Moesha Johnson & David Betlehem Dominate Ibiza Stop Of Open Water World Cup

2026 Open Water World Cup Stop 2

The mud has settled on the second cease of the 2026 Open Water Cup. The weekend’s largest winners had been two of the game’s largest stars, Moesha Johnson of Australia and David Betlehem of Hungary. Both figures swept the weekend’s occasions, the 10k and 3k dash knockout.

Friday introduced us the 10k, the game’s premiere occasion. The girls hit the Mediterranean Sea first, with Johnson setting the tempo within the chilly, wavy water. The Aussie, who received the final World Cup 10k by almost a minute, had a star-studded pack of Europeans nipping at her heels time round. This included Spaniard Angela Martinez, who received the 2025 Ibiza cease. Lisa Pou (MON), Ginevra Taddeucci (ITA), Viktoria Mihalyvari (HUN), and Lea Boy (GER) had been additionally within the main pack.

The group separated in the direction of the tail finish of the race, and Johnson hit the end line first. Approximately 5 seconds separated every of the primary 4 girls, with Martinez hitting second, Mihalyvari third, and Pou fourth. Martinez celebrated a second straight yr of homefield medals, whereas Mihalyvari scored her first ever particular person World Cup medal.

“I pushed the pace more than usual,” Johnson advised World Aquatics. “In cold water, your heart rate drops, so I was trying to keep it high to stay warm. I was really racing the conditions first, and then thinking about tactics second.” The water was reportedly round 18 diploma Celsius, or 65 levels Fahrenheit.

Johnson as soon as once more took management of the suboptimal circumstances on Saturday by successful the 3k dash knockout. Boy, who skipped the German pool nationals to be right here, reaped silver after main the second of three legs. The bronze went to Japan’s high open water swimmer Ichika Kajimoto, who completed one tenth forward of Hungarian Bettina Fabian.

The males additionally had a two-for-two champion in 22-year-old David Betlehem. Like Johnson, he made the perfect of the chilly circumstances. Unlike Johnson, he didn’t lead for many of the race. Instead, he had a brave final lap which noticed him transfer up 5 locations for his second ever World Cup 10k gold. Rounding out the medal podium was Frenchman and 2024 World Junior Champion Sacha Velly. He has now earned one particular person world cup medal in every of the final three calendar years. Last yr’s Ibiza champion Andrea Viladelli, who competes for Italy, rounded out the 10k podium.

The subsequent day noticed a podium with Betlehem on high accompanied by a unique Italian and Frenchman. All-time nice Gregorio Paltrinieri fought his approach to silver, whereas Marc-Antoine Olivier climbed the ranks within the final spherical to bronze.

World Ranking Update

Johnson and Betlehem, who already ranked #1 of their respective gender for world rankings, solely elevated that hole with their journey to Spain. Though that they had a weekend with no medals, Ginevra Taddeucci and Florian Wellbrock maintained their #2 positions. Kajimoto, who’s 22 years outdated, climbed as much as a career-high of #3, pushed partially by her 3k knockout medal. Mihalyvari (#5 girl), Martinez (#6 girl), and Velly (#9 males) additionally loved level and rating ascensions.

See the full rankings list here.

All elite open water athletes have a fast turnaround for the subsequent cease in Golfo Aranci, Italy, which kicks off this Friday.

For an replace on the American Pan Pacs group, which was partially decided by Ibiza performances, click on right here.