Russian Powerhouse On Its Way To Rome

At the 2009 Russian national open water swimming championships this week, Ekaterina Seliverstova (shown with teammate Larisa Ilchenko on left in 2007) won both the women's 5K and 10K championships in Anapa in the Black Sea.

This may be Ekaterina's breakout year, although we understand that Larisa already qualified for Rome as the Olympic 10K champion and did not swim in the championships.

Ekaterina has been knocking at the door of a world championship for some time and she will be carrying the mantle for the powerful Russian open water team in Rome. She was second to teammate Larisa in the 5K at the 2007 and 2008 world championships and has placed fourth in the 10K at the 2003 and 2004 world championships.

Similarly, Evgeny Drattsev, fifth at the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim) in Beijing (shown in the blue cap on right at the Olympics feeding station), won the men's 5K and 10K championships. He will be one of the pre-race favorites in Rome.

Former world champion Vladimir Dyatchin finished third in the 10K, leaving Vladimir to only swim the 5K in Rome.

Without Olympic 10K silver medalist David Davies and Vladimir in the 10K, German Thomas Lurz and Evgeny will face 10 other fast men who will be highlighted in the upcoming Open Water Wednesday feature on SwimNetwork this week.

Photos by Getty Images.

Russian All-Stars Vying For Rome

The Russian Swimming Federation started its national open water swimming championships today in the Black Sea in Anapa. The women's 5K race is today, the men's 5K on June 26th, the women's and men's 10K on June 28th, the women's 16K on June 30th and the men's 16K on July 1st for the right to respresent Russia at the 2009 World Swimming Championships in Rome.

Photo by Giorgio Scalia of Russian swimmers Selverstova, Daniil Serebrennikov and Evgeny Drattsev at the 2008 European Open Water Swimming Championships.

European Team Trial Championships

In an much anticipated race between Russia, Germany, Italy and 18 European All-Star teams, Italy won the 5K time trial team event at European Open Water Championships. Rachele Bruni, the women’s 5K champion, teamed up with Luca Ferretti and Andrea Volpini to finish in 56:17.5 in the team event.

Bruni, Ferretti and Volpini, like all the other teams, started together and were timed when the last swimmer crossed the finish. The Russian team of Evgeny Drattsev, Daniil Serebrennikov and Ekaterina Seliverstova finished second in 57:03.6, ahead of Germany with Thomas Lurz, Jan Wolfgarten and Britta Kamrau-Corestein who finished in 57:30.0.

"This was a fantastic race. Rachele Bruni is the toughest fighter I’ve ever met. The team trial is a great race because you have to swim as a team and not as an individual. It’s like the relays in the pool," said Volpini. His teammate Ferretti agreed, "The future belongs to Rachele Bruni..."

Bruni swam a 58:50.7 as an individual in the women's 5K, but she swam 2 minutes and 33 seconds faster drafting and pacing with her two male teammates.

Kamrau-Corestein also enjoyed the new format on the European stage, "We still have to gain some experience in this new event, then we might do even better. But we are happy with the bronze medal. The event is a good idea that leads the sport in the right direction." Kamrau-Corestein swam 59:16.1 as an individual and a 57:30.0 as a member of a 3-person team.

Serebrennikov of Russia said, “I liked the concept of the race very much. It is interesting, and you could even say it’s funny. I hope LEN will keep it for the next championships. On the other side, it’s the third event within three days, and it has taken its toll on me.”

Upper photo of Italy's victorious team of Ferretti, Bruni and Volpini taken by Giorgio Scala of Deepbluemedia.

Middle photo of Franco and Bruni after the individual 5K race taken by Giorgio Scala of Deepbluemedia.

Lower photo of Russian, Italian and Germans teams on the awards stand by Giorgio Scala of Deepbluemedia.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Lurz Wins 10K at European Championships

After taking control of the race 1500 meters from the finish, Thomas Lurz of Germany outsprinted Evgeny Drattsev of Russia to win the men's 10K at the European Open Water Championships. Lurz, the Olympic 10K bronze medalist, won in 1:52:48.9, 1.7 seconds ahead of Drattsev. Toni Franz of Germany finished in 1:52:53.0 in a photo finish against Israel’s Michael Dmitriev.

Lurz added to his collection of gold medals as the 6-time world champion. "It was difficult to motivate myself for the European [Championships] after the Olympics, but other swimmers had the same problem," said Lurz who is coached by his brother. "The race turned out as expected for me. I let the others make the pace at first, and then took over the initiative on the last 1500 metres, protecting my lead into the finish."

The race began calmly enough (see start photo at left), but ended up in a frantic sprint towards the end. Drattsev described the race as, "My tactics was to stay with the top group on the first lap, and thereafter to push to the lead. But the group kept close together. Unfortunately I had to swim the complete race without taking any drink or food."

Upper photo of Thomas Lurz swimming towards finish pads taken by Giorgio Scala of Deepbluemedia.

Lower photo of men's lead pack in the beginning of the race in the Adriatic Sea taken by Giorgio Scala of Deepbluemedia.