The following is a press release courtesy of FINA:
The 2015 series of FINA’s two major open water swimming circuits debut this weekend. Patagones-Viedma, the inaugural leg of the 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup, will be organised on Saturday February 7 while the Open Water Swimming Grand Prix kicks off Sunday February 8 in Argentina as well with a 25km race between Villa Urquiza and Parana.
33 women and 48 men will take the departure in Viedma with amongst them some big names in the world of open water: Germany’s Angela Maurer (2013 10km World bronze medallist) and Thomas Lurz (2012 10km Olympic silver medallist), Brazilian Alan do Carmo (2014 overall winner of the Series), Greek Spyridon Gianniotis (2013 10km World champion) and Italy’s Martina Grimaldi (2012 10km Olympic bronze medallist).
The competition calendar includes eleven meets, stretching from February to October in South and North America, Europe and Asia. The prize money for the winner of the series in each category is of USD 90’000.
FINA/HOSA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup 2015 calendar:
FIRST RACE: February 7 in Patagones-Viedma (ARG)
Race 2: March 13 in Abu Dhabi (Qatar, tbc)
Race 3: April 18 in Noumea (New Caledonia, FRA)
Race 4: May 2 in Cancun (MEX)
Race 5: June 20 in Balatonfured (Hungary)
Race 6: June 27 in Setubal (Portugal)
Race 7: July 23 in Lac St-Jean (CAN)
Race 8: July 30 in Lac Magog (CAN)
Race 9: August 8 in Lac Megantic (CAN)
Race 10: October 12 in Chun’an (CHN)
Race 11: October 17 in Hong Kong (HKG)
FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix 2015 calendar:
FIRST RACE: February 8 in Villa Urquiza-Parana (ARG, 25km)
Race 2: April 25 in Cancun (MEX, 15km)
Race 3: July 25 in Lac St-Jean (CAN, 32km)
Race 4: August 1 in Lac Magog (CAN, 34km)
Race 5: August 29 in Ohrid Lake (MKD, 33km)
Race 6: September 6 in Capri-Napoli (ITA, 36km)