25K world champion Alex Meyer and 5K world champion Eva Fabian won close races at the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in China.
In Shantou’s 27°C (80.6°F) muddy waters, the pro athletes from 9 countries races around a 2K loop. In men’s race, Zu Li Jun of China took a very early lead and led the pack by 1 minute until the 7.5K when the field reeled him in going into the final loop. As the pace picked up, Alex, American teammate Fran Crippen and Olympian Brian Ryckeman of Belgium had a close battle at the end when Alex won in a near photo finish.
In the women’s race, it was a close pack with Eva Fabian and Emily Brunemann leading going into the final loop. Coming into the finish, 2010 world 25K champion Lindsey Heister of the Netherland and Olympian Angela Maurer of Germany made a move but it was thwarted by Eva who won the race. The final top 10 results:
1. Alex Meyer (USA) 1:55.30.39 2. Fran Crippen (USA) 1:55.30.89 3. Brian Ryckeman (BEL) 1:55.33.16 4. Chad HO (RSA) 1:55.38.18 5. Tom Vangeneugden (BEL) 1:56.06.87 6. Sergi Fesenko (AZE) 1:56.08.18 7. Zu Li Jun (CHN) 1:56.35.45 8. Igor Chervynskiy (UKR) 1:59.22.62 9. Kerin Rok (SVK) 1:59.25.47 10. Zibin Zang (CHN) 2:01.13.64
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.