Dolphins duo excel in Israel

Dolphins Chelsea Gubecka and Maddy Gough have headlined a series of impressive results from Australian athletes over the weekend in the opening event of the 2023 LEN Open Water Cup season in Eilat, Israel.

The pair led a strong contingent of Australians who travelled to Israel with the event forming part of selection considerations for the World Championships in Japan in July.

Gubecka and Gough were engaged in a thrilling stroke for stroke finish in the Women’s 10km event, with Gubecka drawing on her considerable international racing experience to out touch her teammate by less than two seconds and finish first in 1:54:02.2.

It was Gubecka’s second win in Eilat in just five months, following her victory in the FINA World Marathon Series event at the same venue in November, while it was another impressive result for Gough as the Tokyo Olympian continues to build her open water credentials with a 1:54:03.7.

Fellow Dolphin Moesha Johnson finished just outside the medals in an impressive 1:54:05.

Gubecka said it was an important result in the context of the road ahead.

“It was a very tough race, very fast paced and we don’t normally see open water events go hard from the start like that so it might be something to consider going forward,” Gubecka said.

“I’m a person who likes to gain some confidence, so it is important to have a good solid season and I’m looking forward to continuing to progress my training and hopefully securing a spot on the Olympic team this year.”

Other Australians contesting the Women’s 10km event included Bianca Crisp (15^th), Jacqueline Davison-McGovern (17^th) and Chloe Truscott (25^th).

In the Men’s 10km event, reigning National Champion Nick Sloman topped the Australians in the field finishing sixth in 1:48:07 ahead of Kyle Lee (8^th), Bailey Armstrong (9^th), Jack Wilson (10^th), Robert Bonsall (16^th), Kai Edwards (20th) and Tom Raymond (24^th).