First Stop of Open Water World Cup Scheduled for Weekend in Somabay
The first stop of the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup will kick off on March 27-28 in Somabay and many greats of the sport will swim in the Egyptian waters. The weekend marks the first opportunity to collect points for the overall World Cup standings, which will crown winners at the last stop in Setubal.
Logan Fontaine and Ginerva Taddeucci, the winners of the 2025 season, are back for the World Cup series, but they will face talented opposition. Florian Wellbrock and Moesha Johnson bring impressive resumes, as Germany’s Wellbrock collected four gold medals at the World Championships in Singapore. Meanwhile, Australia’s Johnson won two golds and one bronze at Worlds.
The meet also features the participation of reigning Olympic champion Kristof Rasovszky. This summer, the 29-year-old from Hungary will defend three European titles in Paris and the World Cup is a good way to prepare for the summer. In Somabay, David Betlehem and Bettina Fabian, his compatriots, are also slated to race.
Italy is a strong power in open water competition and will send quality athletes to join Taddeucci. Gregorio Paltrinieri is a top name in the men’s field, having recently won three silver medals at the World Champs in Singapore. Domenico Acerenza and Marco de Tullio will also be present.
Others to watch include Damien Joly, Marc-Antoine Olivier, Sacha Velly, Lea Boy, Oliver Klemet and Lisa Pou. A notable absence is Ana Marcela Cunha from Brazil.