While the Americas Championships over the Sprint distance were contested in Santa Marta, Colombia, the Americas Junior titles were also on the line. After winning the South American Junior crown earlier in the year, Andree Buc added another gold medal to his collection. The young Chilean had to work hard for his victory, though, and was pushed until the very end. Indeed, in the closing stages, any of four men could have won the race. Caua Diniz of Brazil had been the best swimmer and opened a small gap to…

In addition to the Americas Sprint Championships, another set of continental titles were decided at the weekend. Taking place in Blue Bay, Mauritius, the African crowns over the Sprint distance were settled. Men’s race Jawad Abdelmoula was too strong for the rest of the field in the men’s race. The Moroccan star was the second man out of the water, behind compatriot Badr Siwane. Once through T1, the pair had a gap of 15 seconds over the nearest chasers. Noah Künz, Jean Gael Laurent L`entete and Mohaned Elshafei headed up…

Fresh off the Americas Championships over the Olympic distance, the Sprint equivalent took place in Santa Marta, Colombia. Both the men’s and women’s winners from Veracruz, John Reed and Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal, were absent, leaving the second Americas title of the month up for grabs. Over a fast course, there was barely a moment for the athletes to catch their breath. Women’s race Diana Castillo initially raised the home hopes as she led the way in the water. The Colombian athlete clocked 10:38 for the 750m swim. Within striking…

It’s hard to say for sure who the happiest man was atop the podium at the Karlovy Vary World Cup. Jonas Schomburg, the bronze medallist, won his first World Cup medal. Márk Dévay likewise claimed his first medal in taking silver. In doing so, he satisfied a particular ambition that has burned within him for a while. And then there was Pearson. When the start lists were revealed for Karlovy Vary, Morgan Pearson was in a very different place to that which he now inhabits. An indifferent start to the…

At every turn, the women’s race at the Karlovy Vary World Cup seemed to hold an unexpected twist. Famed for the leg-sapping climbs on the course, it was expected to be a playground for the cyclists. Yet the swimmers were the ones to make hay early on. Therese Feuersinger led the early exchanges. With a long, elegant stroke, she glided through the water at half the effort and twice the speed of some others in the field. Bianca Seregni sat on Feuersinger’s feet with Sophie Alden in tow. During the…

The Asia Cup in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, doubled as the Central Asian Championships. With world ranking points and a chance to race internationally on offer, the Sprint distance event attracted plenty of athletes from further abroad. Men’s race Chris Ziehmer of Germany was one such man to take advantage of the racing opportunity. Across the Bundesliga season, Ziehmer proved to be the second most valuable man by points earned and his regular racing was pivotal for his team. In Cholpon-Ata, there was a degree to which his team-oriented efforts were rewarded…

Zagreb, Croatia, played host to one of the final international racing opportunities for Junior athletes of 2023. In perfect conditions, the athletes borrowed the lake from their rowing counterparts to take on a Sprint distance event. Women’s race The Italian team took charge of the non-wetsuit 750m swim. Mathilde Vacchini led the way in 10:10 while her teammates Sara Crociani and Adelaide Anna Badini Confalonieri followed within 5 seconds. After dominating the European Junior Cup in Dublin, Nora Romina Nádas was racing once again and emerged next behind Vacchini. Ana…