The Australian finished in two hours six minutes and 38.1 seconds, with Olympic bronze medallist Ginevra Taddeucci (ITA) second and Leah Boy (GER) third.

The men’s race ended in chaotic scenes with Italians Dario Verani and Marcello Guidi clashing repeatedly in the closing meters, before stopping just short of the finish.

Both were clearly frustrated with the efforts of the other, but Guidi allowed Verani to touch for the win in 1:57:39.2, with Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA) third.

The Italian duo were both agitated after leaving the water and were seen locked in conversation after the finish, but following a thorough review by race officials – and with no protests were lodged – the men’s initial finish standings became the official results.

The completion of two successful events came as something of a relief after authorities issued a level three typhoon warning in the hours before racing commenced.

It saw the starts moved forward by 60 minutes to 08:30am locally and although conditions were at times tough for the athletes the top performers were able to complete the course well within the local cut off time of 10:40am.

Women’s 10km Race – How It Happened:

Tadeucci (ITA) won her first individual World Cup honour with bronze in 2022 and while European podium finishes have followed, many of her honours ahead of this season had come in relay events.

Her third-place finish at Paris 2024 proved her undoubted ability to land major solo successes and boosted by that performance the 27-year-old made a strong start in Hong Kong.

Former France turned Monaco swimmer Lisa Pou was pushing the pace too though in the early stages, with Viviane Jungblut (BRA) and World junior champion Claire Weinstein (USA) also within a condensed lead-out group.

Versatile 2023 10km World bronze medallist Katie Grimes (USA), who won 400m individual medley silver at Paris 2024, and four-time World championship podium finisher Chelsea Gubecka (AUS) were also keeping themselves in contention.

Johnson and Boy were rarely mentioned among the leading pack, but clearly had a well-thought-out plan of attack, which became apparent towards the conclusion of the race.

Taddeucci overcame Grimes, who led heading into lap six and was joined by Johnson on the right side of the course.

Their greater energy conservation throughout the 10km competition, combined with a different approach to the final leg, saw them move well ahead. Boy also found a clear route to the podium.

German team-mate Jeanette Spiwoks would take fourth, some 13 seconds back, with Grimes (USA) fifth and 20-year-old Australian Jacquel Davison-McGovern claiming an impressive sixth.

Pou (MON) would finish seventh, ahead of Anna Marcela Cuhna (BRA) and Caroline Jousse (FRA) with Viviane Jungblut (BRA) rounding off the top-10.

Women’s 10km Race – What Does It Mean:

Despite missing out on a podium place in Hong Kong, Ana Marcela Cuhna of Brazil retains a commanding lead at the top of the overall standings with 2350 points.

Germany’s Leah Boy has climbed to second (1948), ahead of Brazilian Viviane Jungblut (1900).

However, with 800 points available to the winner of the final leg in Neom, Saudi Arabia, next month a host of other swimmers, including Caroline Jouise of France (1750) and Italian Ginevra Tadeucci (1600) could come into contention.

Men’s 10km Race – how it happened:

After an initial impressive sprint from Mexico’s 2022 World Junior silver medallist Paulo Strehlke Delgado it was Thomas Raymond of Australia who powered into the lead.

The 21-year was competing in only his fifth event at this level and had a previous best finish of 21st, but showed his clear potential for future honours with a commanding display for much of the 10km race.

Raymond held off repeated challenges from more established performers for more than four of the six 1666m laps at Repulse Bay, with countrymen Nicholas Sloman and Kyle Lee joining him in an Australian one-two-three shortly after the halfway mark.

However, as so often in marathon swimming distance events the Italian line-up would come into contention before the closing stages.

European 5km bronze medallist Guidi, who topped an Open Water World Cup podium for the first time at the last stop in Setubal (POR) earlier this month, looked to have timed his attack to perfection and moved past Raymond heading into the last lap.

Verani, Olivier and rising star Andrea Filadelli (ITA), who was second in Setubal, were also in contention among a five-strong breakaway group.

Guidi looked strong, but he could not quite shake the challenge of reigning 25km European champion Verani and it was the distance specialist who would ultimately come out on top after their adrenaline-fueled fight to the finish.

Behind Verani, Guidi and Olivier were Lee (AUS), Filadelli (ITA) and Raymond (AUS).

Olympic champion Kristof Rasovszky (HUN) and silver medallist Oliver Klemet (GER) are still in the process of stepping up their training after post-Games breaks and would finish 21st and 22nd respectively.

Men’s 10km Race – What Does It Mean:

With one stop remaining of the 2024 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup Marc-Antoine Olivier of France leads the men’s overall standings with 2500 points.

Italian Dario Verani is second (2350), ahead of countrymen Marcello Guidi (2008) and Andrea Filadelli (2000).

What Is Still To Come

 

The 4x1500m mixed relay event is due to take place on Sunday morning in Hong Kong and will feature nine teams from eight nations.

France won the first event of the season ahead of Italy and Germany, with Italy claiming gold ahead of Germany and Hungary at the second stop.

The final leg of the World Aquatics Open Water World Cup will take place in Neom, South Korea, from 22-23 November.