Van Dijk, Koudinov Take the 25K, as 2nd FINA Open Water Champs Close

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt, September 28. AFTER 25 gruelling kilometers of swimming — the equivalent of three marathons — the women's event all came down to the final few strokes.

In what was described as the closest 25K in history, Holland's venerable Edith Van Dijk put it all together to takes the win in 6 hours, 11 minutes, 21 seconds. Germany's Angela Maurer was second less than two seconds behind and only a quarter of a second ahead of teammate Britta Kamrau. Kamrauy won the 10K three days ago, while Maurer was third in that race.

Russians took the top two spots in the men's race, as
Yuri Koudinov finished in 5:39:14, exactly two minutes ahead of teammate Anton Sanatchev. Argentina's Gabriel Chaillou followed two seconds later.

Van Dijk and Koudinov were also the 25K winners in the first edition of this competition, two years ago in Honolulu. Furthermore, Koudinov was again the best in the 25K at the 9th FINA World Championships in Fukuoka last year. For the Russian swimmer this victory was his third world title out of the last three world level rendezvous! Van Dijk was second in Fukuoka and first of the overall ranking of the 2001 FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup. In Sharm El Sheikh she had already won the silver medal in the 5K and was fourth in the 10K.

RESULTS

MEN'S 25K
1. Yuri Koudinov (RUS) 5:39:14
2. Anton Sanatchev (RUS) 5:41:14
3. Gabriel Chaillou (ARG) 5:41:16

WOMEN'S 25K
1. Edith van Dijk (NED) 6:11:21
2. Angela Maurer (GER) 6:11:22.43
3. Britta Kamrau (GER) 6:11:22.70

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