Hot off the heels of the World Championships in Doha, Qatar which ended less than a month and a half ago, this weekend sees another special event begin in Soma Bay, Egypt.
2024 is one of the busiest years in the history of the sport with the World Championships, European Championships, the Olympic Games, and Short Course World Championships all taking place. In between these events, the Open Water Swimming World Cup provides another opportunity for athletes to showcase their talent on the world stage.
LET’S DIVE INTO THE CRYSTAL-CLEAR WATERS OF SOMA BAY
The most endurance-minded athletes in the aquatics world start their journey in Egypt, Somabay, as they did last year, in 2023. 44 men and 36 women will compete in the first leg of the Open Water Swimming World Cup, starting with the Women’s and the Men’s 10km on Saturday and finishing on Sunday with the Mixed 4 x 1500m relay.
The overall prize money this year will be USD 350,000, where each stop will see USD 30,000 awarded to the best swimmers. The winners of the 10km will receive a check for USD 3,500, while first place in the Mixed Relay will receive a check for USD 5,000.
As in 2023, there will be three categories open for awards: World Cup Leader, World Cup Sprint Leader and World Cup Junior Leader. The overall World Cup Leaders will earn USD 50,000, the runners-up USD 35,000, and the third-ranked swimmer will receive USD 25,000. As for the Sprint Leader, USD 10,000 will be awarded to the individual World Cup Sprint Leader (men & women) who has accumulated the most points in that category within the 10km event during the year, and the World Cup Junior Leader will earn USD 10,000.
WOMEN TO WATCH
Leonie Beck is one to watch, claiming the gold medal in Soma Bay last year and looking to demonstrate a show of strength ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Ana Marcela Cunha, the reigning Olympic champion, left Doha after the World Championships with a smile on her face and a bronze medal, after finishing in the third place in the 5km and fourth in the 10km. Last year's race in Soma Bay was Cunha's comeback competition after missing 6 months due to injury, and she finished third.
Caroline Jouisse, a talented swimmer from France, proved her strength last year by securing a third place finish overall. Her remarkable performance has undoubtedly placed her in the spotlight for the upcoming season. With the added motivation of competing in her home Olympics, France’s Jouisse is expected to push herself even further, aiming to reach the top of the podium.
THE MISSING ONE
Sharon van Rouwendaal, who won two gold medals at the World Championships in Doha in the 10km and 5km as well, will not be competing in the season opener, but will be back to compete in the two World Cup stops in Golfo Aranci (ITA) and Setubal (POR).
MEN TO WATCH
Kristof Rasovszky is not only the reigning World Champion, but also last year's overall World Cup winner. He continued this dominance in Doha where he won the 10km. In the opening race in Soma Bay in 2023, he just missed the podium by a mere 0.5 seconds. Speaking recently, Rasovszky of Hungary stated; “We competed here last year, I finished 4th and I'd like to finish on the podium this year, although I was sick 2 weeks ago.
"The venue is amazing, clear water, sunshine and amazing weather, you can't ask for much more. I hope it will be an exciting race on Saturday.”
French open water swimmer Marc-Antoine Olivier will also be one to watch as he finished on the podium in both the 10km and 5km in Doha.
Domenico Acerenza, Gregorio Paltrinieri and Marcello Guidi are three of the Italian swimmers to watch out for in the opening race in Soma Bay. Acerenza finished fourth overall last year and won bronze in the 5km in Doha, making him the only Italian to finish on the podium in an individual open water event at the World Championships.
THE OLYMPIC FEVER IS HERE
The first three stages of the World Aquatics Open Water World Cup, held in Somabay, Golfo Aranci, and Setubal, hold immense significance for athletes as they prepare for the hugely anticipated Olympic Games Paris 2024. These World Cup stages serve as crucial stepping stones for athletes to showcase their strength.
WATCH LIVE the exciting spectacles in Soma Bay, Egypt