In the 36K FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Capri-Napoli (Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli), 20 swimmers (12 men and 8 women) from nine countries took to the water where pre-race favorite and long-time marathon veteran Damian Blaum of Argentina demonstrated his dominance winning easily by nearly four minutes.

Damian finished in 6 hours 58 minutes 5 seconds with Australian Brendan Capell in second (7:02:02) and Italy’s Andrea Volpini in third.

Among the women, Italy’s Alessandra Romiti won her first Grand Prix victory in 7:26:58 over Argentina’s Pilar Geijo second and Spain’s Esther Nunez Morera a close third in 7:27:07.

With five races down on the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuit, then next race is in Sabac, Serbia on July 11th. The complete calendar is below:

Race 1: January 24, 2010 in Rosario, Argentina
Race 2: January 31, 2010 in Santa Fe, Argentina
Race 3: February 7, 2010 in Hernandarias-Parana, Argentina
Race 4: April 17, 2010 in Sumidero Canyon, Mexico
Race 5: June 27, 2010 in Capri-Napoli, Italy
Race 6: July 11, 2010 in Sabac, Serbia
Race 7: July 31, 2010 in Lac St-Jean, Canada
Race 8: August 7, 2010 in Lac Magog, Canada
Race 9: August 14, 2010 in Ohrid, Macedonia
Race 10: October 27, 2010 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Results:
1. Alessandra Romiti, (ITA), 7:26:58
2. Pilar Geijo (ARG), 7:27:06
3. Esther Nunez (ESP), 7:27:07
4. Antonella Bogarin (ARG), 7:27:08
5. Nicoletta Simonazzi (ITA), 8:41:55
6. Noelia Petti (ARG), 8:53:45
7. Ivana Sitic (CRO), 9:14:56

1. Damian Blaum (ARG), 6:58:05
2. Brendan Capell (AUS), 7:02:02
3. Andrea Volpini (ITA), 7:03:47
4. Mattia Alberico (ITA), 7:04:38
5. Evgenij Pop Acev (MKD), 7:06:09
6. Rodolfo Valenti (ITA), 7:12:52
7. Gabriel Villagoiz (ARG), 7:18:37
8. Mohamed El Zanaty (EGY), 7:25:46

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