The women's and men's 25 km open water races were stopped and then canceled this Saturday near Rome (Italy) during the European Swimming Championships.

The European Swimming League made this decision due to difficult weather conditions.

After more than three and a half hours of racing, racing authorities decided to “immediately halt racing to protect athletes and officials,” according to the league.

Already postponed for the first time because of the weather, the 25 km races were finally canceled, "the judges could not establish final rankings".

The league apologized to the swimmers "who worked hard to be ready for this event."

Confusion among race swimmers

All the swimmers were not notified at the same time of the stoppage of the races, creating confusion.

“We witnessed that the race stopped but we had no information,” laments Julien Issoulié, director of the French swimming team.

“The rule is that if the swell is too big, the organizers must inform the coaches, except that is not at all what happened.

»

Several swimmers headed for the finish plate, as is the case when a race is cut short, while others stopped.

Usually, the organizers notify the coaches who pass on the information to the swimmers.

Swimmers are then asked to complete a final lap before reaching the finish plate.

"I was on the eleventh lap when a scooter came in front of me and said to me: 'Stop, it's over, the race is over'," said Frenchman Axel Reymond.

“I don't understand anything because I was a little on my own, in the waves it was fine, I was fine, and I was starting to catch up with people.

And then I turn to the buoy, I no longer see anyone, and a scooter tells me to stop.

»

Races held on Sunday

The situation immediately made the double world champion of the 10 km in open water, Aurélie Muller, react.

“Another great promotion of our sport.

Commedia dell'arte, ”wrote the Frenchwoman on Twitter.

This Saturday, the athlete finished 6th in the 5 km race.

Among the men, the Frenchman Marc-Antoine Olivier took bronze in the 5 km, behind the Italians Gregorio Paltrinieri and Domenico Acerenza.

The 10 km events as well as the 4x1,250 m men's and women's relays were still to be held this Sunday morning, "except in the event of extreme weather conditions" which could cause their postponement or cancellation, according to the League.

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