Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

This morning’s King and Queen of the Sea (Rei e Rainha do Mar) was a race that tested every skill of the world’s fastest open water swimmers: flat-out speed, bodysurfing skills, stamina, strategy, in’s and out’s, beach running, drafting, positioning and pacing. From world champions Ana Marcela Cunha, Chip Peterson and Thomas Lurz to Olympians Valerio Cleri and Allan do Carmo, the race was an all-out battle from the start to the very last step.

The field was separated into 2-person teams with one man and one woman on each team, each sprinting at 450m rectangular course on Copacabana Beach, right where the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim will be held.

In front of a live television audience of TV Globo, the Brazilian team of Ana Marcela Cunha and Allan do Carmo, both 2014 FINA World Open Water Swimmers of the Year, just barely touched out the American team of Chip Peterson and newcomer Stephanie Peacock.

Coming out of the water, do Carmo had a step on Peterson until Peterson overtook him slightly for an apparent American victory. But a quick instep by Do Carmo gave the savvy Brazilian enough of an edge to just barely sprint over the finish ahead of his American rival who dove in his final lunge.

The final results:
1. Brazil A. (Ana Marcela Cunha + Allan do Carmo) 32:32.10
2. U.S.A. (Stephanie Peacock + Chip Peterson): 32:32.12
3. Brazil V. (Betina Lorscheitter + Samuel de Bona): 32:34.00
4. Italy (Alice Franco + Valerio Cleri): 33:01.15
5. Germany (Sarah Bosslet + Thomas Lurz): 33:01.21
6. Spain (Esther Nuñez + Damián Blaum): 35:27.02
7. Argentina (Florencia Mazzei + Guillermo Bértola): 39:12.25



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