The Spirit of Overcoming in Swimming

The spirit of overcoming in swimmers is difficult to find in other sports. Hector Ruiz and Antonio Arroyo are an example of the difficulties and iron mentality of these water athletes. Especially the former, who admitted after the 10-kilometer open water test, where he finished in 58th place, that "I only felt comfortable in the first straight. Then, I didn't know what pace to hold or feel comfortable." He still had over nine kilometers ahead...

If Ruiz can't find an explanation ("I was at my best, but I didn't feel it in the test"), Arroyo, on the other hand, started strong but struggled with the pace in the last five kilometers. "People start pushing and you start falling behind, your arms get cramped and the last kilometers begin to be tough," he admitted, before stating that "the water was very dirty. I couldn't even see the feet of the person in front of me," as he shook off a dark green roughness from his abdomen.

"I train with Vergnoux and our training is mainly focused on the 1,500-meter pool race. This year I have swum in a World Cup test in Setúbal and a European Cup. Perhaps there is a lack of preparation for this type of tests," acknowledged the swimmer from Atlètic-Barceloneta, who described the race as "cleaner than the 5-kilometer one, although there were also hits."