Third Time Is A Charm for Damián Blaum
A day after the exciting FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup race in Viedma, the the third and longest race (88K) on the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuit took place in the Paraná River from Hernandarias to Paraná in Argentina (the 16th Maratón Hernandarias-Paraná). Argentina hero Damián Blaum was the first to reach the Paraná Rowing Club after a tough 8 hours and 23 minutes and 21 seconds in the churning river. The Argentinean was a scant 2 seconds ahead of Alexander Studzinski of Germany. Rodolfo Valenti finished third in 8 hours 25 minutes with his Italian teammate Andrea Volpini, in fourth. This emotional victory was his third consecutive victory where Damián also set a course record.
Alexander had the initial lead, but Damián fought back and closed to a few meters towards the end and finally overtook his German rival at the end.
It was a day for Argentina on the gold medal stand as Pilar Geijo won the women’s race in 8:34:22, comfortably ahead of Esther Núñez Morera of Spain in 8:40:02 and Shelley Clark of Australia in 8:43:36.
Copyright © 2010 by Open Water Source
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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