The eighth race of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix 2008 took place on Saturday, August 2, when 21 swimmers took to the water of Lac Memphrémagog in the Canadian province of Québec. The course was 34km, and the event doubled as the 30th Anniversary of the annual Traversée Internationale du Lac Memphrémagog open water (OW) swim. In the men’s field, the great Petar Stoychev (BUL) won cleanly, finishing about a minute ahead of the silver medallist, Mazen Aziz (EGY). Stefanie Biller (GER), winner of the women’s race, was even more dominant. She finished about four-and-a-half minutes ahead of another notable German swimmer, Britta Kamrau-Corestein.

THE MEDALLISTS
MEN

1. Petar Stoychev (BUL) 7h27m25s
2. Mazen Aziz (EGY) 7h28m10s
3. Brendan Capell (AUS) 7h28m13s


WOMEN

1. Stefanie Biller (GER) 7h37m59s
2. Britta Kamrau-Corestein (GER) 7h42m29s
3. Natalya Pankina (RUS) 7h53m43s


This win for Stoychev represents the eighth time he has won this event on Lac Memphrémagog. Also, with one competition left to go in the 2008 Grand Prix season, Stoychev leads the men’s rankings, having already won an incredible five stages of this Series. The bronze medal for Capell will also boost his ranking to retain his place in the top-three, as he took bronze in Race 5 (Sabac, SRB) before earning two silvers in Race’s 6 and 7 (Ohrid, MKD and Lac St.Jean, CAN).

Among women, Pankina’s bronze represents a slight decline in her performance, considering she leads the women’s rankings having won four Races in the 2008 Grand Prix Series so far, as well as a silver medal in Stage 4 at Capri-Napoli (ITA) on July 5. The win for Biller however, is a nice result, solidifying her place as one of the leading athletes in this Series, having taken bronze in Leg 4 and Leg 7, and gold on July 19 at Ohrid Lake (MKD, Race 6). Meanwhile, a silver for Kamrau-Corestein is a reminder not to underestimate her experience. She took gold in Stage 4 and bronze in Sabac on July 13, meaning she will finish 2008 with a Grand Prix medal of every colour. The last race of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix 2008 will be held October 18 in Sumidero (MEX).