The Maspalomas Open Water Gran Canaria Travesía challenge attracts 330 swimmers.

 

Two legends and an emerging swimmer. This 14th edition of the Maspalomas Open Water Gran Canaria will feature two athletes whose names are among the legends of swimming and triathlon, David Meca Medina and Iván Raña Fuentes, respectively. They attended the presentation of the final details of the event today, alongside one of the favorites to take the overall win in the long distance, the 7.400 meters, Catalan Laura Rodríguez Santaeularia, who demonstrated her potential in the waters of the southern part of the island in the 2022 edition.

 

Ramón Suárez, Sports Councilor for San Bartolomé de Tirajana, explained that "we are completely satisfied with an event like this. We always seek to improve, but it's clear that heading into its 15th edition, the Maspalomas Open Water Gran Canaria is a well-established destination in the world of cross-country skiing, with athletes from many places among the 330 registered participants."

 

 

This final round of the national Open Water Series circuit also has the support of the Gran Canaria Island Council through the Island Sports Institute and the Tourism Board, as well as the Canary Islands Government, in addition to Riu Hotels and Hospiten, among other sponsors.  

 

Regarding the competition, it's worth noting that 330 swimmers have registered, representing more than thirty clubs. Many of the top finishers from last year's event will be participating in the 7.400 meters, as well as the aforementioned Laura Rodríguez, who has been part of the Spanish open water swimming team for five years and, at 23, has finished fourth and sixth in two European Championships. Laura sets out with the intention of reaching the podium, and clarifies, "I always go out to compete in any event to try to win. In Maspalomas, I also want to enjoy myself because it seems like an incredible place, and everything surrounding the event is top-notch. The reception at the finish line is spectacular."

 

 

 

Catalan David Meca, who is sponsoring this event for another year and is a leading figure in open water, will be on the starting line for the 1.000-meter race. He has won 28 world champions, six European championship titles, and more than XNUMX international titles in long-distance events. Meca emphasized the commitment "to protecting nature, combining tourism and sport, and athletes are very grateful for the magnificent conditions we always experience when we come to this island. Details like the T-shirts available for each event speak volumes about how the organizers care about these things that athletes love so much." 

 

For his part, Iván Raña is a world legend in triathlon, with multiple victories under his belt. He was recently in Gran Canaria, participating in the Anfi Mogán Swim Run. In Maspalomas, he'll dive into the sea to complete the 2,000-meter course. He believes that "there's no doubt about how well it can be trained, worked hard, and enjoyed by any athlete, regardless of their level." 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedules and reference times

 

At 11.00:7.400 a.m., with El Pajar beach as the starting point, those registered for the 1.29.51-meter long distance race will head toward the finish line near the Maspalomas Lighthouse. Last year, Eduard Mannanov won with a time of 1.53.19:1.57.06:59, followed almost nine minutes later by Yare Cocera. Elena Sarmiento was the first woman to cross the finish line, with a time of 64:XNUMX:XNUMX, followed by Isabel Valido (XNUMX:XNUMX:XNUMX). On that occasion, XNUMX of the XNUMX entrants finished.

 

Next, the swimmers will enter the water from Meloneras Beach at 12.00:2.000 p.m. They will complete the 2024-meter popular event. The top four finishers finished the 26.54 competition by just four seconds, with Lucas Henríquez clocking a time of 27.58, followed by Jeremy Peña, Daniel Sosa, and Rafael Henríquez. In the women's event, Olivia Aguilar won with a time of XNUMX, followed three seconds later by Raquel Ruiz and Valeria Pulido.

 

At 13.00:39 p.m., it will be the turn of those swimming the 13.40 meters, the so-called Promo event, starting from the Lighthouse Dock. Only one of the 14.17 entrants' GPS chip failed to cross the finish line in this distance, with Alonso Suárez, who completed the course in 600:XNUMX, and Nerea Hernández (XNUMX:XNUMX) as the winners. And then there's the final party with the music group Los XNUMX.

 

On the website openwaterseries.es all details can be consulted.