Pure open water racing Cunha and Paltrinieri open the FINA Marathon Swim World Series with victories

Never a sport for the faint-hearted, the FINA Marathon Swim World Series opener in Setubal, Portugal delivered stirring performances. Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri and Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha led the way with gold medal performances in the men’s and women’s 10km individual competitions.

 

With a midday sun beating down, high winds and strong currents made the gruelling 10km swim a challenge of mental fortitude as well as a physical one. Adaptability – matched with the maxim of know thyself – played a leading role in the day’s two competitions.

 

Men’s Race: Italy and Hungary pace the field

Paltrinieri finished in 1:53:45 just ahead of countrymate Domenico Acerenza's 1:53:47. Hungary’s Kristof Rasovszky, last year’s World Series overall men’s champion, completed the podium in 1:53:52.

The Italian men put on the day's dominant team performance by placing five within the top six.

“I’m really happy to have won the gold medal. Today the conditions were really rough; it was really at the extreme for the open water,” Paltrinieri said. “There was current, there were waves. I could say it was the worst conditions, but actually, it’s fun because you never know what’s to come.”

Count Rasovszky among those who were stoked on the day's conditions.

"This is pure racing, it's way better than swimming in a pool, all alone in your own lane and make the pace by yourself," the 24-year-old from the Budapest neighbourhood of Veszprem said. "You have to race and react with what the others are doing. Of course, you have to catch up in the current, find your place in the waves and your place in the pack."

Acerenza said he's "so happy" with his silver medal finish, but that he had ideas on winning -- and on the upcoming FINA World Championships.

"This has been a difficult training period for me because in one month we'll be at the world championships. I train for this."

 

Women’s Race: Confidence, cunning and Cunha lead to Brazilian victory

Strategy and racing to one’s strengths became everything in the women’s competition with a nine-swimmer leading group all tightly packed heading into and around the final buoy turn with a 150-metre final push to the finish line.

Cunha, the winningest marathon swimmer of all time, positioned herself just as she wanted to: from the front.

With the ocean current pushing from behind, Cunha’s competitors couldn’t catch her. The co-defending FINA Marathon Swim World Series overall series champion has herself in pole position for earning herself an eighth Best Female Open Water Swimmer award crown.

“It was a tough race, a difficult and unforgiving race," Cunha said. “The one area I can control the most is turning buoys. I knew if I got to the last buoy in front, the current would be pushing in my favour.”

With a powerful turn of pace, the other competitors followed behind in a single-file formation. Game, set and match for Ana Marcela.

 

Dutch 2016 Olympic open water champion Sharon Van Rouwendaal finished in the silver medal position. Having swum at or near the front throughout the race, the savvy 28-year-old racer sounded upbeat about starting the international marathon swim season on the podium.

“This is a very good start. Normally I don’t make so many medals at the start of the world cups because I’m training so much,” Van Rouwendaal said. “I was leading most of the race, just trying to make it a strong race to make this also as a part of hard training for worlds. I was testing some stuff. I think it played out well.”

Leonie Beck of Germany followed just 1/10th of a second behind Van Rouwendaal in third. While Cunha opened up just a little open water, winning by 2.5 seconds, just 3/10ths of a second separated the second-to-sixth positions.

 

Pure Roots of Racing

Open water swimming offers the purest form of racing. From ocean racing to freshwater, from waves to currents to winds, athletes race against their competitors and conditions – and not the clock.

With a consistent 12-knot northeasterly wind meeting a rapidly ebbing midday Atlantic tide the FINA Marathon Swim World Series opener in Portugal punctuated the pureness of long-distance ocean racing.

Even before taking on the five-lap, two-kilometre course athletes and coaches alike frequently relied on a variety of adjectives to describe the tough, challenging and changing race conditions. The athletes – even those coming to the sport from more pool-based backgrounds – said Saturday’s competition was something they were looking forward to.   

 

Course and Currents

The composition of this circuit invited the leading athletes to have a 150m sprint at the very end of the race. As the leading competitors mentioned in their pre-race reconnaissance, tactics on the last turn were essential. With Sunday turning to the innovative Mixed Relay open water race format, look for more of the same tomorrow.

 

Temperatures and Tapas

With the pre-race water temperature coming in at 17.5 degrees Celsius, racing in a wetsuit was mandatory. 

The scene from the ocean promenade showed why Setubal is a preferred stop on the open water calendar. Music and commentators filling the airwaves and unobstructed views of the rectangular course passing just metres from shore made for both a racer and spectator-friendly environment.

Written by: Torin Koos, FINA Communication Manager

Men's 10km Results https://www.fina.org/competitions/2916/fina-marathon-swim-world-series-2022/results?event=02599242-2cc0-4744-91ba-ff93b2c15269

Women's 10km Results https://www.fina.org/competitions/2916/fina-marathon-swim-world-series-2022/results?event=95c8282c-46ab-4797-9bc6-f32e3100091e

Italy goes 1-2 as the Mixed Team Relay returns to the FINA Marathon Swim World Series

The tricolours red, white and green were the shades of the day for the 6km Mixed Team Relay in Setubal, Portugal during the opening leg of the FINA Marathon Swim World Series 2022 as Italy 1 raced gold, Italy 2 took silver and Hungary 1 completed the podium.

Setubal (Portugal) – Mixing and matching their usual customary running order, Italy 1 anchor Mario Sanzullo just held off a hard-charging Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy 2 by two seconds to win in 1:12:27.

Kristof Rasovszky matched his bronze medal performance from Saturday’s 10km Individual to bring Hungary home in third, finishing in 1:13:21.

Racing in front of a supportive partisan crowd, Portugal was in silver medal position heading into third of four legs before slightly fading to finish fourth in 1:15:14. Brazil rounded out Sunday’s field, finishing fifth in 1:18:53.

 

6km Mixed Team Relay Race Format

An innovative race format that made its international debut at last December’s Marathon Swim World Series Grand Finale in Abu Dhabi (UAE), the 6km Mixed Team Relay consists of two male and two female athletes each racing 1500m. Countries are free to choose their running order, with all teams in Setubal deciding to start the two opening legs with female competitors before tagging off to their male teammates for the final two loops around the course.

Racing in the open ocean, the conditions called for increasing winds and stronger currents as the tide ebbed, which teams said factored in using the male swimmers in the choppier waters. The weather report held true, with a steady sea breeze turning brisker as the competition went along. The current stiffened as well on the second half of the course as the ocean moved towards low tide.

With the water temperature registering below 18 degrees Celsius, wetsuit racing was again mandatory. 

 

How the Race Played Out

Led off by starter Giulia Gabbrielleschi, Italy 1 opened a 21-second gap over Italy 2’s Martina De Memme before handing off to teammate Ginevra Taddeucci.

While Taddeucci kept the lead, Portugal eighteen-year-old Mafalda Rosa swam an inspired second leg to bring the home side into second, handing off just before Hungary’s Anna Olasz at the midway mark of the race.

On the third leg, the final order came into focus, with Marcello Guidi adding an additional 17 seconds to the 35-second advantage Italy 1 had heading into the anchor leg as Hungary lurked just a little further back in third. 

It’s never a good idea to count Paltrinieri out from a race. And what a race the Olympic and FINA World Champion made of it in Setubal. After not making up much ground to Italy 1 anchor Sanzullo on the first half of the course, Paltrinieri clawed back over 30 seconds heading back home, swimming against the current.

Undaunted, Sanzullo never let Paltrinieri quite draw level to earn the Italy 1 quartet a close victory in the first of four 6km Mixed Team Relays on the open water World Series 2022 calendar. 

“I’m very excited to win the relay. It was very, very hard and Gregorio nearly caught me, but I was able to touch the finish line first,” a beaming Sanzulla said after the race. “This type of racing is really fun. It’s tough coming back racing after yesterday’s 10km, but I did it for the team. I had to dig hard and push, but we were able to do it.”

Paltrinieri struck the pose of a satisfied competitor at the finish line.

“The relay is the best race ever,” Paltrinieri said. “It’s the type of race where you can have a lot of fun. I closed the gap a lot, but in the end, I was really tired and couldn’t do anything more.

“I like this type of competition. It’s super fun. It’s cool,” Paltrinieri added. “Even if we had the 10km yesterday, it’s just 1500m so you just go for it. I like it so much.”

The Hungarian bronze-medal-winning quartet of Reka Rohacs, Anna Olasz, David Betlehem and Kristof Rasovszky also expressed interest in racing more Mixed Team Relays.

“We’re super excited to be here in Setubal to do the relay and not just the 10km. I think it’s super cool for every open water swimmer to swim in a relay as our sport is often very much an individual sport and we don’t often get the chance to swim as a team,” Olasz said after the podium presentation. “I'm really happy that the relay is in the World Series.”

Added Hungarian anchor Rasovszky: “It’s always tough catching up to the Italians, they’re all really fast. We’re happy with the third place and hopefully, at the world champs you’ll also see us on the podium again.”

 

Results and Rankings

Mixed Team Relay

What’s to Come, Part I: Open Water Racing at the FINA World Championships

All eyes and attention in the aquatics world now has its full focus on the 19th FINA World Championships that come in 20 days’ time. The open water events in Budapest run from 26-30 June, just after the swimming action from the 50m pool at the Duna Arena concludes.

Written by Torin Koos, FINA Communication Manager

Setubal Soundbites - Open water elites give insight into what to expect in the Marathon Swim World Series opener

Written by Torin Koos, FINA Communication Manager

With the FINA Marathon Swim World Series 2022 season getting underway this weekend in Setubal, Portugal, we're in for some exciting open water swimming action. With the competitions also the final global test before the 19th FINA World Championships, there are plenty of intriguing storylines to explore. Three swimmers that could be central characters to the opening races let us in on what's to come.

 

Anna Olasz – Hungary

We caught up first with Anna Olasz after she and her Hungarian teammates put in two shakeout laps in Setubal. The 29-year-old with the sporting philosophy of “hard work pays off” struck an excited and confident tone when back beachside. But the Arizona State Sun Devil alum made no doubt about it, that tomorrow’s competition with the waves and currents pushing in the estuary will make for a taxing, testing course for all the competitors. 

Anna, how are you feeling? What are your feelings after having tested the course?

It’s really special to have the first World Series event at the end of May and a month before the World Championships. I think all of us are super excited to race each other finally.

It’s an awesome course. It’s my sixth time in Setubal, so I think I’m kind of experienced on this course and at this place. Yeah, overall, I’m just really excited to race.

A constant chatter amongst athletes is really centred on the currents. What’s it like out there?

This is one of the hardest courses because of the currents. Usually, we don’t get to race at places where there are waves and currents that change during the race. This just adds a lot more “open water” to the open water racing. This is what I really like. Compared to Lupa Beach where the FINA World Championships is going to be much more like a big pool while this will be real open water. We’ll really enjoy this.

Can you tell us what the race tactics could be on this course?

Yes, definitely. I think this is the hardest race when considering tactics, too, because you really have to think about your strengths, when to push it and where. Should I go when the current is pushing me, or should I try and go in front when you’re going against the current. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has a different plan. It’s always really exciting to see what works out best. I also think we’re going to have to change our plan during the race with the current changing while we’re racing.

What’s your strength?

My strength is to push at a pretty fast pace for a long time. I’m not the best at sprinting. So, obviously, having a long finish is better for me. I think this venue and this current is helping me because if you’re going to have to really swim the last thousand (metres), which is hopefully going to help me.

Setubal will be racing in wetsuits. Are you into this?

I used to hate wetsuits. They used to be very uncomfortable ones that were very heavy and thick that weren't good for my shoulders. I wasn’t “strong enough” for them. But I think the new technology and the new wet suits are way more comfortable. I did pretty well in wetsuits so I’m not having bad feelings about racing in them. It's going to be very interesting to see how everyone is swimming in wetsuits.

Last question: This will be the last big race before FINA World Championships. How will you use this for your preparation for racing on your home course at Lupa Beach?

This is the last preparation, but this race will be the complete opposite of what we’re expecting at Lupa. Lupa is flat, it's going to be warm water, and definitely no wetsuit. And this is currents, waves, wetsuits. So it’s really different course. But it's still open water, still 10km. We’re going to have a lot of good competition here. This is good preparation and a really good last practice, trying to work on my technique, and my strengths, and see what shape I’m in. Obviously, No one’s tapered, everyone is still very much in training. It’s going to be a good last race.  

 

Marc-Antoine Olivier – France

Next we caught up with Marc-Antoine Olivier, the Frenchman with a history of launching ferocious – and successful – late-race attacks.  Following up on his sporting philosophy of “wanting to make history in my sport,” the 2017 winner of both the FINA and LEN Best Male Open Water Swimmer Award winner whose sporting exploits also earned him a Knight of the Order of Merit by the French Government, Olivier made his intentions known that he has his eye on the FINA Marathon Swim World Series 2022 overall crown.

Marc-Antoine, how are you feeling and how do you like this course?

I’m very happy to be here. This is the first World Series event of the season so it’s important to begin good on this beautiful sea. It’s perfect for a good race tomorrow.

What are your expectations for the race?

I think it's going to take a lot of strategy because there’s the waves and current. Before the race, I’ll really need to fix a good strategy as I hope to win tomorrow.

This is kind of the last big race before the FINA World Championships. And while you probably have not yet started tapering yet for this competition, how do you use this for your world championship preparation?

The preparation is different like this because we’ll be racing in wetsuits and I think the world championship will be in swimsuits. It’s important because I want to win the overall classification. It’s the first race of the season and it’s important to begin well. I take on this competition with pleasure.

There is a buoy turn 150 metres before the finish. How will you try and position yourself?

I think the best position is to pass the last buoy first because for those last metres before the finish line we have the current at our back. I think that the first person to pass the last buuy will win tomorrow so getting there first is very important.

Any final thoughts going into the opener?

We have so many good swimmers here. Paltrinieri, Rasovszky, and several others. We have lots of swimmers that can win tomorrow so it’s going to be a very good race.

 

Gregorio Paltrinieri – Italy

Gregorio Paltrinieri and his Italian teammates struck a relaxed-yet-excited tone for the Setubal opener. The Rio 2016 1500m freestyle Olympic champion and open water bronze medallist from last summer’s Tokyo Games comes into the opener in full-on training mode but he sounded like he’s satisfied with his basic condition and wants to find some clean water to swim away from the congested melee that can be open water pack racing.

It's the beginning of the World Series in Setubal. How are you feeling coming into this season?

It’s pretty exciting to be here. The first time I came to Portugal, I came here to Setubal for a vacation with friends of mine, but for racing, it’s the first time. I’m glad to be here. The course is going to be challenging (chuckling) I guess. When we tried it today, there is a lot of current. It’s going to be cool.

When you came here for vacation, did you get in a little swimming as well?

No, I came for surfing – no swimming. But it was beautiful; we were around Lisbon and all around. It was super cool.

Everyone has told me that this open water race, this is going to be tough. There’s current, sometimes there's waves. It could take us 1h30 or it could take us 2h30. We don’t know, but we see tomorrow. 

Will that affect how to feed and fuel for this race?

Yeah, it depends. We’ll see. I’ll have my coach on the pontoon so I will decide based on what I’m feeling while I’m swimming. We see. I hope it's 1h30!

With this being the last international race going into the FINA World Championships, how does this factor into your preparations for Budapest?

We’ve kept training – a lot – during this period. This is actually training for me. We’ve been doing a lot of competition in open water in Italy, including twice in the past two weeks. After this, we will rest for a little bit and head to Budapest. And then after the world championships, we will have the Europeans in Rome. That’s home. That’s going to be cool.

What are you thinking about heading into tomorrow’s competition? How do you like these conditions?

You know, it’s going to be tough. Sometimes, I prefer it to be flat when there’s no waves because that’s more similar to the pool. But, you know, this is the real condition. Real open water conditions. For me, I don’t want to be between a lot of guys, a lot of people, a lot of fighting, so I’ll try and stay on my way. And we’ll see.

Franklin, Savšek, Fišerova and Rohrer crowned European Champions in Slovakia

 

The 2022 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships in Liptovsky Mikulaš, Slovakia, concluded with women's and men's C1 finals and extreme slalom races. Mallory Franklin won her second European champion title in women's C1, Benjamin Savšek his fourth in men's C1. Tereza Fišerova and Jan Rohrer were crowned European Champions in extreme slalom.

What a final day we have seen at the 2022 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships in Liptovsky Mikulaš, Slovakia. The host nation was a bit shocked after they were empty handed in men's canoe final, where their canoeists were among the main favourites for the medals. However, it was a golden day for Tokyo Olympic Champion Benjamin Savšek. 35-year-old Slovenian paddler produced a superb final run and stayed at the top until the last competitor on the start line - Denis Gargaud Chanut - who was the fastest in semifinal. A big mistake cost Frenchman a podium, and the celebration in Slovenian team could begin.

This is the fourth European Champion title for Benjamin Savšek, who celebrated wins in 2015 in Markkleeberg, in 2019 in Pau and in 2020 in Prague. In addition, he also had individual bronze medal from 2012 European Championships in Augsburg.

"Today, it was a really hard fight for this title. The course was really difficult, especially at the bottom. I am really happy to hold this pressure before the start and to do it from start to finish without touches, with a clean run," said Savšek, who was also 2017 World Champion.

Sideris Tasiadis from Germany finished second. This was his sixth individual medal at European Championships, third silver. Young Spanish paddler Miquel Trave was third.

Mallory Franklin held the pressure and kept her leading position from the semifinal also in the final. At the end, she was 1.72 seconds faster than French canoeist Marjorie Delassus, and Tereza Fišerova from Czech Republic won bronze medal.

"It's really really cool. It's only my second title and I'm really happy to do it. I've been paddling really well and that being enough is always really nice. It's been a good competition, a little dramatic at times, but I've really enjoyed my paddling. I've come really strong at start of season," said Franklin.

Both Franklin and Fišerova stood on the podium of afternoon's extreme slalom race. It was 24-year-old Czech paddler who picked up gold medal after tough final race. Franklin managed to overtook Slovenian Ajda Novak in the last metres of the course for silver medal and Novak won bronze at the end.

"I am really happy, this race was really hard for me. At the end, I won gold medal. It's dream! I did not really prepare for this race, I had one training here, so I think I had a lot of luck here," Fišerova said after another great success.

In men's extreme slalom final Jan Rohrer from Switzerland found the fastest line for the European Champion title. Two Austrians - Mario Leitner and Felix Oschmautz - kept him company on the podium. After the race Jan said: "Today, with such a short course, start played a really big role and it was leading then to the win."

Next year the European Championships will be held in Krakow as a part of the European Games, where canoe slalom will be featured in the sports programme for the first time in history.

LIVE RESULTS:

https://siwidata.com/canoelive/#/live/eca/2017

LIVESTREAMING

Thursday and Friday: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanoeEurope

Saturday and Sunday*: https://olympics.com/en/sport-events/2022-eca-canoe-european-slalom-championships-liptovsky-mikuias/

Important: *Saturday's and Sunday's programme will be exclusively streamed on Olympic Channel, however, because of the TV rights restrictions certain territories will be geoblocked (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Spain, France).

History was written at Canoe Slalom European Championships in Slovakia

What a first individual final day we have seen at the 2022 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships in Liptovsky Mikulaš when women's and men's finals were on the programme. For the first time in history of Canoe Slalom European Championships we have two European Champions - Eliška Mintalova and Stefanie Horn in women's K1 and Jiri Prskavec won a record fifth title in men's kayak.

Eliška Mintalova from Slovakia and Stefanie Horn from Italy were crowned European Champions in women's K1 event of the 2022 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships in Liptovsky Mikulaš, Slovakia. This is the first time two athletes stood on the highest podium position at any canoe slalom European Championships. 

23-year-old Slovak canoe slalom paddler Eliška Mintalova started in the middle of the final as she finished the semifinal run in sixth place. She had a penalty free final run and stayed in the leading position until the very last athlete on the start line - Italian Stefanie Horn. 

German-born Horn was the fastest in the semifinal and when she crossed the finish line she produced exactly the same time as Slovak representative, so it became clear they will share the top podium position and celebration in Slovak and Italian team could begin. 

After the great success in her home country Eliška Mintalova was a bit shy speaking in English, "I am very happy because I am European Champion and this is my home course. It's a special emotion for me. Everything was very good and I was focusing just on my run."

Her Italian colleague Stefanie Horn was over the moon too after her biggest individual success so far. She added individual European gold medal to her two silvers from 2013 European Championships in Krakow and 2017 Championships in Ljubljana - Tacen. 

"I had a really difficult winter this year. Starting the last with such a great time in the semifinal, I had some pressure, but I am really happy. I am in love with Liptovsky, because I got to know my husband here. I love paddling here, it feels like flying under the bridge and there is big adrenaline, but when you go down it's really nice, it's beautiful. My final run in contrast to my semifinal run was slower, because I did not enter in the right strokes, it was less fluent," said Horn. 

Mallory Franklin from Great Britain picked up bronze medal, her second medal of this championships as she was a part of the British silver women's K1 team. 

Surprisingly, German star Ricarda Funk, reigning Olympic and World Champion failed to advance to the final after she did too many mistakes on a demanding semifinal course. 

Men's kayak final also brought historic moment. 29-year-old Jiri Prskavec was unbeatable both in semifinal and final and he won his fifth European Champion title, which makes him the most decorated male kayaker at European Championships. With this achievement, he shares the five European wins with legendary Slovak kayaker Elena Kaliska, and is one European Champion title behind Slovak twins Peter and Pavol Hochschorner who were European Champions in men's C2 six times. 

"I don't think anybody could expect to double it again. I wasn't event hoping for such a great result," said Prskavec, who repeated his success from 2016 when Europeans were held at the same course and he won individual and team gold medal. "I am super happy taht Liptovsky Mikulaš is one of mine best courses, I have good races here. I am really happy about it. The problem today wasn't only the hard course but also the wind, which was making it much harder. I managed to have a good line and maybe I was a bit lucky in the final that the wind wasn't so bad. I managed to put down a good run and I am European Champion," added the best Czech kayaker. 

Italian kayaker Giovanni De Gennaro won silver medal for an exciting day for Italian team as well as De Gennaro family. Namely, his sister in law is Stefanie Horn won the European Champion title just an hour before De Gennaro repeated his silver success from last year's European Championships in Ivrea. Austrian Felix Oschamutz was third. This is the first individual medal at senior championships for Oschamutz, who was 2017 junior world champion. 

On Sunday, the championships will conclude with women's and men's C1 semifinal and final runs and extreme slalom final phase. 

LIVE RESULTS:

https://siwidata.com/canoelive/#/live/eca/2017

LIVESTREAMING

Thursday and Friday: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanoeEurope

Saturday and Sunday*: https://olympics.com/en/sport-events/2022-eca-canoe-european-slalom-championships-liptovsky-mikuias/

Important: *Saturday's and Sunday's programme will be exclusively streamed on Olympic Channel, however, because of the TV rights restrictions certain territories will be geoblocked (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Spain, France). All the races (including Saturday's and Sunday's programme) will be available on Canoe Europe Youtube channel in the week after the championships ends, when the TV rights restrictions will be lifted.

TV RIGHTS holders (check the TV station's programme for exact times):

Slovakia: TV JOJ

Czech Republic: Česka televize

Spain: RTVE

France: L'Equipe

Slovenia: TV Slovenija

Germany: ARD/ZDF

Austria: ORF

Event website: https://canoeliptov.sk/

WORLD TRIATHLON - Brownlee brings the heat for second successive World Cup gold in Arzachena

Twelve months ago, Jonathan Brownlee set himself on course for another massive Olympic year with a mojo-boosting sprint-distance victory in Sardinia. On Saturday afternoon, the first action of the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Period saw him repeat the feat in even more emphatic fashion at the 2022 World Triathlon Cup Arzachena, leading from the early stages of the bike all the way to the tape.

It had been a four-man breakaway on the first of three draining climbs in the 30-degree heat, but only Tom Richard (FRA) could keep the pace up front across the run, eventually finishing third for a first World Cup podium after Brazil’s Manoel Messias had steamrolled his way into second with a lightening 5km.

“I love racing here, it’s a great course, it’s one of the hardest on the circuit," said Brownlee. "I didn’t have my best swim, on the first lap of the bike I learned from last year there’s no point going on my own so I went really hard at the top of the hill, got a gap. The three of us worked really well together, then I knew on the run that I should have enough. I doubted myself over the last few years and I think it’s because, in my early career, races and podiums came one after the other. I am never going to take it for granted ever again. It’s absolutely brilliant to win again.”

The temperatures had cranked up into the low 30s by mid-afternoon as the men lined up on the beach platform, a busy 750m swim ahead with a huge field of 64 men heading to the first buoy.

The familiar sight of Mark Devay (HUN) was first to emerge from the turn and spearhead a rapidly stretching field, Richard Varga (SVK) Tom Richard, Jonny Brownlee and Dylan Mccullough (NZL) for close company, but it would be Italy’s Alessio Crociani with a slick transition to come out ahead of Valentin Morlec (FRA) onto their bikes.

Messias was alongside Adrien Briffod (SUI), just ahead of Emil Holm (DEN), Leon Pauger (AUT), Jonas Schomburg (GER) and Max Stapley (AUS) who poured out of transition trying to keep the leaders in sight, U23 World Champion Csongor Lehmann just off the back of that group.

By the time the first climb started to bite, Brownlee’s plan was clear, laying down the hammer and with only Richard, Devay and Mccullough able to stick with him. Attacking at the crest and into the downhill corners, the quartet had carved out an impressive 25-second lead by the end of lap one.

It was a big group struggling to match that pace, Antonio Serrat Seaone and Shachar Sagiv (ISR) among those working hard but they couldn’t prevent the gap stretching to 45 seconds at the bell, the unfortunate Casper Stornes (NOR) and Briffod both coming off at speed.

The gas was kept on and the gap maintained for the final lap, then it was Brownlee again asking the questions after an awkward transition, able to pull clear on the opening stages of the 5km run and quickly putting 13 seconds into Devay, 20s into Richard and 40s into Mccullough by the halfway point.

Meanwhile, Manoel Messias was really motoring, passing first Mccullough then a tiring Devay, before easing into the silver position over the closing stages with 11 seconds over Richard in bronze, but there would be no catching the Brit, who now heads to WTCS Leeds with the wind in his sails.

Devay held on for fourth, Max Studer (SUI) ran his way to fifth ahead of Alberto Gonzalez Garcia. Radim Grebik (CZE) then edged an almighty sprint down the blue carpet with Emil Holm and Lasse Luhrs (GER), Jonas Schomburg rounding out the top 10.

“A lot of hard work from a lot of people has come together to achieve this result, and I am delighted with silver and carry on a great day for Brazil in Arzachena,” said a happy Manoel Messias.

“I am very happy, this is my first podium in the World Cup, that was the goal before the race, so it’s amazing," said Tom Richard. "We did a breakaway just after the swim, I was just after Jonny Brownlee so I thought in my head that it was a good follow. It was very hard in the three laps but I gave everything as I entered T2 so it was very very hard. It’s amazing to join a podium with Jonny Brownlee.”

Watch it all back on TriathlonLive.tv.

 

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

Dodet rises to Arzachena challenge to win first World Cup of the year and open Paris 2024 Qualification Period

Saturday saw a hot and hard morning of sprint-distance triathlon action on the island of Sardinia, where Sandra Dodet of France was able to keep enough in the tank to pull clear over the final 2.5km and take the first World Cup gold of 2022 in Arzachena.

She was one of five athletes looking strong over the early stages of the run after a tough three-lap bike had taken the legs out of much of the field, but as the contenders slowly dropped away, it became a sprint between Julie Derron (SUI) and Luisa Baptista (BRA) for the silver. Ultimately, it was the Swiss who was able to repeat her second place of 12 months ago.

“It was a very hard race,” admitted Dodet. “I think we did two loops on the bike chasing Mathilde Gautier and after that we regrouped. She is very strong on the bike, but we did a good job, so we should be proud. I actually didn’t feel very good on the run but I tried to stay strong.”

The mercury was creeping towards 30C as the women lined up for the beach start, Verena Steinhauser wearing the number one for the non-wetsuit, 750m swim. It was another Italian, Bianca Seregni, setting the pace through the water at the turn, though, with Zsanett Bragmayer (HUN), Sophie Alden (GBR) and Emma Jeffcoat (AUS) all right on her feet.

As they came towards the beach, Seregni veered off course and fell back into the chasing group, eventually coming out alongside Mathilde Gautier (FRA) and Annabel Koch (GER).

It was the German who was fastest through transition and onto the 20km bike, Derron and Baptista some 30 seconds back as they began the first of three big, twisting climbs.

Alden and Koch were right with Gauthier before the French began to pull clear, rapidly putting significant daylight between her and the field by the time she reached the summit. The gap was over 20 seconds at that stage, the likes of Alberte Kjaer Pedersen (DEN) almost a minute off the front.

Steinhauser and Miriam Casillas Garcia were driving the charge to close in on lap two but there was little in the way of significant change to the leader, while the third pack was beginning to bridge up.

Once contact with Gautier was finally made on the final climb, 23 athletes eventually came together, the likes of Lisa Perterer (AUT), Claire Michel (BEL) and Tamara Gorman (USA) now well-positioned as the group compacted and headed to T2.

It was Casillas and Steinhauser shoulder-to-shoulder out of transition and the Spaniard who found her legs first, easing through the gears to open up a useful early lead. She was looking comfortable even with the likes of Derron, Dodet and Baptista giving chase, Steinhauser slowly losing touch as the first lap drew to an end.

Jeanne Lehair (TRI) was suddenly looking like a strong contender as she eased into fourth place, but from the opening strides of that second and final lap, it was Dodet suddenly able to ask the question and nobody seemingly able to reply.

As she pulled clear and Lehair’s challenge tailed off, it was a straight shootout between the Swiss and Brazilian for the silver and bronze. Baptista was hanging tough, but after being out-gunned here 12 months ago for gold, Derron was not to be denied this time around, timing her final push to edge an almighty charge for the line.

Ten seconds back was Jeanne Lehair, tantalisingly close to a first World Cup podium, followed by Casillas, Steinhauser and Koch. Gautier held on for a hard-earned 8th, Claire Michel (BEL) and Julia Hauser (AUT) rounding out the top 10.

“Before the race I was really unsure of where my fitness was so I am really pleased to come away with second. In the run I thought many times that I was getting dropped but I just tried to stay really strong mentally and fight until the finish because I learned last year that it’s not over until it’s really over so this way it turned out good for me.”

“I am very happy with the result. It was a very hard race not only because of the heat, also the climbs, I am really happy with the bronze medal today. The Brazilian girls told me it would be hard but we came really prepared for this. The downhills were pretty fast and the girls always opened a little gap so I had to come back… it was hard but I am really happy to execute a good race today.”

Watch the race back on TriathlonLive.tv.

 

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.or

Authentic Marathon Swim - The most historic swimming route in the world returns

 

We travel to North Evia for swimming, kayakingm& local products festival

Athens, May 18, 2022 – The Authentic Marathon Swim returns for the 3rd consecutive year, on July 1-3, 2022, at Artemision. Amateur and professional swimmers from all over the world will have the opportunity to swim in unique open water swimming routes at Pefki, Evia of the Municipality of Istiea - Edipsos.

 

Best swimming event in Greece

The Authentic Marathon Swim was distinguished with 3 awards and reached the top of the Tourism Awards 2022, the most important institution that highlights the innovative and best practices of Greek tourism. More specifically the event received 2 Silver Awards in the “Event Organization / Press Trips / Special Events / Major Tourism Event” category for the perfect production of last year’s event and the “Storytelling Excellence” category for the successful dissemination of the event’s history throughout the world. In addition, the event received 1 Bronze Award in the “Integrated Marketing Campaign” category for the enormous publicity that was accomplished and the integrated sports tourism promotion of the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos.

 

The swimming action

On Saturday, July 2, 2022, the authentic 14.5km route “Skylias & Hydna” will be held allowing swimmers from around the world to swim over the shipwrecks of the naval battle of Artemision that took place in 480 B.C., for the first time. Athletes will follow the example of Skyllias and his daughter Hydna, the very first “marathon swimmers”, according to the Father of History Herodotus (8.8) and other historians, who helped the Greek forces in the historic naval battle of Artemision against the Persian fleet. The swimmers will cover 80 stadia or 14.5km. On the same day, the 5km and 3km routes will also be carried out. On Sunday, July 3, 2022, the 10km marathon, the 1.5km race, as well as the children’s 500m race will take place. The routes of 5km, 3km, 1.5km and 500m. have Pefki beach as their starting and finishing point.

 

Swim along top open water swimming names

The open water masters’ world champion, Vicky Kouveli, the three-time Greek champion and two-time English Channel marathon swimmer, Sofia Psilolignou and the English Channel marathon swimmer, Giannis Kotsiopoulos are just some of the first names that participants will have the opportunity to meet in this year’s event.

Enjoy the Authentic Marathon Swim’s 2021 highlights video here: https://youtu.be/8Rl_q0KQzyo

 

Register now

Participants can now register and take part in the impressive open water swimming routes of 14.5km, 10km, 5km, 3km, 1.5km. All citizens of Istiea-Edipsos and people with disabilities can take part in the 5km, 3km and 1.5km routes, completely free of charge. Registration for the 500m children’s race is free. Register now here: https://bit.ly/3jRw20t

Sea kayaking for the first time in Greece in a sports event

The certified and experienced South Evian Gulf team that was born in the Southern Gulf of Evia from its deep love for the sea and nautical travel, will not only accompany swimmers in the 14.5km and 10km races but will also offer lessons on the basic techniques of open water kayaking, acquaintance with the boats on land and then puddle at the straits of Artemision. More information on the opening of registrations will be announced in the coming days.

 

Local products festival

As part of the Authentic Marathon Swim, an exhibition of local food products and tasting will also be held in collaboration with Evia’s Federation of Trade and Entrepreneurship “Evia Epichirin”.

 

Accommodation packages at the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos

The Authentic Marathon Swim already collaborates with hotels in the region, with the aim of revitalizing North Evia and strengthening the Greek tourism product. Up to this point, this year’s event is enormously supported with special prices starting from 40 euros, by the following hospitality sponsors: Maria Louiza Apartments, Island, Mirtia Hotel, Hydna Studios, Sunset Pefki, Villa Anastasia, Artemis Rooms Pefki, Arethousa Hotel, Viki Studios.

Participants and visitors can take advantage of the special offers, providing reduced accommodation prices and late check out while discovering beautiful hotels in the areas of Pefki, Loutra Edipsos, Artemision, Istiea, Kanatadika, Neos Pyrgos, Orei and Agiokampos.

Visit the event’s specially designed page and discover the hospitality solutions and the special offers that apply to the participants.

Just an hour and a half from Athens, participants can take a ferry boat with itineraries that serve from 07:00 am in the morning to 23:00 pm in the evening. Learn how to get directly and quickly to Pefki and take advantage of the ferry boat offers that will be valid during the races.

 

Races Safety

For the safety of all races, the event will be held in accordance with FINA regulations, in order to ensure the health of athletes and attendees. The event will provide once again everyone with a safety lifeguard buoy since its use by professional and amateur athletes is mandatory. For each participant in the 14.5km and 10km routes there will be an escort-boat and its cost is included in the registration price.

Luanvi is the event’s Official Clothing Partner.

South Evian Gulf Team is the event’s Athletic Partner.

 

The event is organized by the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos and the entire Local Government with the Region of Central Greece, the Organization of Cultural Development for Central Greece (O.P.A.S.T.E.) and the Regional Union of Municipalities of Central Greece. The Authentic Marathon Swim is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism. ActiveMedia Group is responsible for the event’s Sports Production.

 

Use the event’s official hashtag #authenticmarathonswim and upload on social media the unique images and exciting moments you experienced in the previous years in the Municipality of Istiaia-Edipsos as you prepare for the 3rd and most exciting year.

 

Website: www.authenticmarathonswim.com

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/AuthenticMarathonSwim

Instagram Page: www.instagram.com/authenticmarathonswim

Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/themarathonswim

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCYxMgl-j5wgosL10lyRay5Q

1 Imressive photo from the open water swimming races at Pefki, Evia, Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos (photo by Elias Lefas @ Authentic Marathon Swim)

2 Imressive photo from the open water swimming races at Pefki, Evia, Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos (photo by Elias Lefas @ Authentic Marathon Swim)

3 Imressive photo from the open water swimming races at Pefki, Evia, Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos (photo by Elias Lefas @ Authentic Marathon Swim)

4 Drone photo of swimming at the straits of Artemision (photo by Dimitris Andritsos Photography @ Authentic Marathon Swim)

World and Olympic Champions land in Arzachena for year’s first World Cup action

The third successive laying of the famous World Triathlon blue carpet in Arzachena will get both the 2022 World Cup season and the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Period underway in Sardinia this Saturday.

It is a young course that has already seen some of the biggest names the sport has ever known competing for gold. In 2020, Vincent Luis held off the challenge of Kristian Blummenfelt and Alistair Brownlee, last year saw Jonnny Brownlee take gold and set up an unprecedented third successful Olympic campaign.

From the beach start of the 750m swim to the steep climbs on the three-lap (20km) bike and the undulating 5km run, it is one of the toughest sprint-distance courses out there, and you can watch all the action as it happens on TriathlonLive.tv.

Men's PreviewThe first Olympic points on the line means it’s another big start list for the men. Twelve months ago, Jonathan Brownlee was indeed setting the pace and lapping up the significant challenge of the Cannegione hills and hot Sardinian sunshine. He returns for his first action of 2022 on a course he clearly enjoyed and eager to see where that early-season fitness is, as he stands on the cusp of a fourth Olympics campaign.

The number one will be worn by Antonio Serrat Seoane, currently second in the overall Maurice Lacroix Rankings and looking to carry that current momentum into his first Olympic campaign. The 27-year-old has two World Cup podiums to his name – both in Weihai, 2018 and 2019 – but has been knocking on the door of the top three at the top level and the winning habit may not be far behind.

The same could be said for Adrien Briffod, who found himself in the middle of a Brownlee-Mola sandwich last year with a display that underlined how comfortable he is mixing it at the top table. The Swiss was winner at the other end of Sardinia back in 2017 on a Cagliari course where he saw off the likes of Henri Schoeman and Justus Nieschlag to take gold.

Hungary are well represented thanks to the in-form Mark Devay and U23 World Champion Csongor Lehmann, while Morocco’s Jawad Abdelmoula returns to the circuit after a storming gold-medal win in Tongyeong at the end of 2021 and off the back of continental cup wins in Asia, Africa and Europe.

Brazil’s Manoel Messias has the run power to write some headlines if he can stay in touch with the leaders across the bike segment, but those climbs will be all important in his medal hunt.

It feels like the time could be right for Sweden’s Gabriel Sandor to shine once more after two tenth-placed finishes here in the past two editions of the race. Never one to shy away from the toughest tests, Arzachena 2022 could just be the time that the 26-year-old strikes a first World Cup podium since Antwerp 2019.

Young Kiwi Dylan Mccullough starts on a high having just been selected for the New Zealand Commonwealth Games squad alongside Hayden Wilde and Tayler Reid, while Australian Max Stapley returns from Arena Games duties for his latest challenge alongside teammates Luke Willian and Luke Bate.The French pair of Paul Georgenthum and Tom Richard have repeatedly shown their ability at this level and could shine, while newcomer Valentin Morlec is a huge talent in the ascension. Germany will also be well-represented through the experienced Jonas Schomburg and Lasse Luhrs, Israel’s Shachar Sagiv ready to give another good account after his 20th place at Tokyo 2020 and a man for whom the bike course will be a challenge to relish rather than fear.

 

Women's Race

Wearing the number one and the winner of two bronze medals here is Italy’s own Verena Steinhauser. The 27-year-old matched Beth Potter stride-for-stride in 2020 but neither could hold a candle to the soaring Flora Duffy that day. After two third-place finishes, Italy’s Olympian will hope to be climbing a little higher up the podium this time around.

It was Julie Derron who grabbed the silver last year, a powerful performance only undone at the last moment by the perfect timing of Marlene Gomez-Goggel, and the Swiss star will also feel like there is unfinished business to see to in Sardinia.

Spain’s Miriam Casillas Garcia looked in excellent form in Yokohama two weeks ago as she ran her way into the top 10. Her last podium in Weihai 2019 feels like a long way back for such a strong athlete across all three segments, and Arzachena could be just the place to rediscover that top-three touch.

Denmark’s Alberte Kjaer Pedersen was one of the breakout stars of 2021. After victory in Huatulco and silver in the U23 World Championships Edmonton, the Dane’s return to the World Cup circuit – and on a course she already has two top-10 finishes to her name - will be one to keep an eye out for.

Hungary’s Zsanett Bragmayer arrives off the back of an excellent Arena Games in Singapore, but there was disappointment at WTCS Yokohama where illness prevented her finishing. If the 28-year-old is fully firing, she could definitely make a return to the World Cup podium she occupied in Haeundae 7 months ago.

Beyond the European contenders, Ainsley Thorpe (NZL) makes a welcome return to the blue carpet for the first time since WTCS Hamburg and after a series of Oceania podiums in recent months. The Kiwi’s young relay star will be gunning for a first World Cup medal since Antwerp 2019.

Charlotte McShane and Emma Jeffcoat bring the experience to an Australian contingent featuring three deubtants on the circuit; Jessica Ewart-Mctigue, Matilda Offord and Ellie Hoitink.

From the Americas, Tamara Gorman will make her long awaited World Cup return, with Banyoles 2019 being the former Junior and U23 World Champion’s last race at this level, while Brazil’s Pan American Games champion Luisa Baptista will be ready to test herself against some of the world’s best for the first time since Tokyo 2020.

The ASICS World Triathlon Team sees the welcome World Cup return of Edda Hannesdottir (ISL) for the first time since her injury a year ago, along with Estonia’s Kaidi Kivioja.

Women's Start list here - 29 May, 10.30 CEST - TriathlonLive.tv

Men's Start list here - 28 May, 15.30 CEST - TriathlonLive.tv

 

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