Latest Olympic champions in date Sharon Van Rouwendaal and Ferry Weertman both of the Netherlands were the big winners today in Doha, Qatar, the first host of the FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series 2018.
Rio 2016 winner Van Rouwendaal touched home in 2h02m24s4 , while Germany's Leonie Beck was second in 2h02m25m2 and teammate Finnia Wunram third in 2h02m26s7.
In the men's race Olympic title holder Ferry Weertman won his first ever gold medal in the World Series. He clocked a time of 1h52m41s6, while France's David Aubry took silver in 1h52m42s5 and Italy's Simone Ruffini, last year overall Series' winner, took bronze in 1h52m24s7.
FINA and Microplus, the timekeeper for this event, announced a new partnership agreement on Thursday March 15 on the occasion of the Series's kick-off in Doha. Microplus provides timing solutions and is the official timekeeper of the competition for the next two editions of the FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series (2018, 2019).
The FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series next stop in the Seychelles on May 20.
The women and the men's races can be watched on demand on FINAtv.