With few weeks to go for the start of the 17th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary’s Kristof Rasovszky gave excellent indications on his present shape by winning the third leg of the FINA/HOSA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup, held in Setubal (POR) on June 24. The Magyar swimmer, one of the athletes to watch at home waters, concluded the race in 1h29m50s97, thus getting his first gold medal at this level. In the women’s field, the 2016 winner of the series, Italy’s Rachele Bruni was the best in Portugal, touching first in 1h37m36s28.

With the absence of the provisional leader of the men’s ranking, France’s David Aubry, Rasovszky imposed his speed in the final lap, leaving Rob Muffels (GER) with the silver in 1h29m52s97, while Andrea Manzi, from Italy, earned bronze in 1h29m59s06. His more experienced teammates, Simone Ruffini and Federico Vanelli, finished in fifth and sixth respectively. 

The Portuguese waters were also not so successful for the 2016 Olympic champion, Ferry Weertman (NED, seventh), or the veterans Christian Reichert (GER, eighth) and Allan do Carmo (BRA, 11th).


The women's podium: Jungblut (BRA, silver), Bruni (ITA, gold) and Arevalo (ECU, bronze)

Among women, Bruni was the woman to beat and the Italian did not disappoint. Her main challenger, surprising Viviane Jungblut from Brazil, got silver in 1h37m37s23. South America placed a second swimmer on the podium, with the bronze going to Samantha Arevalo, from Ecuador, in 1h37m42s94. Arianna Bridi, also from Italy, and leader of the ranking before the Setubal rendezvous, finished in fourth.

She was followed by Brazil’s legend Ana Marcela Cunha, while experienced Anna Olasz (HUN) was only 13th and 41-year-old Angela Maurer, from Germany, touched in 18th.

The Portuguese race was held in the exact same place (at the large of Setubal) where the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Marathon Swimming qualification determined part of the athletes present in the London and Rio Games. 

After Viedma (ARG, February 4) and Abu Dhabi (UAE, March 11), the fourth leg of the FINA/HOSA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup will take place in Lac St. Jean, in Canada, on July 27.

MEDALLISTS IN SETUBAL (POR) 

Men

1. Kristof Rasovszky (HUN), 1h29m50s97; 2. Rob Muffels (GER), 1h29m52s97; 3. Andrea Manzi (ITA), 1h29m59s06

Women

1. Rachele Bruni (ITA), 1h37m36s28; 2. Viviane Jungblut (BRA), 1h37m37s23; 3. Samantha Arevalo (ECU), 1h37m42s94

FINA/HOSA 10km MSWC 2017 Calendar

1. Patagones-Viedma (ARG) - February 4
2. Abu Dhabi (UAE) - March 11
3. Setubal (POR) - June 24
4. Lac St Jean (CAN) - July 27
5. Lac Megantic (CAN) - August 12
6. Chun'An (CHN) - October 15
7. Hong Kong (HKG) - October 21