Warm blue waters and a crisp Caribbean sea breeze form the backdrop of what will be Mexico’s first World Cup stop in more than a decade. 

The event also marks the first time in history that a World Cup season has been held over two calendar years; something which has been warmly welcomed by the athletes. 

We caught up with some athletes who are hoping to make a big impact this weekend in what, for many of them, will be their first time racing in Mexico. 

Paulo Strehlke Delgado

Delgado made history for his nation last season by winning Mexico’s first ever World Cup medal. 

This weekend, he is part of the 24-strong host-nation contingent, and spoke of the significance of racing on home soil. 

“It's very special, this venue was my first ever National Championships, so there’s a lot of history here. 

“Normally, everywhere I race is somewhere new, and now it’s really special because it’s home.  It's an amazing opportunity and I will enjoy it, I'll remember it for the rest of my life.

On racing with team Mexico:

“It's really nice. I'm really happy because normally, it's just me and maybe two or three more.

“I like that there was the opportunity for so many (more) athletes to come. I feel excited for them because for most of them, it's their first World Cup, so I think they'll enjoy it a lot. 

“You learn from all the other guys and that was really important for me at my first World Cup, so I think it’s amazing for them.” 

“I'm with a lot of friends and I really like to enjoy my time here at the races, it’s a big part of what makes the sport special.”

Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA)

Open water veteran Olivier returns for what will be his 12th World Cup season this weekend. Despite his years of experience in the sport, the Frenchman has never raced in Mexico, and explains he is looking forward to a busy season ahead. 

On balance:

As one of the older athletes on the circuit, the 30-year-old said managing his fitness, training, and recovery are key to him being successful on the world stage. 

“For my age, it's a little bit difficult because now I'm 30-years-old and I have a baby, I have a family. 

“So I need to manage my season and everything very well. But I think we have found a good solution to swim well in the pool and open water, and I hope to be strong in the World Cup and be amongst the best.”

Bettina Fabian (HUN)

Fabian arrives in Mexico having finished the previous season on a high rediscovering form post-injury to take silver in the Women’s 10km in Setúbal.  

On her goals for Cancún and the upcoming season:

While last season may have been about rebuilding, the Hungarian has different goals for the 2026/27 season.

“I'm really excited and I'm really hoping that I will be able to compete better than in the last season.  

“I've already mentioned this, but last season was about coming back and I hope this season will be about taking a step forward, both in training and in racing. 

“My goal is to finish in the top six, or top three if possible in the 10km. I'd really like to be on the podium in the knockout because it’s always just so much fun and I really love that event.”

On the opportunity to race in different time zones:

“Mexico is a beautiful place and it's a really good opportunity for Europeans to compete in other continents and far away from home, especially in this time zone. 

“I know there will still be a few hours difference to LA, but at least we can practice so it’s a really good opportunity.” 

On the racing conditions:

“These kinds of waves are tough, in my opinion, because they're little and also strong and they don't really have a rhythm.

“The goal tomorrow will be to save as much energy as possible and to go with the others and stay in one pack, in the front pack, and whoever has the most energy after the hot water, the hot air, and the sun will be best placed at the end.” 

Lisa Pou (MON)

Having raced in open water for many years, Pou welcomes the expanded race calendar for the upcoming season; explaining how valuable gaining experience is for an athlete. 

On the importance of experience in open water:

“Every time we swim, we get experience, so we need it because this sport is all about experience.

“I think we all need this for open water because we can reach a lot more viewers and show more of our sport and help open water get the interest it deserves.”

On the season opener:

“I'm feeling pretty good - we have been training well since the end of August. It’s always pretty exciting for the first stop because we don't know where we are.

 “It might be surprising, but it’s going to be really nice. I heard from some retired swimmers that Cancún was one of their favourite spots to swim in. 

As 10km World Championship bronze medallist from Singapore, Pou has previously shown her ability to adapt and succeed in warmer conditions. 

Surprisingly though, she noted that generally she prefers cooler, fresh waters; restating how adaptability is crucial in the sport. 

Becca Mann - USA

Mann’s return to racing in Mexico signifies a special milestone in her career as, in 2013, she raced her first ever World Cup event in Cozumel. 

As one of the few athletes competing who have raced here before, she noted how special it is to return so many years later. 

“It's amazing to be back - I remember I had a horrible race in 2013 and that was the moment where I thought ‘I need to figure out how to do this tactically if I want to succeed in open water’. 

“That race was really eye-opening for me, so I'm really excited to be back in Mexico to see what I've learned over the past 13 years and to put all that learning into practice.”

On the importance of frequent racing in open water:

“What people may not understand about open water is that it's all based on results, you can’t just go and swim a time in a pool.

“You have to be racing against your competitors and put your tactics into practice. And because of that you learn from every single race; it's a sport entirely based on racing experience. 

“Things like navigation, strategy, learning when you need to conserve versus when you need to sprint. That's all stuff that can only be gained through racing and more racing.

“So having more opportunities means that everybody's going to get better, the races are going to get more competitive, and we're going to start growing as a sport.

On what she’d say to new audiences of the sport:

“The first thing that I think sets the sport apart is the athletes themselves. You have to be a different breed in order to want to swim the 10km, and everyone is so fascinating and we have incredible athlete stories. 

“The second thing is that it's all strategy. You have drafting, you have navigation, there are so many more layers. 

“I think that people who are interested in the Tour de France or marathon running would love open water because it has the same elements and with an extra layer; there’s lots of things that can go wrong when racing in the water that can't necessarily go wrong on land! 

On adaptability:

“The athletes who do well are the ones who are good at adapting in the moment - the currents can shift halfway through the race for example - it's a true adventure.

On returning to the sport:

“I feel great because I took five years off from swimming from 2019 until the end of 2024, so I just hit two years back and I've been on a great trajectory. 

“I finally feel like I'm in a place where I can swim and keep up with the best of the best. I'm really looking forward to the season because I think it's going to be a good one for me. 

“I'm just excited to race against my friends and grow the sport with my friends and see what I'm capable of.”