The last time the World Aquatics (formerly FINA) World Championships were held in Fukuoka, Japan was in July 2001.  Held at Momochihama Beach near Fukuoka Stadium, the Russian and Italian teams dominated the competition along with Germany.  Between these three countries, they won 13 of the possible 18 total podium positions.

At the 2001 Championships, Peggy Büchse of Germany beat Irina Abysova of Russia by a tenth of a second, followed by the Netherland’s Edith van Dijk by another tenth of a second.

2001 Women’s 10 km Marathon Swim Finals

1. Peggy Büchse (Germany) 2:17:32
2. Irina Abysova (Russia) 2:17:47
3. Edith van Dijk (Netherlands) 2:17:52
4. Karley Stutzel (Canada) 2:18:41
5. Hayley Lewisl (Australia) 2:18:47
6. Britta Kamrau (Germany) 2:18:50
7. Trudee Hutchinson (Australia) 2:18:55
8. Kate Brookes-Peterson (New Zealand) 2:18:59
9. Nadezhda Morochkina (Russia) 2:19:01
10. Valeria Casprini (Italy) 2:19:02
11. Paula Wood (Great Britain) 2:19:21
12. Hanna Miluska (Switzerland) 2:20:58
13. Etta van der Weijden (Netherlands) 2:22:31
14. Erica Rose (USA) 2:22:49
15. Denise Schrader (Switzerland) 2:24:49
16. Claudia Barsi (Hungary) 2:27:05
17. Marieke Theunissen (South Africa) 2:27:11
18. Viviane Motti (Brazil) 2:28:06
19. Rebecca Linton (New Zealand) 2:28:25
20. Elizabeth Lavell (USA) 2:43:53
21. Yuki Fukuda (Japan) 2:44:52
22. Fabiana Uyvary (Brazil) 2:50:52
23. Melissa Pasquali (Italy) DNF
24. Yvetta Hlaváčová (Czech Republic) DNF
25. Rola Harres (Lebanon) DQ

Tomorrow is the women’s 10 km marathon swim with a slew of well-known established swimmers. 

Among the lead group and top contenders for podium positions include Olympic gold medalists Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil (2020 Tokyo Olympics), Sharon van Rouwendaal (2016 Rio Olympics) as well as a pair of German Leonie Beck (5th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Anna Olasz of Hungary (fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics).

Ana Marcela Cunha and Sharon van Rouwendaal have been on the top of open water swimming world for so long, they are both already inducted in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

Lea Boy of Germany, Chelsea Gubecka of Australia, Oceane Cassignol of France, Giulia Gabbrielleschi and Ginevra Taddeucci of Italy, and American youngsters Mariah Denigan and Katie Grimes are also expected to be positioning themselves in and around the lead pack throughout the race.

Long-time veterans Eva Fabian of Israel (formerly of the USA) and Olympians Paola Perez of Venezuela and Angelica Andre of Portugal will also be expected to be part of the lead group in the warm waters of the Sea of Japan.

The races will be held in Hakata Bay with the open water swimming festivities and ceremonies held on Momochihama Seaside Park, an artificial beach near Fukuoka Tower.   Rain is expected with 68% humidity and warm air temperatures (28°C) and warm water (25°C).

2023 Women’s 10 km Marathon Swim Start List

• Cecilia Biagioli (38, Argentina)
• Candela Biordanino (19, Argentina)
• Britta Schwengle (19, Aruba)
• Maddy Gough (24, Australia)
• Chelsea Gubecka (24, Australia)
• Fernanda Ramirez (20, Bolivia)
• Ana Marcela Cunha (31, Brazil)
• Viviane Jungblut (27, Brazil)
• Abby Dunford (17, Canada)
• Emma Finlin (18, Canada)
• Jiake Sun (21, China)
• Shutong Wu (17, China)
• Kisha Jimenez (18, Costa Rica)
• Alena Benesova (25, Czech Republic)
• Lenka Sterbova (28, Czech Republic)
• Lamees Elsokkary (16, Egypt)
• Nadine Karim (16, Egypt)
• Fatima Portillo (20, El Salvador)
• Angela Martinez Guillen (19, Spain)
• Candela Sanchez Lora (19, Spain)
• Oceane Cassignol (23, France)
• Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (23, France)
• Leah Phoebe Crisp (21, Great Britain)
• Amber Keegan (26, Great Britain)
• Leonie Beck (26, Germany)
• Lea Boy (23, Germany)
• Maria Porres (20, Guatemala)
• Pac Tung Nikita Lam (22, Hong Kong)
• Tsz Yin Nip (23, Hong Kong)
• Bettina Fabian (18, Hungary)
• Anna Olasz (28, Hungary)
• Ashimitha Chandra (17, India)
• Eva Fabian (29, Israel)
• Orian Gablan (20, Israel)
• Giulia Gabbrielleschi (26, Italy)
• Ginevra Taddeucci (26, Italy)
• Airi Ebina (21, Japan)
• Hanano Kato (23, Japan)
• Mariya Fedotova (24, Kazakhstan)
• Diana Taszhanova (19, Kazakhstan)
• Hae Rim Lee (26, Korea)
• Jeongmin Lee (26, Korea)
• Paulina Alanis Hernandez (18, Mexico)
• Martha Sandoval (24, Mexico)
• Sharon van Rouwendaal (29, Netherlands)
• Maria Bramont-Arias (23, Peru)
• Angelica Andre (28, Portugal)
• Mafalda Rosa (19, Portugal)
• Mariela Guadamuro (16 Puerto Rico)
• Alonda Itzel Quiles (18, Puerto Rico)
• Amica de Jager (24, South Africa)
• Tory Earle (21, South Africa)
• Sofie Frichot (33, Seychelles)
• Li-Shan Chantal Liew (24, Singapore)
• Spela Perse (26, Slovakia)
• Thitirat Charoensup (15, Thailand)
• Pimpun Choopong (27, Thailand)
• Yu-Wen Teng (26, Taipei)
• Mariah Denigan (20, USA)
• Katie Grimes (17, USA)
• Parizoda Iskandarova (18, Uzbekistan)
• Anastayia Zelinskaya (19, Uzbekistan)
• Paola Perez (32, Venezuela)

© 2023 Daily News of Open Water Swimming