The elite open water season for the 2026 calendar gets under way this weekend in Somabay, a resort in Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The first stop of the Open Water World Cup is bringing out many of the globe’s biggest open water stars.
Florian Wellbrock will look to kick off his year on the right foot after going four-for-four at the World Championships in 2025. He faces no shortage of elite competition, though, including the current #1-ranked David Betlehem, last year’s overall World Cup Champion Logan Fontaine, and nine-time World Champion Gregorio Paltrinieri. These four gentlemen stand out as the favorites to podium in the lone individual event at this stop, the 10k. Last year’s stop in Egypt saw Wellbrock and Fontaine go 1-2.
Other previous World Cup medalists making a return on the men’s side include Frenchman Marc-Antoine Olivier (who earned bronze in Somabay last year), Wellbrock’s compatriot and world #4 Oliver Klemet, and Paris gold medalist Kristof Rasovszky.
Highlighting the women’s side of the itinerary is Australia’s Moesha Johnson. She comes in as a slight favorite for the women’s 10k race, though she could be challenged by names such as Italian Ginevra Taddeucci or Monacan Lisa Pou. Both aforementioned women finished 2025 on a strong foot, and Taddeucci was the runner-up at this stop last year behind Johnson. Other notable contenders include Japan’s Ichika Kajimoto and Hungary’s Bettina Fabian, both of whom rank in the global top ten.
The roster of athletes noticeably lacks representation from the Anglosphere. The United States and Canada opted out of sending any athletes at all, as did New Zealand. Apart from Johnson, who trains in Germany, no Aussies will be present. The only British swimmer in Egypt this weekend will be 22-year-old Ella Dyson.
Other big names not competing include Brazilians Ana Marcela Cunha and Vivian Jungblut. Cunha has said she’s training to swim the English Channel this year.
Events
- Men’s 10k – 3/27 10:00 AM local time/4:00 AM EST
- Women’s 10k – 3/27 1:00 PM local time/7:00 AM EST
- Mixed 4×1500 relay – 3/28 12:00 PM local time/6:00 AM EST
Livestream Info
- Eurovision Sport
- Italy: RAI
- Hungary: MTVA
- China: CMG/CCTV 5
Multiple drones? The operators have been practicing. The thing that would make this even better might be the addition of arrows identifying location of individual swimmers.
Last of the traditional spring starts to WC series. Moving to winter start.
water temp 73F/23C this morning
Looking forward to seeing the swimming.