucked in on compatriot Marta Kropko’s feet for most of the 1km swim, a patient run saw her move ahead early on the 5km and never look back. Slovakia’s brilliant 18-year-old talent Margareta Vrabolova took second, Celine Kaiser of Germany the bronze.

“I finally became a World Champion, i’m so happy, I really enjoyed that!” said Bragmayer. “I really didn’t want to lead the swim. I used to but now it’s ok for me not to. “I am going to the World Military Championships and then Yokohama, that’s my big goal. There are still 25 races in the season so it’s really busy but the big one is (WTCS) Yokohama.”

There was no doubting Kropko’s intent or ability as she pulled to the front at the start of the swim, but she was unable to shake clear Bragmayer nor Italian Giada Stegani even as she clocked 14m41 for the 1km out-and-back.

Home favourite Sara Perez Sala was out in sixth just five seconds behind and followed by Ireland’s Chloe Pollard and Vrablova ten seconds adrift.

It was the Portuguese youngster Cassilda Carvalho showing those around her how to be slickest in transition and she was quickly giving chase, but Bragmayer seized her moment and from early on the result started to look in no doubt as she eased clear.

Celine Kaiser was flying further back and picking her way into contention, going on to clock the fastest run time by a huge margin of 35 seconds, but there was nothing she could do as the transition neared and Bragmayer took the final right up the blue carpet to soak in her moment.

The 18-year-old Vrablova was once again showing her ability to mix it with the very best as she hung on for an outstanding Elite silver and defended her 2022 Junior title, Marta Kropko fifth over the line to become the U23 World Champion. She was joined on the podium by Stegani and Laura Holanszky (HUN), and it was another Hungarian Nora Romina Nadas with Junior silver ahead of Portugal’s Carvalho.

“That was amazing, race of my dreams, I am super happy, said a smiling Vrablova. “The swim was very good. I didn’t have a big gap on the run. I was approximately sixth but the gap was only 15 seconds so I was just pacing myself to the end. I was super excited and happy to finish second, I didn’t expect it. It was great. Thanks to everyone for supporting.”

For the full results, click here.

 

Men's race

With the men out first for the deep-water start, Richard Varga was proving a popular man as the first names out headed to the right buoy for the straightest line to the turn alongside him, but it was the Hungarian duo of U23 rising star Gorgi Dobi and Marton Kropko setting the pace, Spain’s Cristian Fernandez Neto on their feet, Britain’s Jimmy Lund sticking close.

Christopher Perham (GBR) was there too, but the final turn was complicated by his arm hitting the canoe and he was suddenly 5 seconds off the pace, Badr Siwane of Morocco and Varga also taken wide.

That strung things out even more, 30 seconds separating the top 20 out of the water, and the Hungarians were out first onto the run, Kropko pulling clear.

That move lasted the first kilometre along the harbour before Fernandez and Lund pulled alongside, Dobi falling off the front while Italy’s Michele Bortolamedi patiently moved into position ten seconds back.

Fernandez kept the pace on so that by the time they turned back towards transition for the final time it began to look like he had his rivals where he wanted them; drifting off his shoulder.

Perham stuck to his task and suddenly he was able to reel in those ahead and hit second up the final turn but it was Fernandez who held on to a superb win, the 2019 Age Group World Champion marking an impressive switch to elite level racing. Lund held on for third as Germany’s Jannick Schauffler threatened, Marton Kropko rounding out the top five and taking the Junior world title in the process.

“I am very happy with my race, especially today, knowing that my whole family is here watching and cheering for me,” said Fernandez. “I want to dedicate this victory to all my family, friends and coach who have supported me all the time, especially the last months that have been tough”.

“On the swim I was just trying to follow those feet in front so I think I left myself a little too much to do on that run,” said Perham. “It was quite right, twisty, turny, the dead turns were quite slippery on the ground surface, it was just about making up as much time as I could on the flat sections. In the end, that finish came a bit too soon for me to get that win but it was still a good race, to move my way back up to second.”

“I had a good swim, it was a little bit scrappy towards the end so came out fourth, then the run suited me quite well with the twisty turns, because I come from a trail-running background,” said Lund. “Loved that run out there today and really happy with that.”

Dobi powered on to finish sixth overall and become the U23 World Champion, silver for Bortolamedi and Kyotaro Yoshikawa (JPN) the bronze, Michael Gar (GBR) and Ilio Kopriva (BEL) completing the Junior podium.

The next major Games event featuring the aquathlon will be the 2023 ANOC World Beach Games Bali.

Full results can be found here. https://triathlon.org/results/result/2023_world_triathlon_multisport_championships_ibiza?mc_cid=2da87da07f&mc_eid=6139649918

 

ABOUT WORLD TRIATHLON

World Triathlon is the international governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of triathlon and all related multisport disciplines around the world, including duathlon, aquathlon, cross triathlon and winter triathlon. Triathlon made its Olympic debut in Sydney 2000, with a third medal event, the Mixed Team Relay, added to the programme at Tokyo 2020, while para triathlon was first added to the Paralympic programme at Rio 2016. World Triathlon is proudly committed to the development of the sport worldwide, with inclusion, equality, sustainability and transparency at our core as we seek to help triathletes at all levels of the sport to be extraordinary. 

www.triathlon.org

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