Courtesy: FINA
China’s Xin Xin and Germany’s Christian Reichert were the best out of 44 swimmers (22 men, 22 women) who took the plunge in Lac Megantic, Canada, on Saturday August 11, 2018, as the Quebec Lake staged the 6/8 meet of the FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series 2018.
In the men’s race Reichert, 33, stayed in the back of the pack the whole race until the last buoy, with 250 meters to go to then take the victory in 1h56m52s5. After video replay, it was clear Italy’s Dario Verani ranked second in 1h56m52s9, while Brazil’s Fernando Ponte completed the podium in 1h56m53s5.
For Xin, 22, her victory marked the highlight of her season. The two-time Olympian’s previous best finish was eighth place in the Seychelles back in May. She proved to be the fasted in Lac Megantic and touched home in 2h04m40s5, just before Rachele Bruni of Italy who took silver with a time of 2h05m25.2. Ecuador’s Samantha Arevalo claimed the bronze medal in 2h06m11s7.
Detailed reports and athletes’ quotes about yesterday’s races are available on the FINA website.
After a-month break, the FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series 2018 will resume in Chun’An, China, on September 16 for the penultimate leg before concluding in Abu Dhabi on November 9.
Medallists in Lac Megantic
MEN
1. Christian Reichert (GER) 1h56m52s5, 2. Dario Verani (ITA) 1h56m52s9, 3. Fernando Ponte (BRA) 1h56m53s5
WOMEN
1. Xin Xin (CHN) 2h04m40s5; 2. Rachele Bruni (ITA) 2h05m25.2; 3. Samantha Arevalo (ECU ) 2h06m11s7
Calendar 2018
#1 – Doha (QAT) – March 17
#2 – Seychelles (SEY) – May 20
#3 – Setubal (POR) – June 9
#4 – Balatonfured (HUN) – June 16
#5 – Lac St Jean (CAN) – July 26
#6 – Lac Megantic (CAN) – August 11
#7 – Chun’An (CHN) – September 16
#9 – Abu Dhabi (UAE) – November 9
