Olympicchampions Sharon Van Rouwendaal and Ferry Weertman, both of theNetherlands, were the big winners yesterday in Doha, the first host ofthe FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series 2018.Rio 2016 winner VanRouwendaal touched home in 2h02m24s4, while Germany’s Leonie Beck wassecond in 2h02m25m2 and teammate Finnia Wunram third in 2h02m26s7.Inthe men’s race Olympic title holder Weertman won his first ever goldmedal in the World Series. He clocked a time of 1h52m41s6, whileFrance’s David Aubry took silver in 1h52m42s5 and Italy’s SimoneRuffini, last year overall Series’ winner, took bronze in 1h52m24s7.Anarray of open water swimmers (43 women, and 72 men), several of themOlympic and/or World champions battled for glory yesterday off Doha’sCoriche.The women’s race started this morning at 8:30 with uncertainconditions. A light wind was up and a slight fog made the visibilitymore difficult. However half way through the race the sun came out andthe temperature went up.The speed really started to pick up towardsthe end of the race when the German swimmers Leonie Beck and FinniaWunman clearly showed their intention to keep their best pace within thefrontrunners.While most swimmers skipped the last feed opportunityat the pontoon, where they can refuel with energy gel and cooling water,the real sprint was visible in the last 19-20 minutes of the race.Inthe last straight line, Van Rouwendaal distanced herself from the packto swim clear with the definitive intention to grab a medal. At the lastbuoy, Van Rouwendaal gave all she had and clinched the gold after2h02m24s4 of incredible effort in the water. Right behind her for silverwas Leonie Beck (2h02m25s2) and Finnia Wunman for bronze (2h02m26s7). Avery happy and smiling Van Rouwendaal commented after her race: “I feelvery good. This is like my best race ever… apart from the Olympics. Iwas really relaxed during the race. I started behind and at each turn Itried to win a few places and at the end I just kept calm. I tried tosprint the last 600m.“Normally I am in front right from the startbut at the World Series I am trying to learn new tactics. I can see thatthis was my best tactic ever.” Leonie Beck (GER), silver medallist,added: “I am feeling very good. I did not expect to do so well. When theItalians stopped I didn’t expect it so I thought “ok well I’ll just goin front”.”As opposed to the women’s diving start, it was a water start for the men’s race this afternoon in Doha.Rightfrom the beginning Logan Fontaine, 19 in a few days, from France, tookthe lead together with teammate David Aubry, 21. We could observe aV-shape formation behind the two French leaders which is a sign that thepace is steady.But half way through the first lap, seven swimmers were side by side in the front to form a spectacular group of frontrunners.Justlike in the women’s race, Germany showed great form yesterday. MarcusHerwig started to take the lead and distance himself from the pack. Heswam on the left hand side of this huge group of athletes, whichincluded 15 French swimmers, all standing out with their bright bluecap.At the start of lap 2, Hungary’s Kristof Rasovszky went off andstarted leading, leaving Fontaine fighting behind him, who, half waythrough the second lap was again on his own towards the front-left handside, away from the pack, hoping for a better line. Germany’s number 43Marcus Herwig, 22, was leading at this point.Brazil’s DiogoVillarinho took the early lead of lap 3, which the referee had to watchvery carefully as the pack was starting to spread out. Last year’soverall winner Simone Ruffini of Italy was then 7th in a very controlledpace.Olympic champion Weertman slowly but surely made his way fromthe back of the pack to the middle. His teammate Marcel Schouten wasstill one of the first ones in turns with Fontaine. Fontaine ended upfinishing 9th today in 1h52m48s90.Aubry got back to the front in thefourth lap, when swimmers normally adjust their position for the restof the competition and were the gaps in-between the group increase. Atthis point, Jack Brunell (GBR), Mario Sanzullo (ITA) and KristofRasovszky (HUN) made their way to the front.In a stunning sprint100m away from the turning bouy during the fifth lap, traditional indoorpool swimmer and 1,500m Olympic and World champion Gregorio Paltrinieriof Italy took the lead for the first time of the race. He suddenly wasside by side with very experienced Alex Reymond of France. The sixth andfinal lap saw Weertman coming back faster than ever to touch homefirst, closely followed by Aubry (1h52m42s5) and Ruffini (1h52m24s7) whocompleted the podium today in Doha.Still out of breath, goldmedallist Weertman, said: “This is my first win in the World Series! Iam very happy about that! I have won some other races but it is nice tobe this good that early in the season.“I felt strong in the fourthlap, so I overtook in the front and immediately I saw Reymond coming. Heis a very good 25km swimmer so I knew he was going to keep up the paceand I knew I had to stay on his feet. I could do that for a very longtime. I also saw Paltrinieri come next to me and I know he’s the fastestman in the 1,500m but I had to stay with him because I know I have agood sprint.”
March 18, 2018 | 12:48 AM