Four of the six Marathon Swimming medallists from Paris 2024 will contest the fourth leg of the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Hong Kong, which runs from 26-27 October.
Hungarian Kristof Rasovszky, who claimed the 10km marathon swimming Olympic title this summer, is joined by silver medallist Oliver Klemet of Germany in a men’s field of over 50 athletes.
“Although my training is a little easier right now compared to before the Olympics I am still motivated to push hard in training and races,” Rasovszky tells World Aquatics.
Australia’s Moesha Johnson, who was second in the Seine at Paris 2024, features among a 40-strong line-up in the women’s competition.
“I’ve always heard really good things about the Hong Kong World Cup stop and I know the water is going to be really hot as well,” Johnson tells World Aquatics.
“That means it will be a really challenging race physically and mentally, but I’m looking forward to it.”
She will be expected to battle it out for podium places with a host of established medal-winners including Italian Ginevra Taddeucci, who was third at Paris 2024, multiple World champion Leonie Beck of Germany and Brazil’s Tokyo 2020 victor Ana Marcela Cuhna.
The event, held in Repulse Bay – one of the most exclusive residential areas on the southern coast of Hong Kong Island – will see competitors complete six laps of the 1666m course.
In addition to the individual 10km events on 26 October, a host of the world’s leading open water swimmers will also return to action the following day for the 4x1500m Mixed Relay discipline.
Hong Kong marks the penultimate stop of the 2024 World Cup season, which means athletes will seek not only individual and relay honours, but also crucial points ahead of the season finale in Neom, Saudi Arabia.
Following the conclusion of races on 22-23 November the overall winners of the 2024 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup campaign will be revealed.
Men To Watch In Hong Kong
Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA) – The Rio 2016 bronze medallists claimed silver at both the World and European Championships earlier this year, but cut a disappointed figure after finishing sixth at his home Games – Paris 2024.
Olivier is well-placed for overall success in the World Aquatics Open Water Cup though.
His second leg victory, in Golfo Aranci, Italy, as well as fourth in the other two events currently placing him top of the combined standings on 1900 points.
Dario Verani (ITA) – The reigning 25km European champion is enjoying one of his best 10km seasons to date, with two third-place finishes secured across the 2024 World Cup campaign to date.
2019 was the last time the Italian had achieved that, with success over that five year stretch largely restricted to relay events.
He may be 29, but Verani is a growing force in a nation staked with talent and with a total of 1550 points so far, he is well in contention for a maiden overall World Cup crown.
Andrea Filadelli (ITA) – The 23-year-old is hoping to be the latest open water star from his nation and follow the likes of Gregorio Paltrinieri and Domenico Acerenza in becoming a world-leading force.
2024 has seen the Italian make his senior international team debut at the 2024 European Championships, where he claimed silver as part of the 4x1500m relay event, and claim the men’s overall title in the European Open Water Cup competition.
He is currently third in the World Aquatics Open Water Cup standings with 1500 points, helped in no small part by an impressive second-place finish at the third leg in Setubal, Portugal, earlier this month.
Kristof Rasovszky (HUN) – the Olympic and World champion is currently 670 points behind leader Olivier in the race for the overall title, but with 800 points available to the race winner, he still has every chance of climbing up the standings in the final two races.
“I have raced in Hong Kong once before, in 2017 and I really enjoyed it so I’m looking forward to returning,” said the Hungarian Olympic champion.
“Two weeks ago (at the Setubal Open Water World Cup) I was sixth and I want to be top six again, but of course I would like to be on the podium this time!”
Best Of The Rest
Oliver Klemet (GER) – the swimmer secured his place at Paris 2024 via a ‘shock’ breakthrough success at the 2023 World Championships where he placed third.
Now 22-year, he proved that result in Japan was no fluke with a stunning silver at Paris 2024 and the German will compete for the first time since those Games in Hong Kong.
Marcello Guidi (ITA) – The 27-year-old claimed the first Open Water Swimming World Cup victory of his career at last stop in Setubal in is currently fourth in the overall rankings.
Kyle Lee (AUS) – The Australian became a World relay champion at Doha 2024 and while much of his senior success to date has come in the team event after placing 13th individually at Paris 2024, he is now targeting significant solo success enroute to LA 2028.
Women To Watch In Hong Kong
Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) – Followers of the sport know the Brazilian requires little introduction, but for those new to open water – or in need of a refresher – Cuhna is one of the greatest this sport has ever seen.
In addition to her Olympic crown the veteran has also claimed seven World titles and needs just one further World Cup gold to take her career tally to an astounding 30.
The 32-year-old won the second leg in Italy, was the runner up last time out in Portugal and currently leads the women’s overall standings for the 2024 season with 2000 points.
Viviane Jungblut (BRA) – Unlike her consistent championship performing countrywoman Jungblut’s career has been rather less predictable.
After initial open water honours in 2017 and 2018 she placed greater emphasis on her pool swimming programme and was rewarded with Pan American Games medal successes as well as a place at Tokyo 2020.
Since then Jungblut has returned to regular open water cup racing. She was 11th at Paris 2024 and two podium finishes on the World Cup circuit to date placed her in second on the overall standings with 1650 points.
Caroline Jouisse (FRA) – The 30-year-old won her maiden major title with European 25km gold in 2022 and made a long-awaited Olympic bow this summer, placing eighth at her home Games.
She was ranked third at the end of the 2023 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup campaign and with Hungarian Bettina Fabian, who is currently in the ‘bronze medal’ position, missing the race in Hong Kong, Jouisse has a chance to capitalise.
“It is not over, it is tight between some of us, so I think beside Ana Marcela (Cuhna) who is perhaps too many points ahead, everything can happen,” Jouisse told World Aquatics.
“I've never been to Hong Kong it will be my first time so I’m really looking forward to it because I’ve heard a lot of great things about it.
“Off course, I would love to play for the podium and I will put my head down and as always give the best I have.”
Best Of The Rest
Leonie Beck (GER) – The three-time World champion – and 2023 overall World Cup winner – tends to favour open water competitions which mimic ‘calmer’ pool-like conditions and therefore this race in Hong Kong should play to her strengths.
Moesha Johnson (AUS) – After World Championships and World Cup relay successes, the Australian landed her maiden major solo honour with silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“For me Paris was absolutely amazing, crazy, wild and the perfect combination of my training and racing all coming together at the right time,” she tells World Aquatics.
“I always had goals beyond these Olympics to get individual medals for myself along the way, so I think Paris was just the start to those goals.
“I haven’t had a chance to do many of the World Cups, but I did Portugal (third stop) and I’m really excited to being on the start line, experiencing some different conditions and just racing amongst the girls on this World Cup Tour.”
Chelsea Gubecka (AUS) – After claiming World 10km silver in 2023 and another second-place finish in the 5km event at Doha 2024 the Australian was being backed to challenge for an honour at Paris 2024.
That did not transpire, leaving the swimmer feeling “devastated” and “numb” but keen to “bounce back, happier, faster, stronger.”
Katie Grimes (USA) – The American claimed her place at Paris 2024 at the first time of asking by securing 10km bronze at the 2023 World Championships.
The teenager is a threat over multiple distances though and while she would not claim a medal in the Seine this summer, she was second in the 400m individual medley.
Lea Boy (GER) – A traditional 25km specialist with successes at World and European level among her honours, but a 10km victory at the latest Open Water Swimming World Cup shows she can be a threat at the marathon distance too.