Brian Ryckeman wins Men’s 25km Open Water gold - 2011 European Open Water Swimming Championships
Brian Ryckeman of Belgium earned the gold medal of Men’s 25km Open Water swim on the fourth day of the 2011 European Open Water Swimming Championships, on September 11, in Eilat, Israel.
The Belgian champion won the hearts of spectators by claiming the title of the 25km race in a time of 5 hours, 05 minutes and 02.2 seconds. He was followed by Petar Stoychev of Bulgaria, who remained just 4.4 seconds slower than Ryckeman and submitted a
time of 5 hours, 05 minutes and 06.6 seconds. Similarly, Stoychev overwhelmed the efforts of his following swimmer, Joanes Hedel of France, who stayed 13.70 seconds slower than him and stepped on the podium for bronze medal with a timing of 5 hours, 05 minutes
and 18.3 seconds.
The gold medallist had a considerably quicker start and completed his first lap of the race in 36 minutes and 21.3 seconds against Stoychev’s effort of 36 minutes and 25.5 seconds. In the second lap, Stoychev gained a lead of almost five seconds over Ryckeman
as the Bulgarian ended his lap in a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes and 19.7 seconds.
The stats remained the same in the third and fourth lap of the 25km swim, where Stoychev remained prominent with an effort of 2:30:54.9 hours as compared to the swim of Ryckeman, who submitted 2:30:58.1 seconds. The Belgian geared up his swim and defeated
his strongest rival by taking the lead in the fifth lap, with a timing of 3:10:31.3 hours against Stoychev’s 3:10:37.0 hours. Then, the champion kept on extending his lead over the Bulgarian competitor and successfully crossed the finishing line with a lead
of almost four seconds over Stoychev.
The fourth position of the event was secured by Ivan Afanevich of Russia, who concluded his swim in a time of 5 hours, 05 minutes and 28.6 seconds. He was trailed by Csaba Gercsak of Hungary, who was the fifth fastest swimmer of the event by clocking a time
of 5 hours, 05 minutes and 31.8 seconds.
Moments later, the sixth finest spot of the swim was secured by Arseniy Lavrentyev of Portugal, who produced a time of 5 hours, 08 minutes and 23.9 seconds. Rostislav Vitek of Czech Republic was the seventh finisher of the event with a timing of 5 hours,
09 minutes and 03.9 seconds. Igor Chervynskiy of Ukraine transpired as the eighth position holder of the event with a timing of 5 hours, 09 minutes and 04.3 seconds.
Furthermore, the winners received medals for their remarkable effort after the completion of the session.
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