NAPOLI, Italy, August 29. THE fourth FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships got underway with the men’s and women’s 5k races on Tuesday as Russia and Germany scored the initial gold medals of the event.
Women’s 5k Open Water
Russia’s Larisa Ilchenko, a native of Volgograd, Russia, captured the initial gold medal of the World Open Water Championships with a solid triumph in the women’s 5k race. The two-time world champion in the event, who is coached by Vladimir Zakharov, brought the conquest home in 1:08:19.7.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s Poliana Okimoto snared silver in 1:08.27.6 to finish more than 25 seconds ahead of Germany’s Britta Kamrau-Corestein. The German claimed bronze in 1:08:46.3.
American Kirsten Groome placed just off the medal stand with a fourth-place 1:08:47.0.
Men’s 5k Open Water
The Germans claimed their second medal of the day, this time of the gold variety, when Thomas Lurz touched out American Charles Peterson. The co-owners of the inaugural Swimming World Magazine Open Water Swimmer of the Year title last year, brought it down to the wire again in a virtual tie.
Lurz, the 2005 world champion in the 5k, stopped the clock in 1:04:32.3. Peterson, on the other hand, finished just .4 seconds behind him in 1:04:32.7.
Italy’s Simone Ercoli garnered bronze in 1:04:35.9.
The meet continues with the men’s and women’s 10k raced on Thursday. The 25k races close out the competition as the women take the plunge on Saturday and the men conclude the meet on Sunday.