69 Athletes Attend USA-Boycotted FINA 10K World Cup Race In United Arab Emirates

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

Today’s FINA 10K Marathon World Cup race in Abu Dhabi on the north central coast of the United Arab Emirates had more attention drawn to it than a typical 10K swim would garner. It was the first time that the UAE has hosted a race since Fran Crippen died there in 2010 during a FINA-sanctioned competition, and many were upset that FINA chose to hold an event there.

The entire American open water national team boycotted today’s race, also citing the decision to make Ayman Saad the race director. Saad coordinated the race in October 2010 in which Crippen died of a heart attack caused by overexertion and heat exhaustion. Alex Meyer wrote yesterday on ESPN.com his decision to skip the meet, bringing the issue to a wider sports audience.

Sixty-nine athletes raced today, a normal attendance figure for the FINA 10K races. In the absence of some of the best 10K swimmers in the world, newcomer Alex Reymond of France won the men’s race in a time of 1 hour, 57 minutes and 52.1 seconds. It was a close group for the top three, with second and third needing a judges’ viewing of the finish on video to determine the silver and bronze medalists. Jack Burnell of Great Britain got the official second-place finish, while Germany’s Christian Reichert placed third. In the official record, both recorded times of 1:57:53.6.

In the women’s field, Italy’s Rachele Bruni won her second race of the series by three seconds with a 2:07:31.8. China, not yet known as a major force in open water swimming, garnered the silver medal with Yan Siyu taking down Olympic 10K medalist Kerri-Anne Payne of Great Britain in a time of 2:07:34.5.

The winners of both races received $7,000 for their victories as part of a boosted prize purse for the UAE race only. Many have viewed FINA’s boosting of the prize money as a bribe to persuade athletes to attend the event.

The next stop in the FINA 10K Marathon World Cup is in New Caledonia, France, on April 18.

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