Medals may be on the minds of many within the elite line-up at the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup, but there are a host of other reasons for the field to be excited about the season finale in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The sport will help conclude the third edition of the NEOM Beach Games, with the women’s and men’s 10km events taking place on 22 November, before athletes return for the 4x1500m mixed relay competition on 23 Nov.
Brazil’s seven-time world champion Ana Marcela Cunha only needs to finish in the top-five to ensure she claims the overall crown, but there are six other female swimmers in contention for podium places.
On the men’s side, just 150 points separate Marc-Antoine Olivier of France and Italian Dario Verani, but countrymen Marcello Guidi and Andrea Filadelli as well as Olympic champion Kristof Rasovszky are among the wider contenders.
Ahead of the concluding race of the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup we spoke to a host of the leading athletes, all aiming to be in the mix for medals in NEOM.
Q – What Do You Make Of The Venue?
Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) - Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion
“When we first arrived and got inside the complex, it was amazing,” says the World Cup leader.
“Everything is so well-organised, the facilities, the water, everything. It’s different, but honestly, it’s better than some World Championships, really top-notch.”
Moesha Johnson (AUS) - Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist
“I've been very impressed so far by the whole setup,” the Australian tells World Aquatics.
“The village is little cabins with the desert background, the mountains and we've got beautiful conditions, with crystal clear water. I always have a soft spot for where the desert meets the ocean and this is it.”
Kristóf Rasovszky (HUN) - Paris 2024 Olympic champion
“It’s like a small Olympics, I like the idea, especially because everything is within walking distance and the village setup is really impressive,” the Hungarian tells World Aquatics.
“The course, I think, is going to be one of the best.”
Q – What Are You Expecting From The 10km Race?
Moesha Johnson (AUS) - Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist
“Online and on social media, the hype has really been building into this last one,” she tells World Aquatics.
“We've had some interesting races (in the World Cup); in Portugal there were quite wild conditions and then Hong Kong we had a typhoon and hot water.
“Coming here it’s a very clean course and the water temperature is beautiful so it will be a really great race.
“It's been a long year, an Olympic year and so I think each individual athlete is ready to get this race done and then celebrate the year we've had.”
Kristóf Rasovszky (HUN) - Paris 2024 Olympic champion
“I always enjoy swimming in the sea and ocean, and the Red Sea is quite different from other places we’ve been.
“It’s going to be a unique race because the conditions here are flatter, and the water is saltier, which adds an extra challenge because you can’t drink the water if it splashes into your mouth.
“But swimmers have to be careful and adapt to these conditions, which here are fair and it’ll be an exciting race.”
“Most of the athletes here are in the top ten of the World Series this year and expect Marc Antoine-Olivier, the Italians and Germans to be up there.
“Some, like Florian Wellbrock, who is the Tokyo Olympic champion and two-time world champion, from Germany, aren’t competing in the overall series, but are still world-class, so having him here raises the competition level for everyone.”
Q – What Is Your Target For The Race?
Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) - Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion
“I’m used to dealing with pressure, I handle it well, but it’s the last race of the season, so it’s a mix of hard work and trying to enjoy the moment.
“Losing my Olympic title was tough, but life goes on, and I’m grateful to be here, training, competing, and surrounded by friends.”
Moesha Johnson (AUS) - Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist
“It probably could be the most competitive one of the year, as we've all had a few races now since the Olympics and people will be trying to secure their overall positions, she says.
“I think I'm in good shape, obviously not in Olympic shape, but I've really built through the competitions into this and I'm excited to see what I can do.
“Coming here and putting out the best result I can, whether that’s a medal, a top-ten finish, or a top-eight finish—I just really want to get out there. Obviously, any medal is a really nice finish to the year though.”
Q – How Important Do You Think It Is For The Sport To Be Part Of The NEOM Games?
Moesha Johnson (AUS) - Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist
“I think it's really important for the sport to showcase itself across the world and for the broader community to get involved,” she tells World Aquatics.
Kristóf Rasovszky (HUN) - Paris 2024 Olympic champion
“It’s very important,” he tells World Aquatics. “Going to new places helps grow the sport and introduces it to different countries.
“For example, athletes from Sudan are competing here, but they weren’t in Hong Kong, so expanding to new locations makes open water swimming more accessible and inclusive.”
Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) - Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion
“Events like this showcase swimming to new audiences and inspire more people to get involved,” she tells World Aquatics.
“It’s also crucial for the sport’s future to find natural places to compete; as climate changes and access to locations becomes harder, adapting and finding innovative venues like this is essential.”