After the start, the men started swimming in a pack and after the first 2.5km there was a group of eight swimmers led by Brendan Capell (AUS), Mazen Aziz (EGY), David Brown (AUS), and Philippe Dubreuil (CAN). At the 5km mark, Aziz, Capell, Dubreuil were still at the front, but by that time Petar Stoychev (BUL) had also emerged as a threat to the pace-setters.
Three quarters of the way through, at 7.5km, the lead went to Fran Crippen (USA), as well as Capell, Stoychev, Aziz, Brown, as well as Yury Kudinov (RUS) who had also joined the leaders as they commenced the final quarter. These swimmers stayed in a pack until the last 500m, at which point Stoychev, Crippen and Aziz sprinted ahead to go for the win. In the last 2m, Aziz was able to touch-out (with a time of 2:04:15.84) both Stoychev, who earned silver in 2:04:16.30, and the bronze-medallist Crippen in 2:04:16.87.
The finish was so close it had to be confirmed by video. Meanwhile, the women also swam in a pack-formation for the duration of the race, and it was only in the last 500m that they started to push each other for a chance to take the gold. Angela Maurer (GER) was the eventual winner in 2:13:57.49 after managing to win over her compatriot Britta Kamrau-Corestein (2:14:28.58) by 20m, as well as Lucy Redgrove (2:15:10.65, AUS), who clinched the bronze medal, but only after a struggle with Natalya Pankina (2:15:10.93).
The event was organised by the Traversée International Du Lac St. Jean. Many spectators were on-hand to cheer the athletes and the town was rather festive despite the rainy weather. There was a street supper with about 5,000 people. Additionally, local and national media bodies covered and supported the event. Prize money amounting to US$20,000 was distributed.