Dávid Betlehem & Moesha Johnson Win 3k Knockout Sprint Titles to Clinch Double Gold in Ibiza
Dávid Betlehem and Moesha Johnson added the 3km knockout sprint titles to their 10k crowns at the second leg of the Open Water World Cup in Ibiza.
Olympic bronze medallist Betlehem won his second 10k gold on Friday when he went past the field with a final-lap surge.
The Hungarian returned on Saturday for the sprints to lead through the heats and semis before taking the title in 5:43.30.
Gregorio Paltrinieri (5:45.20) and Marc-Antoine Olivier (5:46.60) joined him on the podium followed by Logan Fontaine and Matteo Diodato with Florian Wellbrock in ninth.
“I’m very happy,” said Betlehem through World Aquatics. “Two wins in one weekend is a great feeling…….I think I was also a bit lucky today. I wasn’t boxed in at the start, which gave me the chance to move straight to the front. I’m always proud when I can be on the podium and compete for the win, but now it’s about going home, staying focused, and preparing for the next races and the European Championships.
“I had a clear plan going into the race. I watched the women’s race and saw that the left side was important, so I knew I needed to win my heat to have the best position for the next round. The goal was to control the 1000m so I could start the final 500m from the front. I wanted a strong start, a good dive and underwater, and if I could turn first, then try to hold that position to the finish.
“The biggest challenge today was actually staying warm between races. Being in the first heat meant I had more time out of the water, and keeping my body and muscles ready was difficult. Thankfully, I have a great team around me who helped me manage that, which made a big difference. Starting in the first heat can be an advantage—you get more recovery time and the first choice of position. With the right support, it can really work in your favour, and today it did for me.”
Johnson Extends Golden Collection
Johnson controlled the women’s 10k as she claimed her second straight win following a thumping victory at the season-opener in Somabay last month.
The Olympic silver medallist posted the fastest heats time with Lea Boy of Germany swiftest in the semis.
Johnson though was back in front in the final 500m sprint to touch the board in 6:19.80, three seconds ahead of Boy (6:22.80) and Ichika Kajimoto of Japan (6:27.40).
Bettina Fabian was narrowly locked out of the podium ahead of Brinkleigh Hansen of the USA and Frenchwoman Ines Delacroix.
“It’s really special to take two wins this weekend,” said Johnson. “I haven’t actually counted my World Cup victories, but maybe I should go back and check now.
“It’s nice to see the sport growing as well. Open water swimming is building a profile, and when you’re on the podium, people start to recognise you. There were even some Australian fans here in Ibiza who came up to say hello, which is always great.
“I’d like to say I had a clear strategy today—I was trying to conserve energy—but the water temperature made that a bit difficult. My goal is always to save my strongest swim for the final. In the 1000m, though, the pace really lifted at the end, so I had to use a bit more energy than planned.
“In the final, my approach was simple—just give it everything. I wasn’t sure how I would feel after yesterday, and the cold water makes it hard to judge your condition early on. So I just focused on racing as hard as I could. To come away with another gold medal is something I don’t take for granted.”
The Australian will head to the third stop in Golfo Aranci where she hopes to add the relay to her 10k and 3k knockout sprints.
She added: “I think the 3km knockout sprint is a great addition to the sport. The 10km absolutely has its place and is a very special event, but this format brings something different. It’s fast, it’s dynamic, and it’s exciting to race and to watch. Both formats are equally important for open water swimming.”
