Bulgarian Petar Stoychev got his fourth 2008 victory, by arriving first at the conclusion of the men’s race of the sixth leg of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix, held in Ohrid (MKD) on July 19, 2008. Stoychev completed the 30km in 6h14m51s, being closely followed by Brendan Capell (AUS, 6h14m53s29) and Stéphane Gomez (FRA, 6h14m53s50). In a thrilling race, the fourth best, Tomi Stefanoski (MKD), also finished in the same second as Capell and Gomez, with a time of 6h14m53s70. This year, Stoychev has already won the first three races held in Argentina.

In the women’s race, things were not as close, with Stefanie Biller, from Germany, finishing first in 6h15m58s, her first triumph of 2008, after being bronze medallist in the fourth event of the season, between Capri and Napoli, in Italy.

Esther Nunez Morera, from Spain, was second in 6h23m37s, while Australian Shelley Clark was third in 6h35m21s.

MEDALLISTS IN OHRID

MEN
1. Petar Stoychev (BUL) 6h14m51s
2. Brendan Capell (AUS) 6h14m53s29
3. Stéphane Gomez (FRA) 6h14m53s50

WOMEN
1. Stefanie Biller (GER) 6h15m58s
2. Esther Nunez Morera (ESP) 6h23m37s
3. Shelley Clark (AUS) 6h35m21s

The FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix is one of the two new long-distance swimming competition series’ launched by FINA in 2007 (the other is the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup). These two series’ replace the FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup contested since 1993/1994. The Grand Prix competition is designed for open water swimming races of and above 15km. The next race for the 2008 series will take place on July 26 in Lac St. Jean (CAN).

THE 2008 FINA OPEN WATER SWIMMING GRAND PRIX (GP)
in few lines

Dates & Sites

(1) Race GP No 1 - February 3, 2008 - Maraton Acuatica Rio Coronda in Santa Fe (ARG), 57km
(2) Race GP No 2 - February 9, 2008 - Rosario (ARG), 15km
(3) Race GP No 3 - February 16, 2008 - Viedma (ARG), 15km
(4) Race GP No 4 - July 5, 2008 - Marathon del Golfo Capri-Napoli (ITA), 36km
(5) Race GP No 5 - July 13, 2008 - Sabac Swim Marathon (SRB), 19 km
(6) Race GP No 6 - July 19, 2008- Ohrid Lake Swim Marathon (MKD), 30km

(7) Race GP No 7 - July 26, 2008 - Traversée Internationale du Lac St. Jean, Roberval (CAN), 32km
(8) Race GP No 8 - August 2, 2008 - Traversée Internationale du Lac Magog (CAN), 34km
(9) Race GP No 9 – October 18, 2008 - XVII Sumidero Canyon Swimming Marathon in Chiapas (MEX), 15km

2008 MEN’S PODIUMS

(1) 1. Petar Stoychev (BUL); 2. Stéphane Gomez (FRA); 3. Damian Blaum (ARG)
(2) 1. Petar Stoychev (BUL); 2. Stéphane Gomez (FRA); 3. Damian Blaum (ARG)
(3) 1. Petar Stoychev (BUL); 2. Andrea Volpini (ITA); 3. Rodolfo Valenti (ITA)
(4) 1. Stéphane Gomez (FRA); 2. Rodolfo Valenti (ITA); 3. Gabriel Villagoiz (ARG)
(5) 1. Brendan Capell (AUS); 2. Stéphane Gomez (FRA); 3. Daniil Serebrennikov (RUS)
(6) 1. Petar Stoychev (BUL); 2. Brendan Capell (AUS); 3. Stéphane Gomez (FRA)
(7)
(8)
(9)

2008 WOMEN’S PODIUMS

(1) 1. Natalia Pankina (RUS); 2. Edith Van Dijk (NED); 3. Laura La Piana (ITA)
(2) 1. Natalia Pankina (RUS); 2. Esther Nuñez (ESP); 3. Alessandra Romiti (ITA)
(3) 1. Natalia Pankina (RUS); 2. Annegret Braun (GER); 3. Marianela Mendoza (ARG)
(4) 1. Britta Kamrau-Corestein (GER); 2. Natalia Pankina (RUS); 3. Stefanie Biller (GER)
(5) 1. Anna Uvarova (RUS); 2. Ekaterina Zhdanova (RUS); 3. Britta Kamrau-Corestein (GER)
(6) 1. Stefanie Biller (GER); 2. Esther Nunez Morera (ESP); 3. Shelley Clark (AUS)
(7)
(8)
(9)