The capital of Lanzarote experienced a day marked by sports, the sea and coexistence this Saturday, with the celebration of the XXI San Juan Swimming Crossing, a classic event organized by the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife, which in this edition brought together about 200 swimmers of different ages and categories. Among them, numerous athletes from other islands came motivated by being a scoring event for the VII Canary Islands Open Water Cup.
The event took place in an unbeatable environment: good temperature to be in the water and absence of wind favored optimal conditions for the practice of swimming in open water, offering participants and the public a special day.
The competition began with the categories of the youngest. The pre-benjamins faced a 100-meter course, where Izan Díaz (RCNA) and Valentina Fabra (CD Nadamas) stood out, who completed the test in first place. Next, the benjamins took over with a 400-meter journey. In this category, Andrea Fraga (CD Nadamas) was the fastest among the girls, while Mohamed El Kounichi, from the Valle de Aridane Tennis Club (La Palma), won in the men's classification.
The alevines completed a more demanding route of 800 meters (two laps of the previous route). Katia Pérez (CD Nadamas) and Adrián Sánchez (CD Nonadamos) were the fastest in this category.
After these initial tests, an emotional awards ceremony was held with the participation of the president of the RCNA, Julio Romero, and the Minister of the Environment of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Samuel Martín. During this recess, the rise of the tide was used to prepare the circuit for the two final tests.
The first of these was the popular 1,400-meter crossing, which included the participation of swimmers from the children's, junior and master categories. Diego Vázquez (CD Nadamas) was the first to complete the course, with a time of 17 minutes and 34 seconds, followed by Erik Suárez (CD Nadamas) and Israel García (CD Belén María). In the women's classification, the victory went to Luz Marina Cabrera (CN Vulcania), with a time of 23 minutes and 25 seconds, accompanied on the podium by Laura Ortega (CD Nadamás) and Ann Berndtsson (CN Vulcania).
The closing of the day was starred by the demanding 2,000-meter test, valid for the VII Canary Islands Open Water Cup. Before the start, the swimmers paid an emotional tribute to the veteran Mauricio O'Shanahan (CN Metropole), who, at 83 years old, completed the distance with great dignity, being an example of passion and commitment to the sport.
In strictly competitive terms, Nicolás Padrón (CD Nadamas) was proclaimed winner with a time of 26 minutes and 41 seconds, while Nora Delgado, also from CD Nadamas, won among the women with a time of 28 minutes and 37 seconds.
With this twenty-first edition, the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife reaffirms its commitment to promoting grassroots sports, supporting aquatic disciplines and promoting sports in the natural environment of Lanzarote. The San Juan Swimming Crossing continues to consolidate itself as a regional benchmark, both for its impeccable organization and for its ability to bring together athletes of all ages under the spirit of healthy competition and respect for the marine environment.
