Open Water Cup returns to Sardinia with competitive line-up

Two weeks after the end of the most important event of the Paralympic cycle - Paris 2024 Paralympic Games - the Para Swimming action is on spotlight again with the second edition of the Open Water Cup in Sardinia Island, Italy. 

On Saturday (21 September), 31 Para swimmers from 14 nations will dive into the beautiful water of the San Teodoro’s Beach to feature in a full morning of competition.

Athletes will compete in six events, divided by gender, distance, and classes. These include the men's and women's 1.5 km races for swimmers classified from S3 to S6, and the 3 km races for those in the S7 to S10 categories. Additionally, a 3 km race will be held for swimmers in classes S11 to S14.

This edition promises to showcase incredible talent, including athletes who recently shone at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Paralympic stars in focus

Canada’s Nicholas Bennet (S14), who captured two gold and a silver medal, will be battling for the podium in the men’s 3km event. 

Paralympic champion in the women’s 50m backstroke S3, Ellie Challis will be in action in the women’s 1,5km event.

USA’s Taylor Winnett competed in the first edition of the Open Water Cup and is back in Sardinia aiming for medals in the women’s 3km event.

“I swam in the competition last year and I had an amazing time. Open water can be such a unique challenge, but as an athlete with leg impairment I enjoy not having any walls for turns or starting blocks to dive off. Last year, I took a silver medal for my division, and I would love to win gold this year. However, I realise that there are many talented Paralympians in my division, S7-S10, so any medal would be sweet,” said Winnett.

The Para swimmer from USA was in Paris two weeks ago where she competed in six different races, including two finals. After the Games, she took a couple days off to travel home, before starting to work on her open water swimming technique in her mother’s neighbourhood pool.

“Practising sight markers is important because you use different muscles, especially in your neck. I am excited for the race and look forward to Open Water swimming to continue grow,” signed off Winnett.

The action will be live streamed on YouTube and the live results will be available here.

Success undergoing

Open Water Cup continues to build on the success of its inaugural edition, providing a platform for top-level open water competition among Para athletes.

Last year, the Sardinia 2023 saw six winners, with Spain sweeping all the men’s events. Five-time Paralympic champion Javier Torres claimed victory in the 1.5km S1-S6 race, while Jacobo Brun took first place in the 3km S7-S10 category, and Alejandro Medero topped the 3km S11-S14 event.

In the women’s competition, Swiss Paralympic medallist Nora Meister won the 1.5km S1-S6 race in her debut open water event. Poland’s Oliwia Jablonska secured the win in the women’s 3km S7-S10, and Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg emerged victorious in the women’s 3km S11-S14 race.