Swimmers forced to quit open water races

The men’s and women’s 25 kilometre open water races at the World Championships ended with fingers being pointed as high water temperatures forced 14 swimmers to quit during the competition at Jinshan City Beach.

The United States had recommended to their teams they did not even compete because the water was already 30.5 degrees – just 0.5 below FINA’s recommended upper limit – at 6am when they were due to go, even though the start time had been brought forward two hours.

One American, Claire Thompson, did start but was instructed to get out of the water by US officials when their tests showed the water temperature to be 32.6 degrees – although the swimmer did not want to quit.

Defending men’s champion Valerio Cleri, of Italy, withdrew after four hours, saying: “It was too hot and dangerous”, while his team-mate Edoardo Stochino was pulled from the water and taken away on a stretcher although he returned after being examined.

Multiple world champion Thomas Lurz was among those who did not even start the race, along with women’s defending title holder Linsy Heister of Holland.

The issue is especially resonant following the death of Fran Crippen in October last year during a 10km event in the United Arab Erimates.

An investigation found a number of safety concerns surrounding the staging of open water events.

Crippen’s friend and USA team-mate Alex Meyer decided not to start and said: “What’s the point in making rules and recommendations if you’re just going to blow them off at events like this.

“It’s like, did you not learn your lesson? Do you not remember what happened last time?

“And if these FINA guys say, ’Oh you’re not in good shape, you’re not a good enough swimmer’ ... No, it’s not because I’m not a good swimmer, it’s because it’s too hot.”

Of the 35 men entered in the race, only 19 finished, with 10 pulling out before the end. Six decided not to start.

Peter Stoychev of Bulgaria won the men’s race in five hours 10 minutes 39.8 seconds ahead of Russia’s Vladimir Dyatchin and Csaba Gercsak of Hungary.

In the women’s race, Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha edged out Germany’s Angela Maurer by 2.1seconds in 5hrs 29 mins 22.9secs with Alice Franco of Italy in third.