Qatar ready to stage FINA Marathon Swim World Series

Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) has finalised all arrangements and is ready to host the FINA Marathon Swim World Series Doha. The world’s best long-distance swimmers will compete over the 10km course tomorrow.  The men’s and women’s races will take place on Doha’s iconic Corniche, near Orry the Oryx Statue. Qatar has hosted multiple top-level FINA events, including seven FINA Swimming World Cups and the 2014 World Swimming Championships. The FINA Marathon Swim World Series, which Doha hosted for the first time in 2018, is adding a valuable experience and expertise as QSA builds up to the Doha 2023 FINA World Championships.
A total of 136 swimmers including 84 male and 52 female athletes from 24 countries are taking part in this spectacular event. Olympic gold medallist Sharon Van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands and Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil, overall winner of FINA Marathon (10km) Swim World Series in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018 are among top swimmers in the women’s field.
Van Rouwendaal, who won in Doha last year, said she was prepared for the challenging race. “Conditions are looking very good. I like the water temperature, I like 20 degrees. The course is excellent again like last year and it’s always good to be back in Doha,” said Van Rouwendaal.  “Last year, I ended up winning it though my preparations were not good. This year, I feel strong but the other girls are also strong. The field will be strong and tough so I will try my best,” she added.
The elite men’s line-up includes overall winner in 2016 and 2017 Simone Ruffini of Italy and Jack Burnell (GBR), the last year’s overall runner-up in the World Series. “I had problems before but now I am strong for the race and I will try my best because this race is important for the World Championships,” said Ruffini.
The women’s race will start at 9am while the men’s race will kick off at 1pm on February 16. Doha meet will be followed by 8 more stops in different cities in the world. The day prior to the FINA Marathon, Qatari residents will participate in the Corniche waters, swimming the same course at the Doha Open Water Challenge today. A total of 338 swimmers have signed up for different categories available in the event, which is open to the public. The races will start at 1pm on February 15.
“I would like to welcome all the swimmers for the FINA Marathon, we are holding the event for the second time and I am happy the number has increased from the last time. We are ready to host these world’s best swimmers,” said QSA President and FINA Bureau Member Khaleel al-Jabir.
“Qatar will host this FINA Marathon till 2021 and it is very good for us as everybody knows Qatar will host the World Championships in 2023, where this competition is one of the events. We are getting a lot of experience by hosting this competition, as we prepare for the World Championships, in which more than 15,000 athletes will take part in Doha,” he added.
FINA Technical Delegate John West said: “Over the past couple of days, we have been reviewing all the arrangements for the competition, and we are very pleased with the level of organisation and cooperation we are receiving. We would like to thank QSA for hosting the opening meet of the FINA Marathon Swim World Series. “We give a report on every event. Those reports identify how the competition ran and also if there is room for improvement. Every year we try to make improvements just to make the event better.”