It is not often that newspapers describe scandals in open water swimming events, but when they do, it is big news. At least locally.
The newspaper covering the 39th 16 km Faros Maratón in Croatia published a lengthy article on the controversial second-place tie between Vlodymer Voronko of Ukraine and Xavier Desharnais of Canada.
Head referee Milovoj Mirasavac recalled in the article that the finish cameras did not record Desharnais touching before Voronko, but the judges determined that both he and his Ukrainian rival touched simultaneously.
But as the scandal remains a local topics, the athletes move on. This week to the 34 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy.
A video of the controversial finish is shown here.
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.