Last Sunday, on February 3, 2008, the Bulgarian Petar Stoychev, who is the incredible winner of six successive editions of the FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup (2001-2006) and of last year’s first edition of the Grand Prix, began the 2008 season with a success; he won the first race of the 2008 series of the 2nd FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix (former FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup), the 35th edition of the “Maraton Acuatica Internacional” Santa Fe-Coronda (ARG), a 57km event. Damian Blaum (ARG), a local swimmer and last year’s winner, placed third.
In the women’s race, the Russian Natalia Pankina, a 25km specialist, obtained a fourth FINA victory in World Cup or Grand Prix. She crossed the finish line before Edith Van Dijk (NED) who decided to come back this year in the circuit and who already appears near the top.
Medallists in Maraton Acuatico Rio Coronda
Men – 1. Petar Stoychev (BUL) 8h20m09s; 2. Stéphane Gomez (FRA) 8h20m13s; 3. Damian Blaum (ARG) 8h20m19s
Women – 1. Natalia Pankina (RUS) 8h22m03s; 2. Edith Van Dijk (NED) 8h29m28s; 3. Laura La Piana (ITA) 8h33m33s.