Ivan Lopez Leads Pack In Acapulco Bay
Ivan Lopez of Mexico won today’s Acapulco 5K Ronald Johnson International Swim in 1:02:21.5 after pulling away from a tightly bunched lead pack of ten swimmers. The swimmers were treated to great, flat-water conditions under sunny skies in the straight 5K swim across Acapulco Bay on the west coast of Mexico. “With 400 meters to go, I saw the leader start to shorten his stroke. So I knew he was tightening up and I picked up my pace. I started out fast, but the lead pack went with me, so I slowed down and let the others lead the pack until the end,” said Ivan, wizened after competing on many strategic races on the pro circuit.
759 swimmers – with an impressive 45% of them women – took to the swim across Acapulco Bay, safely guided by a flotilla of over 40 boats. “It was a great event,” said Bill Ireland, a veteran open water swimmer from California, a sentiment echoed by everyone in the 1K, 1.5K and 5K races. “The finish of the swim is at a water park, so everyone can enjoy the rest of their day in beautiful Acapulco,” said host organizer Nelson Vargas.
A great day for the young swimmers and the young-at-heart.
Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones
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.
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