Las Cucharas Beach, in Costa Teguise, was the setting for the VII Alejandro Candela Open Water Swim, an event now consolidated within the island's sporting calendar. Organized by the Nadamas Swimming Club, the event brought the XI Lanzarote Open Water Cup to a close, bringing together swimmers from different categories in a
day marked by a good atmosphere, sportsmanship and swimming.
The main event, a 2-kilometer course, was dominated by the swimmers of CN Nadamas, who once again demonstrated their hegemony in the open waters of the island.
Herminio Fernández Alperi and Naira Jaén Serra were proclaimed absolute winners of the main distance, adding a new triumph to their brilliant season. With this victory,
both confirm their dominance in the island circuit, proclaiming themselves champions of the XI Open Water Cup of Lanzarote.
On the men's podium, Herminio Fernández was joined by his clubmates Matías Padrón and Diego Vázquez, while in the women's classification, Nora Delgado and Naira López completed the honor roll. Thus, CN Nadamas completely dominated the top positions in both the men's and women's categories, reflecting the excellent sporting work and dedication of its swimmers and coaching staff.
After the arrival of all participants in the main event, it was the turn of the youth categories, which brought a note of freshness and enthusiasm to the day. The under-12s faced an 800-meter course, with Juan José Ramos and Katia Pérez—both from CN Nadamas—as the fastest. Subsequently, the under-10s faced a 400-meter circuit adapted to their age, where Xoan Pachón, from Esna Lanzarote, and Andrea Fraga, from CN Nadamas, took the victory, amid applause and cheers from the public on the shore.
One of the most emotional moments of the afternoon was led by the members of the Creciendo Association, who participated in the Champions category. The organization prepared a 50-meter race in which the athletes demonstrated their ability to overcome challenges and an admirable spirit of camaraderie, being applauded by all those present. Next, the pre-Benjamin category shared the spotlight, covering the same distance in a participatory race in which everyone was recognized as a winner.
The competitive finale came with the fun relay race, in which friendship and healthy rivalry mixed in a festive atmosphere. Five teams took to the starting line, with the NaiSerMatHer team emerging victorious, prevailing with great teamwork and lots of fun.
The awards ceremony was held next to the beach, after a convivial meal attended by swimmers, family members, and companions. The event was attended by Carlos Fernández, president of the CN Nadamas; Alejandro Ramírez, Councilor for Sports of the Teguise City Council; and Victoria Montelongo, mother of Alejandro Candela, in whose honor this crossing is held. The event concluded with words of thanks and an emotional collective applause in memory of the sporting and human spirit that gives its name to the event.
With this seventh edition, the Alejandro Candela Open Water Swim has solidified its position as an essential event for swimming in Lanzarote, combining competition with camaraderie and tribute. From CN Nadamas, the organization expressed gratitude for the collaboration of the Teguise City Council and the involvement of the club's parents, whose efforts in tasks such as signage, marking, logistics, and attention to the participants were key to the success of the event.
The VII Alejandro Candela Open Water Swim thus concludes an edition filled with emotions, effort, and camaraderie, reaffirming the values that have made it a benchmark in the island's sporting scene.