Moesha Johnson (27, Australia, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @swimmer_moe), Isabel Gose (23, Germany, World Aquatics bio here), and Ichika Kajimoto (21, Japan, World Aquatics bio here, @chika_0307) had a very busy two weeks at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, racing from Singapore’s Sentosa Island where the open water races were held to the Singapore Sports Hub where the pool events are held.

Johnson raced over 23,300 meters in 9 races. Gose raced over 9,900 meters over 10 races. Kajimoto raced over 21,900 meters over 11 races. Against world-class competition in various conditions.

Years ago, we asked Olympic silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne if she considered herself a pool swimmer or an open water swimmer because she competed in both at the world-class level. She simply and profoundly replied, “I am a swimmer.”

With so many options open to distance freestylers on the World Championships and World Cup events around the world throughout the year, it is a great era “to be a swimmer.”

Contrary to what most American pool swimming coaches believe, these women – as well as their contemporary male counterparts like Florian Wellbrock (27, Germany, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @flo.swim), Gregorio Paltrinieri (30, Italy, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here,  @greg_palt), and many others – clearly demonstrate that success at the highest level in both the pool and open water swimming are within the reach of motivated and talented athletes.

From Gertrude Ederle in the 1920’s to Greta Anderson in the 1950’s and 1960’s, John Kinsella and Sandra Bucha in the 1970’s to Ous Mellouli most recently, this fact has always been the case. Think about the history of swimming as a sport – from the days of Duke Kahanamoku all the way to Gary Hall Jr. who appreciated training while body surfing, and some of the top Australian female pool sprinters who compete in Australian surf lifesaving events.

In contemporary times, it is primarily pool swimming coaches in Europe who understand how to prepare such dual athletes physiologically, psychologically, and strategically to race at the highest levels. Those coaches – like Germany’s Bernd Berkhahn – are true students, developers, and motivators of swimmers.

Carry on swimmers.

Moesha Johnson, Australia – 23,300 meters racing over 9 races in both pool and open water

• July 31st: 12th in 800m freestyle preliminary heats in 8:30.85
• July 29th: 6th in 1500m freestyle in 16:02.45
• July 27th: Qualified 6th in the 1500m freestyle preliminary heats in 16:05.13
• July 20th: 5th in 4x1500m open water mixed relay in 1:09:59
• July 19th: 3rd in 3 km Knockout Sprint 500m final in 6:23.10, qualified 1st in 1000m semifinal at 5:30 pm in 12:09.60, qualified 4th in 1500m heats at 5:00 pm in 18:11.70
• July 18th: Gold medal in 5 km open water in 1:02.01
• July 16th: Gold medal in 10 km open water in 2:07.51

Isabel Gose, Germany- 9,900 meters racing over 10 races in both pool and open water

• August 2nd: 6th in 800m freestyle final in 8:18:32
• July 31st: Qualified 4th in 800m freestyle preliminary heats in 8:20.21
• July 28th: 9th in 1500m freestyle in 16:08.41
• July 27th: 5th in 400m freestyle in 4:02.90
• July 27th: 9th in the 1500m freestyle preliminary heats in 16:08.41
• July 26th: Qualified 7th in 400m freestyle preliminary heats in 4:05.07
• July 20th: Gold medal in 4x1500m open water mixed relay in 1:09.13
• July 19th: 5th in 3 km Knockout Sprint 500m final at 5:45 pm in 6:23.30, qualified 3rd in 1000m semifinal at 5:30 pm in 12:10.00, qualified 3rd in 1500m heats at 5:00 pm in 18:11.40

Ichika Kajimoto, Japan – 21,900 meters racing over 11 races in both pool and open water

• August 2nd: 8th in 800m freestyle in 8:26.85
• July 31st: Qualified 8th in 800m freestyle semifinals in 8:27.51
• July 31st: 8th in 4x200m freestyle relay in 7:58.13
• July 30th: Qualified 8th in the 4x200m freestyle relay preliminary heats in 7:58.80
• July 27th: 10th in the 1500m freestyle preliminary heats in 16:09.65
• July 26th: 12th in 400m freestyle preliminary heats in 4:08.79
• July 19th: Gold medal in 3 km Knockout Sprint 500m final at 5:45 pm in 6:19.90, qualified 2nd in 1000m semifinal at 5:30 pm in 12:09.70, qualified 2nd in 1500m heats at 5:00 pm in 18:09.90
• July 18th: Bronze medal in 5 km open water in 1:02.28
• July 16th: 8th in 10 km open water in 2:09.27

© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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