Swimming - Fina open water marathon series on Sunday at Beau Vallon |16 May 2018

The second leg of the Fédération Internationale de Natation (Fina)/Hosa open water marathon swim world series will take place on Sunday May 20 at Beau Vallon but the day before – on Saturday – there will be a mass competition.

Saturday’s first set of races is due to start at 9.30am with the female and male 100m races. This will be followed by the male and female 500m, 1000m and 2500m races.

The main event is scheduled for Sunday May 20 when the world’s best swimmers will take part in the 10km races. The women’s race will begin at 8am while the men’s will start at 11.30am.

Seychellois swimmers Bertrand and Damien Payet who travelled to Doha, Qatar to compete in the first leg of the competition, are expected to make a second appearance. They ended the first race in Doha with no score according to Fina rules.

The 10km race in Doha was dominated by Netherland’s Ferry Weertman who ended with a time of 1 hour 52 minutes 41.60 seconds (1h52:41.60). The silver medal was won by Frenchman David Aubry who finished the race after 1h52:42.50, followed by Italian Simone Ruffini who clinched the third spot and bronze medal with a 1h52:42.70 finish.

Seychelles had no challengers in the women’s 10km event and Netherlands Sharon Van Rouwendaal ended first in a time of 2h02:24.40, followed by German Leonie Beck (2h02:25.20) and Finnia Wunram (2h02:26.70) who occupied second and third spots respectively.              

Some 60 elite swimmers are expected to compete in the two main races which will be followed by a post-race prize-giving ceremony at 3.15pm and a gala dinner at 7pm.

The remainder of the series is due to take place in Setubal (Portugal, June 9), Balatonfüred (Hungary, June 16), Lac St. Jean (Canada, July 26), Lac Megantic (Canada, August 11), Chun’An (China, September 16), Taiwan (September 22) and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates, November 24).

Beau Vallon was chosen to host the competition because of its calm weather and access to hotels near the beach. It is also known as a safe place to swim. Designated areas and sitting facilities will be available for spectators.

Seychelles will be hosting the Fina/Hosa marathon swim world series for four consecutive years and it is hoped that the organisation of the event will raise the island nation’s visibility as a tourist destination.

R. R.