Two-time defending world champion Axel Raymond of France won the silver medal in the 25km open water race at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest on Thursday, finishing behind Italy’s Dario Verani. In the women’s race, with the victory of the Brazilian Ana Marcela Cunha, the best Frenchwoman Caroline Juis took the fifth place.
Dario Verani was crowned after an effort of 5 hours, two minutes, 21 seconds and 5/10ths of a second, ahead of Raymond by 1 second and 2/10ths. The Hungarian Peter Galich, who arrived almost 14 seconds later, completes the podium.
“I tried to run my race, I tried to exhaust (my competitors) the way I knew how. It lasted too long, but Dario was truly monstrousadmitted Raymond, who was still in the lead until the final sprint.
“As I passed the last buoy, I felt a boy’s hands on my legs“, he explained. “I said to myself + oh no, there is someone who followed me. + I saw that it was Dario and thought that it would be very difficult to defeat him.»
Thanks to his two world titles (2017 already in Budapest and 2019 in Gwangju), the Frenchman, labeled as the big favorite for the event, tried to speed through the very warm waters of Lake Lupa, where the thermometer was already showing around 30 degrees. at the start of the race at 07:00.
“I tried to push forward to force my pace as I realized it wasn’t progressing too well and if I continued like this, with the heat, I’d be out for a sprint.“, he said.
“It’s very difficult because I’m the target every time and I really saw 1000 power (Thursday). I always had someone between my legs or my hipcontinued the 28-year-old swimmer.
With this second place, he offers the French open water team their second medal of the worlds, following Aurel Müller’s silver in the 5km on Monday.
“It’s not what I expected but it’s a medal nonetheless and I’m really happy to bring it back to my country“, he responded. A big hope for her first Worlds, 17-year-old Sasha Velley finished 19th, more than 18 minutes behind the world champion. On Wednesday, the son of Philip Lucas already took 19th place in 10 km.
Among women, Brazilian Ana Marcela Cunha was crowned in 5 hours 24 minutes 15 seconds. In the sprint, she got ahead of German Lea Boy and Dutch Sharon Van Ruvendaal. This is the Brazilian’s third medal after gold in 5 km and bronze in 10 km. France’s Caroline Juis finished fifth in 1 minute 17 seconds and 10/100ths.
Source: Le Figaro
