Lausanne SUI - In the first and longest race (88 km) of the 2006 FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup, held in Hernandarias-Parana (ARG) on February 12, the French Stéphane Gomez and the German Britta Kamrau-Corestein confirmed their status of favourites by winning respectively the men's (9h27m39s) and women's (9h39m20s) competition. Gomez and Kamrau were also first in the inaugural race of the 2005 season, held in Rosario (ARG). Moreover, the French and German stars were the second placed swimmers in the overall ranking of the 2005 World Cup.

Amongst men, Petar Stoychev (BUL), winner of the World Cup since 2001, finished the 88 km-race in the fifth position, while Damian Blaum delighted the local fans with his second place (almost five minutes behind Gomez). The Argentinean swimmer was fifth in the 2005 World Cup and is one of the most consistent athletes for the 2006 season. Also in a good moment, is Mohamed El Zanaty, fourth in the previous World Cup ranking but third in Hernandarias.

In the women's field, and after being absent in 2005, Angela Maurer (GER, the winner of the Cup in 2004) returned in the best possible way to competition and finished in second. One of the raising stars in 2005, the Spanish Esther Nunez Morera completed the podium.

Medallists in Hernandarias-Parana (ARG, 88 km):

MEN
1. Stéphane Gomez (FRA), 9h27m39s
2. Damian Blaum (ARG), 9h32m16s
3. Mohamed EL Zanaty (EGY), 9h32m43s

WOMEN
1. Britta Kamrau-Corestein (GER), 9h39m20s
2. Angela Maurer (GER), 9h55m33s
3. Esther Nunez Morera (ESP), 9h58m39s

The next race of the 2006 FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup will take place also in Argentina on February 19 in Rosario (21 km).