Back in August in Québec, Canada, the 34e édition of la Traversée Internationale du Lac Memphrémagog saw a close race for the men’s top spots after world Grand Prix champion Trent Grimsey pulled away from the field at the 17 km mark in remarkably warm conditions.

“I tried really hard to catch Trent and got a bit too tired, so I stayed with the chasing pack, trying to keep my energy for the end,” said eventual runner-up Xavier Desharnais.

“I managed to save enough for the final sprint where we came down to 5 swimmers battling it out exactly even with 300 meters to go.

It became a race between Damian and me. I pulled just ahead of him for the final 100 meters.”

Men’s Results:
1. Trent Grimsey (AUS) 7:24:38
2. Xavier Desharnais (CAN) 7:30:53
3. Damian Blaum (ARG) 7:30:55
4. Luciano Martin Sales Rubio (ARG) 7:31:01
5. Alexander Studzinski (GER) 7:31:02
6. Evgenij Pop Acev (MKD) 7:32:03
7. Andrea Volpini (ITA) 7:42:03
8. Ian Van der Hulst (NED) 7:52:30
9. Paul Blais-Morissette (CAN) 8:29:55
10. Pierre Pelletier (CAN) 9:14:00

Women’s Results:
1. Esther Nunez Morera (ESP) 7:55:17
2. Pilar Geijo (ARG) 7:56:39
3. Anna Uvarova ((RUS) 8:04:28
4. Antonella Bogarin (ARG) 8:30:51
5. Marianela-Elizabet Mendoza (ARG) 8:39:09
6. Aurélie Côté (CAN) 8:58:28
7. Noella Petti (ARG) 9:11:55
8. Rita Vanessa Garcia (ARG) 9:26:11
9. Ivana Sitic (CRO) 9:39:45
10. Gabrielle Trottier (CAN) 9:55:16

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