One more year, the El Rio Swimming Crossing brought together hundreds of participants. Half a thousand swimmers joined Lanzarote with the island of La Graciosa. A festive day in which healthy sportsmanship won among the participants. Daniel Sánchez and Raquel Quevedo, from Gran Canaria, were the winners of the seventeenth edition of the El Rio Swimming Crossing.
The El Rio Swimming Crossing has become a classic over the years and more and more swimmers dare to join Lanzarote with La Graciosa. A journey of 2,600 meters, which in many cases becomes longer, due to the strong currents that exist in the area. Swimmers from all the islands and even from the Peninsula, do not hesitate to come to participate.
The registration for the seventeenth edition exceeded all expectations. 517 people of all ages registered, although there were nearly 600 who decided to start. Last-minute registrations allowed to exceed half a thousand participants.
The swimming party begins at the La Graciosa dock. With the arrival of the participants, an atmosphere of healthy competition begins to be breathed. The swimmers do not hesitate to participate in the collective warm-up, with the triathlete Aroa Merino being in charge of exercising the muscles of all the participants.
Among the swimmers, many well-known faces, both from sports, journalism or even politics. This was the case of Pedro de Armas, councilor for the PNL in the Arrecife City Council. Among the sports faces, highlight the participation of boxer Alexis Callero. And among the journalists, Saúl García from ACN or Raquel Herrero from Cadena Ser were daring.
Nerves begin to appear when the swimmers get on the boat that takes them to the beach that is located below the Risco and that is the place chosen for the start. The good atmosphere reigns in the two boats that approach the area and the jokes between the participants are constant. At about one in the afternoon, half a thousand swimmers begin their participation in the El Rio Swimming Crossing.
The strong current played a trick on many and they even had to rectify their route. In the men's category, Daniel Sánchez and José Víctor García star in an equal fight. Until the final meters, the winner was not decided, with Daniel Sánchez from Gran Canaria being the champion with a time of 38 minutes and 30 seconds. José Víctor García, winner of the past edition, had to settle for second place. The third position was for Ciro Gutiérrez.
Among the women, the fastest was Raquel Quevedo from Gran Canaria with a time of 44 minutes and 33 seconds. She was seven seconds ahead of Irene González and the third position went to Bárbara Robayna.
After two hours of crossing, the stragglers arrive at Caleta de Sebo. The elders demonstrate a great young spirit and do not hesitate to participate. This is the case of Ilse Court. At 72 years old, she has managed to complete eleven editions of the Swimming Crossings, although on this occasion she comments that it has been the hardest due to the strong current.
The final touch to the swimming party is put with a great lunch for all the participants and with the delivery of trophies to the winners of the respective age groups. There are many who are already counting the days that remain for the XVIII El Rio Swimming Crossing to be held.
