Alexander Studzinski of Germany put on an extra hard sprint on the ninth and tenth loops of the 10K King of the Sea (Rei do Mar) professional invitational race to a 20-million television audience and thousands of cheering fans on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Codie Grimsey of Australia took it out hard and the pace almost never let up.
Alexander opened up a body length lead at the ninth loop and never looked back although Allan do Carmo and Luis Arapiraca of Brazil, Codie, Chad Ho of South Africa and Alex Meyer were hot on his heels. “That was hard,” said Alexander after he dove across the soft sand finish.
Television coverage was live with cameras on helicopters, in the water, on escort boats and along the shore with cranes and strategically positioned locations in buildings. All the cameras were required when the men came down to the incredible finish where Luis dove across the finish to nip Chad for second and Alex dashed over Allan for fourth.
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.