Vice World Champion Leonie Beck was crowned Open Water European Champion over 10 km at the European Championships in Rome.
The 25-year-old, who came second in the World Championships seven weeks ago at the Olympic distance in Budapest, left behind the Italian Ginevra Taddeucci and the Portuguese Angelica Andre in the sea at the Lido di Ostia, almost on her doorstep, after 2:01:13.4 hours.
“European champion is something really cool, it’s also my first gold medal in an individual race,” said the relay world champion, “it was pretty tough, very, very bumpy. And I lost the group again, had to catch up again – the same game every time . But it was really cool and I actually enjoyed it.” The Würzburg native has been living and training in Ostia for a year. She missed the podium in fifth place over 5 km.
Lea Boy finished 13th, Jeanette Spiwoks got out exhausted after a good half of the race. Previously, relay world champion Oliver Klemet had finished fifth in the men’s race after 1:51:04.8 hours, as he had done over 5 km, Ben Langner was 16th.
The races on the beach of the seaside resort just outside Rome had been postponed twice due to strong winds and high waves. On Saturday afternoon, the 25 km marathon was canceled after four hours due to heavy waves. After hours of discussion, the European swimming association LEN decided in the evening not to count the race. On Sunday morning the sea was initially calm, men and women started in quick succession. During the race the wind picked up.