The 5th and final leg of the LEN Open Water Cup in Copenhagen offered the usual excitements for the swimmers who covered the 6km course swimming in the canals around the Danish Parliament. It ended in a double German win: Soeren Meissner was the best among the men and compatriot Leonie Beck came first in the womenรขโฌโขs race.
Medallists
Men: 1. Soeren Meissner (GER) 1:08:22, 2. Yuval Safra (ISR) 1:08:25, 3. Denis Addev (RUS) 1:08:25
Women: 1. Leonie Beck (GER) 1:13:24, 2. Hannah Moore (USA) 1:13:46, 3. Leo Boy (GER) 1:13:55
Soeren Meissnerรขโฌโขs speed was unmatchable for the others who couldnรขโฌโขt keep up with the German whose powerful swim brought him the title in the Danish capital. Israelรขโฌโขs Yuval Safra got the silver this time after his bronze in Ohrid two weeks ago, he just out-touched Russiaรขโฌโขs Denis Addev.
รขโฌยThis was the first time I swam in Copenhagenรขโฌย Meissner said. รขโฌลIรขโฌโขve heard it is a really good competition. Indeed it was fun to compete here. The race was okay, I hoped to come first but I wasnรขโฌโขt sure, so Iรขโฌโขm satisfied.รขโฌย
Beck showed her class in the womenรขโฌโขs race. The German won the bronze in the 5km race at the World Championships in July so she was the favourite here and she landed the title with ease, gaining 22 seconds on runner-up US swimmer Hannah Moore (though itรขโฌโขs a LEN event, competitions are open for everyone).
รขโฌลI saw that there were a lot of good female swimmers entering this raceรขโฌย Beck said. รขโฌลIt was a top competition so I did my best and hoped for a top three finish. It is always beautiful to swim in Copenhagen with the skyline and the Black Diamond building. So it was a nice swim.รขโฌย
Medallists of the 2019 stages
Leg 1 รขโฌโ Eilat (ISR) รขโฌโ 31 March
Men: 1. Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA), 2. David Aubry (FRA), 3. Kirill Ambrosimov (RUS)
Women: 1. Lara Grangeon (FRA), 2. Aurelie Muller (FRA), 3. Oceane Cassignol (FRA)
Leg 2 รขโฌโ Brive La Gaillarde (FRA) รขโฌโ 23 May
Men: 1. David Aubry (FRA), 2. Athanasios Kynigakis (GRE), 3. Alberto Martinez (ESP)
Women: 1. Paula Ruiz (ESP), 2. Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED), 3. Angelica Andre (POR)
Leg 3 รขโฌโ Barcelona (ESP) รขโฌโ 29 June
Men: 1. Andrea Manzi (ITA), 2. Matej Kozubek (CZE), 3. Pol Gil Tarazona (ESP)
Women: 1. Ginevra Taddeucci (ITA), 2. Silvia Ciccarella (ITA), 3. Ellen Olsson (SWE)
Leg 4 รขโฌโ Ohrid (MKD) รขโฌโ 18 August
Men: 1. Athanasios Kynigakis (GRE), 2. Daniel Szekelyi (HUN), 3. Yuval Safra (ISR)
Women: 1. Angelica Andre (POR), 2. Ginevra Taddeucci (ITA), 3. Angela Maurer (GER)
Leg 5 รขโฌโ Copenhagen (DEN, 6km) รขโฌโ 31 August
Men: 1. Soeren Meissner (GER), 2. Yuval Safra (ISR), 3. Denis Addev (RUS)
Women: 1. Leonie Beck (GER), 2. Hannah Moore (USA), 3. Leo Boy (GER)
Press release from LEN, images courtesy of Jesper Westley and Michael Vienรยธ
Leave a Reply