After sticking with the pack for the first five of six laps, Velly made a huge push to swim away from the rest of the field to win gold by nearly 30 seconds in 1:59:44.20.
Sacha Velly: Photo Courtesy: European Aquatics
Sacha Velly & Claire Stuhlmacher Enjoy Contrasting 10k Victories At World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships
France’s Sacha Velly and Claire Stuhlmacher of the USA claimed respective 10k victories at the 2024 World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Alghero, Sardinia.
Velly, the leader of the junior ranks at last year’s Open Water Swimming World Cup, won in his last year eligible for junior competitions as he will turn 20 in February 2025.
“It’s my last junior 10km and I am the best – I am world champion and that’s good,” Velly said through World Aquatics. “It was a good race. It’s a beautiful place and beautiful city and a beautiful country.”
Piotr Wozniak of Poland, who finished 22nd at the Paris Olympics last month, won silver in 2:00:13.60 after coming from over 20 seconds adrift of the leading pack heading into the final lap.
Vincenzo Caso of Italy claimed bronze in 2:00:15.80.
While Velly enjoyed a comprehensive victory, Stuhlmacher won the women’s race in a photo finish despite having initially being announced as having finished second behind Italy’s Chiara Sanzullo.
After a lengthy video review, the 17-year-old American was awarded gold in 2:09:15.90 ahead of Sanzullo who took silver in 2:09:16.20 for Italy’s second medal of the meet following Caso’s bronze.
“It was a little nerve-wracking going in,” Stuhlmacher said. “I didn’t know how this would go. I got fourth two years ago in the Seychelles, so toward the end today, I just took off. I just had that extra sense of motivation; I kept telling myself, ‘You have to medal this time.’ It really was internal motivation, pushing myself to the finish, that made the difference.”
Giorgia Makri of Greece was third in 2:09:16.60.
I have very strong feelings about this Magazine. I used to buy it as a teenage swimmer when it first started in a garage. I have most of the very early copies and all the copies when we first subscribed. This change is an insult to all swimmers in general and especially to us that have spent a life time Swimming and Coaching and just plain love swimming and this magazine. The magazine was and is a history of our sport. I feel the loss with this change in production and the service and history it provides. I beg of you to reconsider. This new method will live a short existence and cut many out of a truly wonderful sport and way of life. I for one age grouped, swam in college and made All American in College and totally enjoyed coaching all aspects of our sport. Please reconsider this idea. That monthly magazine is important to us and can not be replaced. oh I have copies of the Jr Swimmer magazines starting with the third addition….. Thank you, Chuck Hay