10km World Cup: Action-packed races and close finishes mark season debut

AKUATIK. It was game on from the get go as the world's top marathon swimmers battled it out in the first two stops of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup 2014, held in Viedma (ARG, February 1) and Cancun (MEX, April 5). 

Among men, Thomas Lurz (GER) started his World Cup title defense campaign by claiming his first win of the season in Cancun, while 22-year-old Thomas Allen (GBR) celebrated his first trip to the podium in the opening leg in Viedma. 

The women's races in Viedma and Cancun featured high-level competition with reigning World champion Poliana Okimoto (BRA) bagging a gold and silver. 2012 Olympic bronze medal winner Martina Grimaldi (ITA) touched first in Cancun.

Lurz and Okimoto are the most-decorated swimmers in the FINA 10km circuit with a total 21 and 16 victories, respectively. Setubal (POR) will stage the third stop of the World Cup on June 28, 2014.(fina)