14 Feb 2009 – Viedma, Argentina
13 women and 18 men from 9 nations competed in the race on the Rio Negro river. Britta Kamrau won the 15km Grand Prix event to take her third medal from 3 races after winning gold in Rosario and silver in Santa Fe earlier this month. Israeli Michael Dmitriev, who trains in Texas, won the men’s event ahead of German Alexander Studzinski and Argentinian Damian Blaum.
View video (1m 09s, flashplayer required)
The river currents and leaders changed frequently as the swimmers battled constantly around six 2.5K loops in a rectangular course. It was only after the last turn buoy where the top three men and Kamrau broke away from the respective packs.
View video (43s flashplayer required to view)
Men
1 Michael DMITRIEV ISR 2:45.12
2 Alexander STUDZINSKI GER 2:45.14
3 Damian BLAUM ARG 2:45.37
4 Petar STOYCHEV BUL 2:47.45
5 Rodolfo VALENTI ITA 2:48.03
6 Gabriel VILLAGOIZ ARG 2:48.14
7 Andrea VOLPINI ITA 2:48.25
8 Guillermo BERTOLA ARG 2:55.17
9 Rok KERIN SLO 3:02.40
10 Tomi STEFANOVSKI MKD 3:05.48
11 Daniel KATZIR ISR 3:05.55
12 Cristobal ROMERO ARG DNF
13 Leonardo BASTIANI ARG DNF
14 Sha-ar RESMAN ISR DNF
15 Ramiro CHIRINO ARG DNF
16 Pablo NEGRI ARG DNF
17 Juan CORDONIER ARG DNF
18 Nadir Vaca Paunero ARG DNF
Women
1 Britta KAMRAU GER 2:57.22
2 Anna UVAROVA RUS 2:58.48
3 Esther NUÑEZ ESP 3:01.54
4 Cecilia BIAGIOLI ARG 3:02.07
5 Pilar GEIJO ARG 3:10.25
6 Camila FREDIANI ITA 3:11.26
7 Antonella BOGARIN ARG 3:25.01
8 Marianela MENDOZA ARG 3:26.25
9 Laura VOLPI ITA DNF
10 Vanesa GARCIA ARG DNF
11 Christina KRIENKE GER DNF
12 Tamara DARRUSPE ARG DNF
13 Noelia PETTI ARG DNF
The next event in the Grand Prix series is on 18 April at Sumidero Canyon in Mexico.