Moesha Johnson, Lea Boy and Ichika Kajimoto were the medallists in the final Women’s event of this World Cup stop; a race filled with tactics, sprints and photo finishes.
Australia’s Moesha Johnson topped the podium once again in Ibiza, taking a clean sweep of the Women’s events after winning gold in the 3km Knockout Sprint.
It was a display of strength and consistency from Johnson, who also won gold in this event at the Golfo Aranci World Cup stop in 2025.
Having won the 10km event on day one of competition - where she spoke of wanting to push the pace due to cooler water temperatures - Johnson took a similar approach to today’s race.
She maintained a top two position throughout all three rounds, and said of her win: “It’s really special to take two wins this weekend.
“It’s nice to see the sport growing as well. Open water swimming is building a profile, and when you’re on the podium, people start to recognise you. There were even some Australian fans here in Ibiza who came up to say hello, which is always great.”
Johnson, who tied for bronze alongside Bettina Fabian in this event at the World Championships in Singapore last year, said of her tactics: “I’d like to say I had a clear strategy today - I was trying to conserve energy - but the water temperature (18.2 degrees celsius) made that a bit difficult.
“My goal is always to save my strongest swim for the final. In the 1000m, the pace really lifted at the end, so I had to use a bit more energy than planned.
“The semi-final is probably the hardest round. With 20 swimmers all fighting for a place in the final, there’s a lot more pressure and urgency. In the final, my approach was simple - just give it everything. I wasn’t sure how I would feel after yesterday, so I just focused on racing as hard as I could.
“To come away with another gold medal is something I don’t take for granted. Next, I’ll head to Golfo Aranci, where I’ll race the same events and hopefully a relay as well. I’m looking forward to that challenge.”
‘Great Addition to the Sport’
The 3km Knockout Sprint race is still in its infancy within the World Cup circuit after first debuting in Ibiza last year. Johnson, along with many other athletes, have praised its inclusion and the new audiences it's bringing to the sport.
“I think the 3km knockout sprint is a great addition to the sport,” said Johnson. “The 10km absolutely has its place and is a very special event, but this format brings something different. It’s fast, it’s dynamic, and it’s exciting to race and to watch. Both formats are equally important for open water swimming.”
Boy Battles to Silver
Germany’s Lea Boy, who won the inaugural 3km Knockout Sprint event in Ibiza last year, was in a battle for the title on the final lap.
After getting the best start of the field and taking a wide line to find her own water in the final, it came down to a sprint finish between her and Johnson, who made her move in the final 200 metres to ultimately carve out the win.
Boy, who finished 7th in yesterday’s 10km, said: “It’s really nice to be back on the podium here in Ibiza after last year. It’s a special place for me, the atmosphere and the people here are fantastic.
“I think this format suits me because it’s three shorter races instead of one long one. Each round starts fresh, and everyone has another chance, which I enjoy.
“In the earlier rounds, I was often towards the back and it was difficult to be sure of qualifying positions. Today, I tried to stay closer to the front, which gave me more control, and that worked well.
“I hope we can come back to Ibiza again next year - it’s a great venue for a World Cup.Looking ahead, I’ll focus on the next World Cup and the overall ranking, as well as the European Championships, where I plan to compete in the 5km and 10km. I’d also like to race the knockout sprint there if I qualify.
“After finishing seventh yesterday, I really wanted to come back strong today and fight for a medal, so I’m very happy with this result.”
Photo-finish for Bronze
It was an extremely tight finish for bronze between World Champion, Ichika Kajimoto, USA’s Brinkleigh Hansen and World Championship bronze medallist, Bettina Fabian. It was Kajimoto who got her hand to the pad first, just 0.1 of a second ahead of fourth place, Fabian, who was 0.4 ahead of fifth place finisher Hansen.
Speaking on her result, Kajimoto said: “It was a very tough race today. To be honest, whenever I win a medal in the knockout sprint at World Cups or World Championships, I sometimes feel like I don’t fully deserve it yet - so this result means a lot to me.
“The semi-final was actually the hardest race for me, and I definitely carried that fatigue into the final. But the final is only 500 metres, and I really like this format - I enjoy the knockout sprint.
“The battle at the finish was very close. Last year, Bettina was second and I was third, so I really wanted to challenge myself again this year. Becoming world champion in this format gave me confidence, and I didn’t want to lose this race.
“I do think the level is getting higher. Compared to last year, the heats are faster and more competitive. It’s improving every time.”
Fabian in Fourth Following Six Month Break
Hungary’s Bettina Fabian had a brilliant showing, finishing fourth after being a firm presence in the top seed positions throughout the race.
Speaking on her result - which more impressively comes after an extended break from the sport - she said: “I’m still coming back after about six months off, so I don’t quite have the endurance I’d normally expect for this kind of event. But at the same time, I feel like this format suits me. I know how to race it, and I try to swim smart through the 1500m and 1000m rounds.
“Today, I managed to stay near the front in the earlier rounds - I was in the top positions and felt in control. But in the final, I got a bit stuck at the start, so I had to chase and try to get back to the leaders. In the end, I finished fourth in a very tight finish.”
The importance of a strong start really came to the fore on the final leg, something which Fabian said she wasn’t overly pleased with, and hurt her chances of a podium-spot as a result.
“In the final, I got a bit stuck at the start, so I had to chase and try to get back to the leaders. In the end, I finished fourth in a very tight finish.
“It was tough, but I’m happy with the result - especially compared to yesterday. I feel like I’m improving step by step, and this event is something everyone is still learning and adapting to. Overall, we’re all getting stronger and smarter with each race. It’s very exciting.”
Best Ever World Cup Result for Junior Hansen
USA’s Brinkleigh Hansen enjoyed her best ever finish in a World Cup, finishing fifth in a very competitive field. The junior swimmer said she ‘came in here ready to race at the best of my abilities’, and did exactly that.
“I was really excited to race again and see what I could do for the USA,” she said. “I really had no idea how I wanted to position myself (in the finals). I just went in with an open mind and willing to adapt to any situation. I was just kicking as hard as I could into the finish, trying to do my best for the U.S.”
Spanish National Championships
The Spanish National Open Water Championships are running alongside the Ibiza stop of the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup, and will continue until tomorrow. 700 masters and junior athletes are competing across 3km Knockout Sprint, 5km, and 7.5km races. Many World Cup athletes are electing to stay and race as the event doubles as a qualification opportunity for European Championships for select nations. For more information, click here.
Parting Moment