When the splashing stopped at the Open Water World Championships, the points were tallied and the team champions were awarded the Championship Team Trophy. At the 2009 FINA Swimming World Championships, host nation Italy came out on top with 84 points, followed by Russia (82.5 points), Germany (69 points), and the USA (57 points).
For the women, 15-year-old Eva Fabian (Keane, NH) blazed at the front of the pack, keeping pace with the leaders for much of the race. The World Championship rookie eventually finished the race in a time of 5:50:41.5, good for 10th place.
"I'm actually feeling really great that I finished. It was a tough race," said Fabian. "I wasn't expecting it to be that wavy. I was looking for a little higher of a finish, but I'm happy with my first 25K."
Finishing just over two minutes later was Team USA's Emily Hanson (Bloomington, Ill.) who was 11th in a time of 5:53:01.6.
In the men's race, 16-year-old Tennessean Sean Ryan (Hixon, Tenn.) earned an 11th place finish, with a time of 5:36:22.2.
"I think I was out really well," said Ryan. "I underestimated how much energy I was using and then on the last two laps, the leaders pulled away and I just couldn't hang with them. I sort of ran out of energy. I think it's a great learning opportunity and I'm ready to try again soon."
Alex Meyer (Ithaca, NY), was in position to finish top-10, but was disqualified while rounding the final buoy.
The swimmers navigated through a choppy waters for more than five-and-a-half hours. A full beach of spectators looked on in Ostia. The crowd erupted into cheers when Italian swimmer Valerio Cleri won the men's race in 5:26:31.6. Australia's Trent Grimsey took second in 5:26:50.7 and Russian swimmer Vladimir Dyatchin was third in 5:29:29.3.
The World Championship in the women's 25K went to Germany's Angele Maurer (5:47:48.0), while silver went to Anna Uvarova of Russia in 5:47:51. Rounding out the medal stand was Italy's Federica Vitale with a time of 5:47:52.7.
Pool action at the World Championships begins Sunday with prelims and semi-finals in the women's 100m fly, 200m IM and 400m free, and the men's 400m free, 50m fly and 100m breaststroke. Additionally, the men's and women's 4x100m freestyle relays will be contested (prelims and finals).
Open Water Swimming at the 2009 World Championships: 21-25 July
