Moesha Johnson (27, Australia, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @swimmer_moe) was touted as the race favorite – and she lived up to her pre-race billing – winning the 10 km race at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships with plenty of room to spare. He victory helped kick off the open water events in Singapore – finally after 2 days of delays due to poor water quality.

Johnson admitted in her post-race interview, “I was watching [the men before our race] and thinking it’s freaky knowing what’s next to come.”

Freaky…was a polite description for the 30°C (86°F) water and wavy conditions in the early afternoon in tropical Singapore.

She continued, “That was one of the hardest circumstances and open water conditions to be a part of. That wasn’t easy at all. It wasn’t just hot. There were currents everywhere, and a lot of waves. Today it was every possible open water skill on display. I did not stick to the plan.”

But like a heavyweight boxing match, champions are well prepared and mentally capable of adapting to the situation at hand. And that Johnson did well, both in training in the months leading up to this week in Singapore.

Under the guidance of German coach Bernd Berkhahn, Johnson was prepared for everything and adapted to the warm, wavy conditions and the tactics of her competition well. She never panicked, although she said she had “a little bit of an ‘uh-oh’ moment with two laps to go.”

But the ‘uh-oh’ turned into a “oh-yes” by the last loop of six where she won by 4.4 seconds.

Her training partner, Florian Wellbrock (27, Germany, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @flo.swim), also won the men’s 10 km winner earlier in the day with another teammate, 2024 Paris Olympics 10 km gold medalist Sharon van Rouwendaal (31, Netherlands, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @svrouwendaal), sitting out this competition.

Silver medalist Ginevra Taddeucci (28, Italy, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @ginevrataddeucci) had a clear game plan which played out, “I just thought, follow Moesha. It was very warm, it was very difficult. But I believe in Moesha.”

Bronze medalist Lisa Pou (26, Monaco, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @lisaapou) in many ways, replicated the exploits of Kyle Lee (23, Australia, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @kyle.lee__) who also won a surprising bronze in the men’s race with smart race tactics and perfect timing. Her climb to the podium has been steady, as she finished 18th in the Paris Olympics and 9th at the 2024 World Championships “This means a lot. It wasn’t easy. This is a good gift to end this season very well.”

Women’s 10 km Results

1. Moesha Johnson, 27 Australia 2:07:51.30
2. Ginevra Taddeucci, 28, Italy 2:07:55.70
3. Lisa Pou, 26, Monaco 2:07:57.50
4. Maria de Valdes, 26, Spain 2:08:09.60
5. Angela Martinez Guillen, 21, Spain 2:08:17.30
6. Ana Marcela Cunha, 33, Brazil 2:09:21.90
7. Mafalda Rosa, 21, Portugal 2:09:22.70
8. Ichika Kajimoto, 21, Japan 2:09:27.80
9. Chelsea Gubecka, 26, Australia 2:09:28.80
10. Barbara Pozzobon, 31, Italy 2:09:30.30
11. Ekaterina Sorokina, 24, Neutral Athletes B 2:09:39.80
12. Ines Delacroix, 22, France 2:09:44.70
13. Viktoria Mihalyvari-Farkas, 21, Hungary 2:11:34.30
14. Mariah Denigan, 22, USA 2:11:54.10
15. Jeannette Spiwoks, 26, Germany 2:12:36.30
16. Callan Lotter, 19, South Africa 2:14:01.30
17. Viviane Jungblut, 29, Brazil 2:14:17.40
18. Klaudia Tarasiewicz, 21, Poland 2:15:06.00
19. Louna Kasvio, 19, Finland 2:15:09.80
20. Yu-Wen Teng, 28, Chinese Taipei 2:15:54.20
21. Georgia Makri, 19, Greece 2:16:07.60
22. Yaxin Liu, 26, China 2:17:26.40
23. Julie Pleskotova, 23, Czech Republic 2:18:02.50
24. Brinkleigh Hansen, 15, USA 2:19:10.30
25. Catherine van Rensburg, 21, South Africa 2:19:40.20
26. Emma Finlin, 20, Canada 2:19:47.80
27. Candela Gordanino, 21, Argentina 2:20:15.90
28. Kexin Wang, 20, China 2:20:28.30
29. Spela Perse, 28, Slovakia 2:20:39.80
30. Alena Benesova, 27 Czech Republic 2:20:39.90
31. Janka Juhasz, 25, 2:20:44.20
32. Hungary Ofek Adir, 19, Israel 2:20:44.50
33. Tsz Yin Nip, 25, Hong Kong 2:20:52.80
34. Ana Abad, 21, Ecuador 2:20:57.80
35. Malak Meqdar, 18, Mauritius 2:20:59.90
36. Paulina Ananis Hernandez, 20, Mexico 2:21:04.70
37. Pac Tung Nikita Lam, 24, Hong Kong 2:21:04.70
38. Leonie-Sarah Josephine Tenzer, 19, Finland 2:22:07.90
39. Sharo Guerrero Cho, 19, Mexico 2:22:07.90
40. Li-Shan Chantal Liew, 26, Singapore 2:22:07.90
41. Jiyeon Hwang, 18, South Korea 2:22:18.80
42. Su Inal, 15, Turkey 2:23:55.80
43. Jia-Shien Lin, 17, Chinese Taipei 2:23:55.80
44. Yanci Vanegas, 22, Guatemala 2:29:07.20
45. Kate Ona, 17, Singapore 2:29:18.00
46. Britta Schwengle, 21, Aruba 2:29:43.00
47. Darya Pushko, 21, Kazakhstan 2:29:50.00
48. Daniela Chinquinquira Suarez Correa, 16, Venezuela 2:29:52.30
49. Sueah Kim, 18, South Korea 2:29:57.50
50. Cielo Peralta, 18, Paraguay 2:31:46.50
51. Pilar Canedo, 21, Uruguay 2:31:46.50
52. Alondra Itzel Quiles, 20, Puerto Rico 2:35:11.60
53. Maria Fernanda Arellanos, 16, Peru 2:36:13.80
54. Diksha Sandip Yadav, 19, India OTL
55. Lea Boy, 25, Germany DNF
56. Margarita Ershova, 19, Neutral Country B DNF
57. Mariya Fedotova, 26, Kazakhstan DNF
58. Isabella Hernandez, 20 Dominica Republic DNF
59. Caroline Laure Jouisse, 31, France DNF
60. Dayana Melendez, 18, El Salvador DNF
61. Christina Duran, 20, Dominica Republic DNF
62. Ruthsell Guadalupe Aponte Teran, 26, Venezuela DNF
63. Chonpasaop Chatwuti, 14, Thailand DNF
64. Maria Porres, 22, Guatemala DNF
65. Alexandra Mejia Gallego, 19, Andorra DNF
66. Danna Martinez, 19, Ecuador DNF
67. Micheline Gabrielle Bathfield, 19, Mauritius DNF
68. Kamonchanok Kwanmuang, 20, Thailand DNF
69. Ashmitha Chandra, 19, India DNF

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