Alessio Occhipinti (Italy, 28, MSF bio here, @alessioocchipinti) and Mayte Puca (Argentina, @mayte_puca) won the 47th edition of the Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe – Coronda, 57 km downriver racing in the Río Coronda followed and surrounded by a giant cheering flotilla of supporters and spectators in Argentina.

Occhipinti won his second career major race (after his 2021 Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli).

Puca’s joy was so evident after her victory. She wrote, “So many years waiting and wishing that this moment would be possible. Today, I was able to live it. 9 hours 14 minutes where I started swimming with my body, I stayed with my head, and I finished thanks to my heart and soul.

My strategy? I don’t even know what I did, I just did the best thing I know how to do: swim. There was only one option and that was to touch that finish pad, whatever it was.

Mentally, the last hour was very hard, where my anxiety about the finish began. I couldn’t control it. At that time it was only Luis Peña and me. He had the task of doing everything so that I could finish it. He generated so much strength in me that we did the unimaginable. You were my eyes, my motivator, my hydrator, my guide. You told me that you seemed calm and it was because I knew I was in good hands.”

47th Maratón Río Coronda Results

1. Alessio Occhipinti of Italy 8:47.24
2. David Farinango of Ecuador 8:56.09
3. Martín Carrizo of Argentina 8:56.31
4. Matheus Evangelista of Brazil 9:12.13
5. Matías Diaz Hernandez of Argentina 9:14.54
6. Mayte Puca of Argentina [first woman] 9:15.18
7. Romina Imwinkelried of Argentina [second woman] 9:28.25
8. Madisyn Armstrong of Australia [third woman] 9:33.20
9. Aquiles Balaudo of Argentina 9:34.36
10. Erika Yenssen of Argentina 9:47.35
11. Mariel Loyato of Argentina 9:52.31
12. Mahina Valdivia of Chile 9:55.06
13. Tomás Rodriguez of Argentina 10:04.43
14. David Carrillo Rosso of Colombia 10:10.54
15. Ignacio Valdes of Chile 10:25.20
16. Giuseppe Ilario of Italy DNF
17. Mateo Ramos Castro of Ecuador DNF

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