Thomas Lurz, Larisa Ilchenko Top Bulgarian Stop of FINA 10K World Cup

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, August 10. OVER the weekend, the fourth out of 13 stages of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup 2009 series took place on Lake Varna (BUL) on August 8, ending in another victory for Thomas Lurz (GER) among men, while the women's gold is in the hands of Larisa Ilchenko (RUS). This triumph for Lurz follows his two recent victories in the men's 10km and 5km at the 13th FINA World Championships 2009 in Rome. Ilchenko picked up the 5km silver in Rome, but had to withdraw from the 10km the following day due to injury. Thirty-nine athletes (20 men and 19 women) from 16 countries, many of whom are accomplished open water swimmers, entered the race.

The silver and bronze medallists among men were 10km Olympians Vladimir Dyatchin (RUS) and Allan do Carmo (BRA). Brian Ryckeman of Belgium (7th in Beijing), who has been a formidable competitor in recent international races, took 4th, and the local hero Petar Stoychev (BUL), who recently won three consecutive legs of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix, took just 6th place. In the women's field, Poliana Okimoto (BRA), the recent 5km bronze medallist at the Championships in Rome, swept the silver while her compatriot Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) took bronze (Cunha sits approximately 3rd in the general 2009 World Cup rankings). The newly crowned 25km world champion Angela Maurer (GER) finished 4th.

Medallists – MEN
1. Thomas Lurz (GER) 2h01m31
2. Vladimir Dyatchin (RUS) 2h01m37
3. Allan do Carmo (BRA) 2h01m38

Medallists – WOMEN
1. Larisa Ilchenko (RUS) 2h16m05
2. Poliana Okimoto (BRA) 2h16m06
3. Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) 2h16m07

The next races of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup 2009 series are as follows: August 12, 2009 – Lake Annecy (FRA); August 29, 2009 – Copenhagen (DEN); September 6, 2009 – Manhattan, NYC (USA); September 12, 2009 – Cancun (MEX).

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