Vitek And Frediani Dominate In Capri-Napoli

Olympian Rostislav Vitek of the Czech Republic and home favorite Camilla Frediani won the 2009 Maratona Del Golfo Capri-Napoli, the fifth stage of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix.

Rotislav easily dominated the 36K ocean race in 6 hours and 42 minutes, 14 minutes ahead of second-place Andrea Volpini (6:56) of Italy. Italy's Edoardo Stochino (7:04), Argentina's Gabriel Villagoiz (7:08) and Syria's Mohammed Saleh (7:17) followed.

22-year-old Camilla won in 7:59, easily ahead of silver medalist Pilar Geijo (8:10) and Marianela Mendoza (8:30), both from Argentina, Italy's Laura Volpi (8:40) and Argentina's Noelia Petti (8:55).

Photo by Jiří Seidl.

Photos from the Sumidero Canyon 15K

We previously reported on the pro Sumidero Canyon 15K; Omar Díaz González provided us with a variety of great shots from the race. The photo on left shows the men lining in front of their escort boats: Peter Stoychev, Diego Nogueira, Iván López, Michael Dimitrev, Saleh Mohammad, Damián Blaum, Gabriel Villagoys, Arseniy Larentyev, Manuel Chiu and Rodolfo Valenti.

The next photos show the 15K course down the scenic canyon.



Both the men and women went at each other for hours, constantly jockeying for position...until the very end...


...when Petar Stoychev and Britta Kamrau emerged with down-to-the-wire victories.

When it comes to marathon swimming, these two 2009 inductees in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame live up to their well-deserving reputations.

Asian Beach Games MVP

The Samsung Most Valuable Player award was awarded to Mohammad Saleh for his two gold medal performances in the 5K and 10K open water swims at the first Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia.




Mohammad, a 22-year-old Syrian Olympian, was selected from the total of nine nominees. The other nominees were five Indonesians, Andi Adiandsyah-Koko Prasetyo Darkuncoro (beach volleyball), Gusti Ngurah Arya Yudapandita (beach pencak silat), Dede Suryana (surfing), Asrelawandi (beach body building), Oka Sulaksana (wind surfing) and three Chinese, the women's sepaktakraw team, Ni Xiaowen (sailing) and Lee Chi Wo (triathlon).

With a 19th-place finish in the Beijing Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, Mohammad finished up his season on a truly high note.

Photos of victorious Mohammad in the water were taken by Firdia Lisnawati of the AP.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Mohmmad Saleh Goes 2-for-2 at Asian Beach Games

Beijing Olympic 10K swimmer Mohammad Saleh of Syria won his second gold medal in the 10K marathon swim at the Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia.

Mohammad comfortably won in 2:03:58.1 over Yinhan Li of China (2:06:35.8) and Maximillian Manurung of Indonesia (2:10:52.7).

Manurung's bronze-medal performance helped energize the crowds on the beach and solidify Indonesia's title as the overall champions in the first Asian Beach Games with 22 gold, 8 silver and 19 bronze medals.

Indonesia's President Yuhoyono hailed the achievement and said the Games were a success for the 1,600 athletes from 43 countries who participated.

On the women's side, China's Xue Li and Yanqiao Fang turned the tables on Natasha Tang Wing Yung of Hong Kong. Li, who took 35th at the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships, won in a great race over her fellow teammate and Olympic 10K swimmer Fang, 2:09:21.1 to 2:09:21.9. Tang finished a distant third in 2:12:49.7 after winning the 5K the day before.

Due to the size of the fields, the men's and women's race started together at Sanur Beach in Bali. The water conditions were generally calm under overcast skies, but the temperatures soared towards the end of the races.

Photos, race results and the race summary were provided by FINA Technical Delegate Dennis Miller.

Upper photo shows the men's awards ceremonies and the lower photo shows the women's medal ceremonies.

Men's Results:
GOLD: Mohammad Saleh (SYR), 2:03:58.1
SILVER: Yinhan Li (CHN), 2:06:35.8
BRONZE: Maximillian Manurung (IND), 2:10:52.7
4th: Guruh Kurniawan (INA), 2:11:23.4
5th: Tin Yu Ling (HKG), 2:13:00.8
6th: Huy Tran Duc (VIE), 2:13:01.5
7th: Wenchao Xu (CHN), 2:13:37.3
8th: Nikita Dacera (PHI), 2:17:08.5
9th: Siu Hang Cheung (HKG), 2:17:16.0
10th: Aiman Talib Al-Qasimi (OMA), 2:20:05.0
11th: Khalid Al-Kulaibi (OMA), 2:24:41.9
12th: Hussain AlHassan (SYR), 2:24:43.6
13th: A. Al-Marzooqi (QAT), 2:28:09.6
14th: Abbas Qali (KUW), 2:37:37.6
DSQ: Kiefer Ticao (PHI)
DSQ: Mandar Anandrao (IND)

Women's Results:
GOLD: Xue Li (CHN), 2:09:21.1
SILVER: Yanqiao Fang (CHN), 2:09:21.9
BRONZE: Natasha Tang Wing Yung (HKG), 2:12:49.7
4th: Oanh Nguyen Thi Kim (VIE), 2:22:33.9
5th: Wing Yue Cheng (HKG), 2:26:47.8
6th: Yessy V Yosaputra (INA), 2:31:35.3
7th: Arati Ghorpade (IND), 2:38:44.4
8th: Inggrit Defanny (INA), 2:38.44.5
9th: Song Hui Han (PRK), 2:43:55.3
DNF: Paula Abigail Vega (PHI)
DNF: Marvie Borja (PHI)
DNF: L. Adikaram Mudiyanselage (SRI)

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Mohammad & Tang Win Asian Beach Games 5K

Mohammad Saleh of Syria and Natasha Tang Wing Yung of Hong Kong won the men's and women's 5K in the first Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia.

Mohammad, who finished 19th in the Beijing Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, won handily in 1:00:23.6 over Wenchao Xu of China (1:01:55.1) and Tu Chau Ba Ann of Vietnam (1:01:57.7).

Tang, an experienced 10K open water swimmer, won an exciting women's race in 1:05:29.1 just barely outtouching Hong Li of China (1:05:30.4) and Jing Zheng of China (1:05:31.3).

The men's 5K was held in calm, warm and overcast conditions while the women faced strong winds and rain squalls during a portion of their race. The water temperature was 27°C (80.6°F) with 90% humidity.

25 men started in the course off Sanur Beach on Indonesia's southeastern coast under conditions more like a swimming pool than the ocean. This suited most of the competitors who are pool swimmers competing in their first open water swimming race.

Mohammad, Xu and Li immediately set the pace and built a comfortable lead by the 1K mark. Over the next 3K, Mohammad and his two Chinese rivals often went off-course, allowing Andika Surya Adi of Indonesia, Nikita Dacera of the Philippines and Chau Ba Ann Tu of Vietnam to stay in the hunt.

After rounding the final turn buoy with 1K to go, Mohammad showed his Olympic 10K experience by significantly increasing his pace to win easily by 1 minute and 32 seconds. Li, who crossed the finish second, was disqualified for going around the final turn buoy on the wrong side.


Ten minutes after the men, 16 women started. Natasha Tang swam stroke-for-stroke with Li Hong and Zheng Jing. Vo Vy of Vietnam and Sin Wing Magnolia Kwong of Hong Kong followed closely behind. By the 3K mark, the lead pack of five swimmers had separated themselves from the rest of the field by 400 meters.

Tang, Hong, Jing and Vy were neck-and-neck after 4K. After the final turn buoy, Tang showed her experience by taking a direct line to the finish while her rivals went slightly off-course. She hung on to win in an exciting sprint finishing only 1 second ahead of Hong and 2 seconds ahead of Jing.

Bartola Consolo, the Honorary Secretary of FINA attended and presented the men's 5K medals at the awards ceremony.

Photos, race results and the race summary were provided by FINA Technical Delegate Dennis Miller and FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee Honorary Secretary Shelley Taylor-Smith.

Upper photo shows the start of the women's race. Middle photo shows gold medalist Mohammad and silver medalist Wenchao on the awards podium.

Lower photos of victorious Mohammad, men's race start and a very happy Tang were taken by Firdia Lisnawati of the AP.

Men's Results:
GOLD: Mohammad Saleh (SYR), 1:00:23.6
SILVER: Wenchao Xu (CHN), 1:01:55.1
BRONZE: Tu Chau Ba Ann (VIE), 1:01:57.7
4th: Andika Surya Adi (INA), 1:02:55.9
5th: Nikita Dacera (PHI), 1:03:40.0
6th: Tin Yu Ling (KHG), 1:03:40.4
7th: Raymund Haryanto (INA), 1:04:32.7
8th: Siu Hang Cheung (HKG), 1:06:10.2
9th: Marzouq Al Salem (KUW), 1:06:10.3
10th: Fouad Shaikh (SYR), 1:06:26.9
11th: Abdulrahman Issa Mh Al-Ishaq (QAT), 1:06:47.3
12th: Musaliam Al-Khaduri (OMA), 1:06:51.4
13th: Mohammed Al-Habsi (OMA), 1:07.09.7
14th: Kiefer Ticao (PHI), 1:11:04.0
15th: Abdullah Mohammad (KUW), 1:11:14.0
16th: Ashane Harith Fernando (SRI), 1:11:16.7
17th: Abdulrahman Ahmed A I Ollan (QAT), 1:11:46.4
18th: Vivek Shanbhag (IND), 1:13:28.6
19th: K. Rupashinghe (SRI), 1:13:48.2
20th: Nabih Masri (JOR), 1:18:32.0
21st: Kareem Ennab (JOR), 1:18:32.3
DNF: Ihab Nemr (PLE)
DSQ: Yinhan Li (CHN)
DNS: Walid Nasib Hilal Alkaabi (UAE)
DNS: Obaid Ahmed Al Jesmi (UAE)

Women's Results:
GOLD: Natasha Tang Wing Yung (HKG), 1:05:29.1
SILVER: Hong Li (CHN), 1:05:30.4
BRONZE: Jing Zheng (CHN), 1:05:31.3
4th: Vy Vo Thi Thanh (VIE), 1:05:50.9
5th: Sing Wing Magnolia Kwong (HKG), 1:09:44.2
6th: Janice Andayani (INA), 1:10:48.2
7th: Niken Christiani (INA), 1:11:20.3
8th: Sara Hayajna (JOR), 1:14:13.5
9th: Miriam Hatamleh (JOR), 1:14:21.9
10th: Song Hui Han (PRK), 1:15:42.2
11th: Aditi Dhumatkar(IND), 1:15:42.8
12th: Mi Yong Kim (PRK), 1:19:36.8
13th: R. Wijerathne (SRI), 1:20:34.1
14th: Marvie Borja (PHI), 1:21:03.2
15th: Paula Abigail Vega (PHI), 1:21:44.7
16th: Chalani Darshani (SRI), 1:29:59.3
17th: Abdulrahman Ahmed A I Ollan (QAT), 1:11:46.4
18th: Vivek Shanbhag (IND), 1:13:28.6
19th: K. Rupashinghe (SRI), 1:13:48.2

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Asia Gearing Up for Marathon Swimming

FINA Honorary Secretary Shelley Taylor-Smith reports from the Asian Beach Games:

Olympians Mohammad Saleh of Syrian and Fang Yanqiao of China are the marathon swimming favorites at the Asian Beach Games after competing in the Beijing Olympic 10K Marathon Swim.

Photo above shows the marathon swimming officials at the Asian Beach Games in Bali.

The FINA Technical Delegate is Dennis Miller. The men's 5K head referee is Chris Guesdon and the women's 5K head referee is Bill Ford. The men's 10K head referee is Richard Verboon and the women's 10K head referee is Taylor-Smith.

There are 19 competitors in the men's 5K, 10 competitors in the women's 5K, 14 competitors in the men's 10K and 11 competitors in the women's 10K from a total of 45 national federations.

The Olympic 10K head referee Miller commented "There is nervous anticipation amongst the 30 national open water swimming officials from Indonesia officiating at their first-ever international marathon swimming competition here in Bali. Conditions are perfect with very warm and humid weather, with water temperature 28°C (82°F)."

The races will be held at Sanur Beach along the southeastern coast of Bali in Indonesia on October 25th and 26th.

In addition to the 5K and 10K marathon swims, the Asian Beach Games will include beach soccer, beach sepak takraw, beach handball, bodybuilding, windsurfing, triathlon, dragon boat, sailing, paragliding, surfing, windsurfing, woodball and beach volleyball.

Photo provided by Shelley Taylor-Smith.

Copyright © 2009 by World Open Water Swimming Association