Gemmell takes gold at US Open Water National Championships – eventually
Andrew Gemmell was confirmed winner of the US Open Water National Championships at the weekend – after having previously been disqualified because of a lost timing chip. Dutch swimmer Ferry Weertman was subsequently announced as the winner, only for USA Swimming to then reinstate Gemmell’s first place finish.
Gemmell (US) took victory in 1:53:53.79, ahead of Weertman, who was second in 1:53:55.11, and London 2012 gold medallist Ous Mellouli of Tunisia, who finished third in 1:53:55.56.
Weertman, Mellouli and Gemmell dominated the lead pack throughout the race before breaking away in the final 2,000 metres. Gemmell’s strong finish put him in the lead by half a body length.
In a hard-fought women’s race, Ashley Twichell (US), Rachele Bruni (Italy) and France’s Aurélie Muller swapped the lead for the first four laps of the 10km course. In the final 10 metres Twichell powered ahead of Bruni to take victory in 2:01:51.78 seconds. Bruni finished in 2:01:52.02, with Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha third in 2:01:55.41.
In the women’s 5km event, Hayley Anderson clinched victory from France’s Aurélie Muller by .008 seconds. Anderson finished in 1:01:48.409, Muller in 1:01:48.307 and Brazil’s Poliana Okimoto was third in 1:01:48.524.
In the men’s 5km race Marc Antoine Olivier was first in 57:24.104, Mellouli was second in 57:24.246 and Ferry Weertman was third in 57:25.439.
Jonathan Cowie
Jonathan is a year-round skins swimmer with a particular love of very cold water. He has competed in ice swimming competitions around the world. He is a qualified open water coach with a particular love of introducing new swimmers to the open water.
