It was impossible to preview favourites for the upcoming Open Water Swimming World Cup campaign without mentioning Moesha Johnson, and she proved that prediction right today by winning gold in the Women’s 10km. 

Her flawless form was firmly on display on the Mexican coast as she powered her way to victory ahead of silver medallist Airi Ebina and winner of the bronze medal, Ginevra Taddeucci. 

Johnson started the race strong and took the sprint-lap win in the process, earning herself the $1,000 bonus on offer for that achievement. 

Interestingly, we then saw a different tactic from the Australian as she dropped back to 17th position for the second and third laps. 

Speaking after the race, she explained that today was a chance to ‘play’ and try different things.

“After the sprint lap the goal was just to drop back and relax because I haven't got the big endurance work behind me for this season so far, so my endurance strength isn't quite there. 

“I really wanted to practice my open water skills, get in the pack, just play around a little bit.

“In the end, I was at the front again but I honestly didn't know if I'd hold it this time. So I was really just seeing where I'm at. 

2026 as her ‘Year on Top’ 

Speaking on her dominance across this calendar year, Johnson added: “For me this was a bit more of a closure to 2026 rather than a start to the new season. 

“We haven’t had our normal preparation so I didn't know where I was at, but today I gave myself every opportunity to finish 2026 as my year on top.

“I know people might have come to expect [winning] from me, but it's not that easy to be on top every single race. It’s really stressful and it takes a lot of work, and it’s something that I'm really proud of now. 

“Hopefully, the increasing standard keeps lifting the professionalism of our sport and the girls around us and it’s just as entertaining as ever.”

Great Practice for LA Olympic Games

The Women’s 10km boasted very similar conditions to that of the men’s race in the morning; though the temperature was slightly raised at 29 degrees celsius. 

Having recently raced and won at the upcoming Olympic venue as part of the Pan Pacific Championships, Johnson said that Mexico offered another great opportunity to practice similar conditions. 

“This is probably very similar to what LA 2028 is going to be like so it’s a good opportunity to practice some things.

“We've known for the last two years that it's going to be a choppy swim. So today I didn't let myself get frustrated at the waves because this is what I have to learn how to deal with. 

“It's a great opportunity to practice and the conditions today were different again and that happens every single time we race and I love that.”

First World Cup Podium for Ebina

Though Airi Ebina has frequently been in the top ten at previous World Cup stops, today marked her first ever podium finish. 

The 24-year-old is in stellar form having recently won silver at the 2026 Pan Pacific Open Water Swimming Championships - meaning today’s result was an exact replica of the 1-2 podium at the Pan Pacs in August. 

Speaking on the significance of her medal win for her and her team, she said: “In Japan, teamwork is very important. 

“Ichika [Kajimoto] also gave me a lot of motivation, and made me feel I had to work harder, so I would be able to contribute to the Japanese team. 

“Everyone on the team is happy for whoever succeeds, so part of my happiness is in enabling Japan to get more medals and increase the team's success.

“We all pull for each other, everyone on the team is very close.”

Having gone through the final lap in fifth position, Ebina put in an extraordinary shift to move through the field in the closing stages of the race. 

“My minimum goal was to finish in the top eight and my best target was top five, so I was surprised and very happy to get second,” she added.

“There was wind and it was warm. I was struggling at the end, but everyone else looked pretty tired, so I raised my stroke rate and tried hard to pass them.”

Taddeucci Claims 18th World Cup Medal

Ginevra Taddeucci was consistent throughout the entire race in Mexico as she swam her way to a milestone 18th World Cup medal. 

The 29-year-old, who recently became European Champion at this distance, is one athlete on the circuit who favours warmer water. 

“I’m very happy,” she said after the race. “My team [Italy] is very strong and we have a lot of top athletes. I’m very happy with my race, especially in the warmer water - this is perfect for me.”

Overall World Cup Leader in 2025, Taddeucci’s pedigree on the World Cup circuit extends all the way back to 2022 where she won her first individual medal in Paris - the same place she would become Olympic bronze medallist just two years later. 

Having led for much of the race in Cancún with her trademark high stroke-rate, she’ll undoubtedly continue to be a force over the coming stops. 

Top Ten Results

Maria De Valdes - who has never won a World Cup medal - was fractionally outside the podium today with a fourth place result. 

A superb effort from USA’s Becca Mann saw her pass through the timing gate in fourth position heading into the final lap, and a close battle for the podium resulted in a fifth place finish for the veteran.

Angela Martinez Guillen touched home in sixth while seventh went to first-time World Cup competitor, Jacqueline Davison-McGovern. 

Mafalda Rosa of Portugal posted her best ever result in a World Cup with eighth in a stacked field, while the top ten was rounded out by Bettina Fabian and Linda Caponi. 

Action continues next in 3km Knockout Sprint events on 7 November.

Details on where to watch the Open Water Swimming World Cup 2026/27 are available here.
 
Rights-free media content is available to download throughout the event from the World Aquatics Media Pool.