Raúl Santiago and Alexandra Sánchez, winners of the XXI El Río Crossing

Once again, the El Río Swimming Crossing brought together hundreds of swimmers, making La Graciosa the epicenter of island and regional sports. One of the swimming crossings with the most history in the Canary Islands had the participation of 623 swimmers, who had the courage to cover the 2,600 meters that separate the beach located under the Risco (Lanzarote) and the Caleta de Sebo pier (La Graciosa). The young Raúl Santiago (CN Las Palmas) and Alexandra Sánchez (Las Escuevas), were the absolute winners of the twentieth edition of the El Río Swimming Crossing. 

From early in the morning, a great sporting atmosphere took over the Eighth Island and the swimmers began to arrive in dribs and drabs at the Caleta de Sebo pier. After proceeding to collect the bib numbers, the inauguration ceremony took place. The children dressed in the typical costume of La Graciosa paraded throughout the town with the flags of the islands, Autonomous Communities and participating countries in the XXI El Río Swimming Crossing. Among the participants, swimmers from countries as unique as Canada, Italy, Hungary or Algeria. And the previous ceremony concluded with the usual mass warm-up carried out by Aroa Merino and in which the participating swimmers moved their muscles. 

After 1:15 p.m., the test started from the beach that is located under El Risco de Famara. An edition that has had magnificent weather conditions, with a sea like a plate and in which the current has not harmed the swimming of the participants. From the start, the favorites have been placed in the head of the test and have been in charge of setting the pace that has selected to the group of swimmers who were going to fight for the final victory. 

In the men's category, the Gran Canaria native Raúl Santiago (CN Las Palmas), has revalidated the title of champion won in last year's edition. The winner has needed a time of 32 minutes and 8 seconds to cover the 2.6 kilometers of the route. The second place overall went to José María Ladislao (32:54) and the third place on the podium went to Abián Francisco Reinó (32:58), swimmers from CN Las Palmas and Metropole, respectively.

In the women's category, the young swimmer Alexandra Sánchez Clark, a member of the club Las Escuevas de Fuerteventura, has been the winner of the XXI El Río Swimming Crossing River. It was the first time that Alexandra Sánchez, a 14-year-old swimmer, participated in the Crossing to El Río and showed that she has a great future in this sport. 35 minutes the winner needed to cover the 2,600 meters of crossing. Verónica Navarro (CN Las Palmas) and Irene Fleitas (Metropole), have completed the second and third place on the podium. Verónica Navarro crossed the finish line just 6 seconds behind the winner.

The El Río Swimming Crossing is a test open to all audiences and among the participants highlighted the participation of several swimmers with disabilities. Lionel Morales, Miguel Barreto and Andrés Martín Ferrer, won most of the applause from the hundreds of fans who were waiting on both sides of the pier. It was the award for the effort to overcome some swimmers who improve every day substantially their times. 

The sports day in La Graciosa concluded with the presentation of trophies to the three first classified in each of the categories. An act that was attended by Migdalia Machin, Minister of Sports of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés, president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, mayor of Teguise and Alicia Páez, councilor of La Graciosa.