Sam’s the man with stirring sixth in 25km debut
Swimming Australia, August 1, 2015: Victoria’s Gold Coast-based lifesaver Sam Sheppard has finished his Fina World Championship open water campaign with a fast finishing sixth in today’s grueling 25km on Kazan’s Kazanka River.
Sheppard’s team mate, London Olympian Jarrod Poort was 17th while in the women’s race, two more 25km debutants, Jess Walker and Chelsea Gubecka were 12th and 13th respectively.
It concludes a solid week on the Kazanka for National Head Coach Ron McKeon’s Open Water Dolphins who although didn’t come away with a medal, showed enormous potential over the 5,10 and 25km events which he is confident will bear fruit over the next few years.
Swimming on his first Australian team, Sheppard, a noted Victorian and Gold Coast surf lifesaver, was quick to praise legendary Australian open water coach Dick Campion for encouraging him to start a career in open water swimming.
“A big shout out to Dick Campion, a great friend and coach who talked me into giving open water a crack…I owe it to him,” said Sheppard, who has also made the Lorne Pier to Pub his own in recent years.
“That was my first time over 25km, to finish sixth, you’ve got to be happy with that.
“I stung out with about three kilometres to go but I fought on pretty well.
“The first 10km seemed to go pretty quickly so that was a bit of a plus; I went into my own pace and didn’t change anything and got into a nice rhythm and held on to the pace.
“To be less than four minutes off the winner is certainly satisfying; I only found out I was on the Australian team for the World’s 10 weeks ago so probably haven’t done the kilometres.
“I had to dig deep and conserve energy the whole way, it was actually a fun race.”
Poort, who swam the 10km at the London Olympics, admitted the whole race changed when the men’s field caught the women who started 15 minutes after the men’s race.
In the end it was Frenchman Simone Ruffini (ITA) 4hrs 53mins 10ses who swam away from Alex Myer (USA) 4:53.15 in a thrilling final 250m with his team mate Matteo Furlan (ITA) taking the bronze.
Ruffini then proposed to his girlfriend, fellow Italian swimmer Aurora Ponsele, holding up a “Will you marry me” sign during the medal ceremony.
Walker, like Gubecka, lined up in her first 25km race which saw 2011 World Champion from Shanghai and 2013 runner-up from Barcelona Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) take the gold in 5hrs 13mins 47secs from Anna Olasz (HUN) 5:14.13 with Angela Maurer (GER) 5:15.07 third.
“I’m pretty wrecked; it‘s a long race and you couldn’t really compare that with anything I’ve ever really done before,” said Walker.
“When the boys came through it broke the girls pack up and we were all spread out and that made things harder, physically and mentally.
“It was really, really tough; I felt good (for the first 20km) but then with 5km to go it hit me like a freight train.
“I wasn’t even sure I could finish the race; you’ve got to do more ks. But I have wanted to do (the 25km) and now I’ve done it; it’s time to give my shoulders a rest…and have some chocolate.”
With Kareena Lee out of the race following her collapse after the 10km race, Gubecka only found out she was swimming the race three days ago.
She immediately messaged open water legend and 1991 Fina World Champion, Shelley Taylor-Smith who came back with some encouraging advice.
“Shelley was great…to hear back from her straight away was amazing…..I just had to mentally prepare myself for a race that turned out to be the toughest thing I’ve ever done physically, mentally and emotionally,” said Gubecka.
“I was pleased to get through it and to finish 13thagain (she was 13th in the 10km) at my first attempt at just 16.
“I am so happy to make it; the youngest in the field is just awesome and there will be a few more 25ks in my career…I’m sure.”
“I cant’ wait till the next world’s (2017) to give it another crack.”
Fina World Swimming Championships, 25km, FINALS:
Men
Simone Ruffini (ITA) 4hrs 53mins 10ses Alex Myer (USA) 4:53.15.1 Matteo Furlan (ITA) 4:54.38 Axel Reymond (FRA) 4:55.55 Erwin MalDonaldo (VEN) 4:56.00 Sam Sheppard (AUS) 6th4:56.22 Santiago Enderica (ECU) 4:56.59 Evgeuni Drattcev (RUS) 4:57.11 Alexander Studzinski 4:59.11 David Heron (USA) 5:00.11 Jarrod Poort (AUS) 17th 5:07.44
Women
Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) 5hrs 13mins 47secs Anna Olasz (HUN) 5:14.13 Angela Maurer (GER) 5:15.07 Aureile Muller (FRA) 5:16.07 Finnia Wunram (GER) 5:19.02 Margarita Dominguez (ESP) 5:19.39 Alice Franco (ITA) 5:19.50 Emily Brunemann (USA) 5:19.51 Ashley Twitchell (USA) 5:20.20 Ilaria Raymondi (ITA) 5:21.05 Jess Walker (AUS) 5:23.33 12th Chelsea Gubecka (AUS) (5:28.49) 13th
Issued on behalf of Swimming Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
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