Caroline Jouisse dominated the women’s 25km race in a time just one second slower than men’s winner Marcel Schouten at the third leg of the European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Cup 2024 at Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia.
Jouisse led throughout to win in 5hrs 46mins 51secs, the third-fastest time of the day behind only Matheus Evangelista of Brazil, who touched the panel first in the men’s race, and Schouten with the Netherlands swimmer finishing in 5:46:50.
Only European swimmers are included on the leaderboard.
Jouisse led a French 1-2 through 13km in 3:12:54, six seconds ahead of teammate Ines Delacroix (3:13:00) with Argentina’s Mayte Puca third in 3:13:21.
Jouisse, eighth in the 10k at the Paris Olympics earlier this month, extended her lead and was almost four minutes clear after 19km in 4:15:07 followed by Puca who had moved into second in 4:19:02 and Delacroix (4:19:52).
The Frenchwoman touched the panel almost six minutes ahead of Puca who came home in 5:52:36 with Delacroix making it a France 1-2 in 5:57:18.
Matea Sumajstorčić of Croatia took third place in 6:42:53.
Evangelista of Brazil forged ahead in the men’s race and was in clear water before Croatia’s Marin Mogić responded and moved on to his feet.
Evangelista led at the 13km mark in 3:08.36, 1.02secs ahead of Mogić who went through in 3:09.38 with Evgeny Popacev of North Macedonia leading four men on 3:13.
The Brazilian increased the pace and held a 3mins 34sec lead at 19km in 4:11.29 followed by Doğukan Ulaç (4:15.03) with Schouten moving to within six seconds of the Croatian in 4:15.09.
Evangelista was in clear water at the finish with Schouten edging out Popacev in 5:46:50 to 5:46:52 and Ulaç of Turkey the third European man home in 5:50:49.
The fourth leg will take place in Belgrade, Serbia, on 14 September before the Open Water Swimming Cup concludes in Razanac, Croatia a week later on 21 September.