The 2008 edition of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup wrapped up on Saturday, October 11 in Cancun (MEX) with wins for Beijing Olympic medallists Larisa Ilchenko (RUS) and Thomas Lurz (GER). Although the races were close, the winners for both men and women finished cleanly, with all medallists touching home between one and three seconds behind each other.

Completion of the Cancun stage also revealed the overall winners of the FINA 10km World Cup 2008. The powerful and experienced Angela Maurer (GER) is this year’s top-ranked swimmer, after having participated and made the podium in almost every World Cup race on offer this season. Behind her and ranked second is Ilchenko, who continues to have a great year after making history in Beijing by becoming first female Olympic champion over 10km. Ranking third is Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil, who picked up three medals while completing a respectable series of 2008 World Cup races.

Among men the big winner is Valerio Cleri (ITA), whose excellent overall World Cup performance allowed him to climb the podium for most races on this year’s circuit, and mostly for the gold. The legendary Yuri Kudinov (RUS) continues to assert his strength on an international stage by ranking second overall, while ranking third is Egypt’s latest open water swimming sensation - Mazen Aziz.

OVERALL RANKING & PRIZE MONEY
MEN

1. Valerio Cleri (ITA) – US$ 15,000
2. Yuri Kudinov (RUS) – US$ 10,000
3. Mazen Aziz (EGY) – US$ 5,000

WOMEN
1. Angela Maurer (GER) – US$ 15,000
2. Larisa Ilchenko (RUS) – US$ 10,000
3. Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) – US$ 5,000

Race Overview, Cancun (MEX), October 11 – 8th and final stage
In the women’s race, Ilchenko won in a time of 2:02:04, with Germany’s Angela Maurer taking second in 2:02:05 and Britta Kamrau-Corestein (GER) third in 2:02:06. Placing fourth was Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha in 2:02:08. These results give Ilchenko three victories on the 2008 World Cup circuit, as well as the silver she earned in Shantou (CHN) on September 21. Maurer has accumulated two gold medals, a silver medal, and three bronze medals. Finally, Kamrau-Corestein can add her Cancun bronze to the silver medal she earned at Lac St. Jean (CAN) on July 24.

The men’s race was a nice win for Lurz in 1:52:23. He overcame the home favourite Ivan Lopez (MEX), who took second in 1:52:24, as well as another Russian, Daniil Serebrennikov, who took the bronze in 1:52:27. With this win, the Olympic 10km bronze medallist Lurz has earned three medals this Series, having taken gold in the Dubai race in mid-March and silver in Portugal on June 28. Serebrennikov meanwhile, added a bronze to his three silvers he garnered from previous stages. Valerio Cleri (ITA), who won the last three stages of the 10km World Cup, had to settle for fourth this time in 1:52:31.056.