The World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup 2026 opened in Soma Bay, Egypt on 27–28 March, with the Red Sea venue delivering its now-familiar combination of stunning conditions and fast racing. For the fourth consecutive year, Soma Bay welcomed the world’s best open water swimmers, and as equally customary, saw a flurry of activities out of the water too. 

Out of competition, four of the star athletes took part in the World Aquatics Athletes’ Experience programme, connecting with the local community and fans through two dedicated activities: a clinic for young swimmers and a fan Meet & Greet.

Inspiring Young Swimmers

Between official training sessions, Lisa Pou (Monaco) and Dario Verani (Italy) took to the pool with around 12 children of an average age of 10. Over the course of an hour, the pair introduced the group to open water swimming, led them through a short training session and stayed afterwards for photos and autographs.

For Pou, the experience brought back memories of her own early days in the sport. 

“When I was young, meeting a professional swimmer would have meant everything to me. Those kids we met with were so eager and full of energy - that enthusiasm reminds you why you fell in love with this sport in the first place. I hope they went home thinking that maybe, one day, they could do this too.”
By Lisa Pou

Verani was equally struck by the participants energy. 

“The moment those kids got started and were asking questions, if was just amazing to see - they pushed us with their curiosity, and honestly, I think we all left with a bit more energy than we arrived with.”
By Dario Verani

Meeting the Fans

In another activation beyond the water, Angela Martinez Guillen (Spain) and Logan Fontaine (France) joined supporters for a Meet & Greet. For many fans, it was a rare chance to meet the athletes they follow throughout the season - and for Angela and Logan, an opportunity to meet some the people they hear roaring from the shores.

“Racing is what we train for every day, but moments like these make the sport feel bigger than the competition itself, and I’m grateful for that,”
By Angela Martinez Guillen

“To meet people who have travelled to watch us race, who know our names and follow our results - that is something so magical” Angela added.

Fontaine reflected on the joy of meeting fans during a race week. 

“Obviously when we are in training we spend so much time focused on our own preparation, but to have this time to meet the people who are right there on the shore watching us was a really exciting moment. Ultimately, they create the atmosphere of our competitions and without them, the sport wouldn’t be what it is, so I’m grateful to them all”.
By Logan Fontaine

These activities form part of World Aquatics’ broader commitment to enhancing its Athletes’ Experience programme across its events, creating more opportunities for aquatics athletes to connect with fans and local communities.