Dario Verani & Moesha Johnson Top The Podium At Open Water Swimming World Cup In Hong Kong
Dario Verani and Moesha Johnson claimed the respective men’s and women’s titles at the penultimate leg of the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Hong Kong.
Verani led a European clean sweep of the men’s podium after a contentious victory over Italian teammate Marcello Guidi.
The pair clashed repeatedly down the finishing chute and stopped just shy of the finish with Guidi allowing Verani to touch the panel for victory in 1:57:39.2.
Guidi was second in 1:57:39.80 followed by Marc-Antoine Olivier who finished almost nine seconds adrift in 1:57:48.70.
It means that Olivier goes into the final leg in Neom, Saudi Arabia, in November heading the rankings with 2500 points ahead of Verani (2350pts), Guidi (2008) and Andrea Filadelli (2000).
A level three typhoon warning meant the start was brought forward to 0830am with a cut-off time of 1040am making for challenging conditions.
Guidi appeared to have timed his attack perfectly as he moved to the head of the field going into the final lap of six but he could not move clear of Verani with the pair going stroke for stroke before the chaotic finish.
Kyle Lee of Australia was fourth in 1:57:48.90 with Filadelli fifth (1:57:52.30) while Olympic gold and silver medallists Kristof Rasovszky and Oliver Klemet were 21st and 22nd respectively as they return to the water.
(l-r): Lea Boy, Moesha Johnson & Ginevra Taddeucci: Photo Courtesy: World Aquatics
Ginevra Taddeucci went ahead going into the final lap of the women’s race where she was joined by Johnson who finished one place ahead of her on the Olympic podium in Paris.
The pair moved clear with the Australia taking victory in 2:06:38.10 with Taddeucci second in 2:06:40.50.
Lea Boy was in clear water for third in 2:06:57.40 with Germany teammate Jeanette Spiwoks fourth, 13 seconds adrift, one place ahead of the USA’s Katie Grimes (2:07:15.80).
Ana Cunha, who was eighth in Hong Kong, heads the standings going into the final leg in Saudi (22-23 November) with 2350pts ahead of Boy (1948pts) and fellow Brazilian Viviane Jungblut (1900pts).
The two-day event came to a close in the mixed 1500m relay. An Australian quartet of Johnson, Jacqueline Davison-McGovern, Thomas Raymond and Kyle Lee finished first in 1:10:53.10 ahead of Brazil (1:11:02.30) and the USA (1:11:23.90).
