The fourth stop of the Para Swimming World Series wrapped up this week as Fuji-Shizuoka welcomed the tour for the first time. There are still plenty of stops left on the eight-stop circuit in the pool, but World Para Swimming has added another event to the calendar, announcing the third edition of the Sardinia World Para Swimming Open Water Cup last week.
“We are proud to return to Sardinia for the third edition of the Open Water Cup,” said Craig Nicholson, Head of World Para Swimming. “This event not only showcases world-class Para swimming, but also highlights the importance of inclusivity and accessibility, offering persons with disabilities access to beaches and outdoor swimming.”
There are two major changes to this year’s race from last year. First, is the timing. This year’s edition will be held on June 21. It’s a full three months earlier than last year, when the event took place on September 21, a few weeks after the end of the 2024 Paralympics.
The second change is the location. The past two editions were held at San Teodoro Beach but this year, the event moves to Alghero on the northwest coast of the island. The event will offer men’s and women’s 1.5k races for athletes in classes S3-S6, and 3k events from classes S7-S10 and S11-S14. The races will take place along the Lido San Giovanni and Spiaggia di Mugoni beaches.
If she enters this year’s race, Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg will be aiming for her third-straight women’s S11-S14 3k win in as many editions of the Sardinia World Para Swimming Open Water Cup.
Launched in 2023 to increase participation in Para swimming events, last year’s edition of the race attracted over 30 swimmers from 14 nations in the wake of the Paris Paralympic Games.
Indeed, many Paralympians had successful showings, even with a quick turn around from the controlled pool environment at La Defense Arena to the open water on the Italian coast. Paralympic champions Nicholas Bennett and Tully Kearney each added more hardware to their 2024 haul at last year’s race. Bennett won the men’s S11-S14 3k race, and Kearney was victorious in the women’s S3-S6 1.5k event.
