Thomas Lurz lifts Men’s 10km Open Water gold title: 2011 European Open Water Swimming Championships
Thomas Lurz of Germany captured the gold medal of Men’s 10km Open Water swim on the first day of the 2011 European Open Water Swimming Championships, on September 7, in Eilat, Israel.
One of the most dynamic German Open Water athletes, Lurz, dominated the 10km discipline by submitting an astonishing effort of 1 hour, 53 minutes and 18.2 seconds. Lurz was chased by his strongest competitor and Russian swimmer, Vladimir Dyatchin, who remained
only 1.8 seconds slower than him on the finishing line and reported in a time of 1 hour, 53 minutes and 20.0 seconds for the silver medal. Dyatchin was trailed by Igor Snitko of Ukraine, who was just 1.5 seconds slower than him and stepped on the podium for
the bronze medal, by clocking a nice time of 1 hour, 53 minutes and 21.5 seconds.
The German also owns the bronze medal of the 10km race at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, while he clinched the gold medal of the 5km Open Water swim at the 2011 Shanghai World Championships. Lurz also obtained the silver medal of 10km discipline and bronze
medal of the 5km team Open Water swim respectively, at these Shanghai world titles.
The fourth spot of the Open Water event was secured by Evgeny Drattsev of Russia, who was 3.5 seconds slower than the bronze medallist and ended his swim in a time of 1hour, 53 minutes and 25.0 seconds. He was followed by Nicola Bolzonello of Italy, who
remained 1.1 seconds slower from occupying the fourth finest spot of the swim and settled as the fifth position holder with a timing of 1 hour, 53 minutes and 26.1 seconds.
The Italian finisher was traced by Francisco Jose Hervas of Spain, who was just 0.2 seconds behind his preceding swimmer and concluded his swim in a time of 1 hour, 53 minutes and 26.3 seconds for the sixth position. In the meantime, Hervas easily overwhelmed
the efforts of his following swimmer, Petar Stoychev of Bulgaria, who remained 0.4 seconds slower than him and completed his swim in a seventh fastest time of 1 hour, 53 minutes and 26.7 seconds. Next was Csaba Gercsak of Hungary, who was 2.1 seconds slower
than his foregoing competitor and clocked a time of 1 hour, 53 minutes and 28.8 seconds for eighth position.
The crowd was delighted with the impressive efforts of all open water athletes in the 10km swim. In addition, the winners were awarded medals and accolades for their commendable efforts in the 10km Men’s event after the completion of the session.
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