Shattered Record Acquired During Open Water Swim at Benidorm Island

In the picturesque setting of Mal Pas beach, the 24th edition of the Benidorm Island Open Water Swim took place on August 31. Competitors, adorned with orange identification caps, timing chips, and mandatory safety buoys, embarked on a 'golondrina' boat at around 7.30am for the island-to-shore race.

The event saw some impressive performances, with the Vila Swim Club's Miguel Bou Bernabeu claiming a historic fourth consecutive victory. Not only did he cross the finish line first in the men's category, but he also set a new course record with a time of 39:29, shaving off valuable seconds from the previous best.

In the women's category, Alexandra Bollella from Aquatic Alicante clinched the top spot with a time of 46:53, securing her first win in the competition. Iris Gracia, from Master Morvedre Club, and Melanie Marín Rueda, both local swimmers, finished in second and third places, respectively, with times of 50:22 and 51:17.

Among the local male swimmers, Vicente Solbes, of Gladiators Benidorm, claimed third place with a time of 45:43. Jordi Guirado and Eduardo Burguero followed closely behind, finishing with times of 47:07 and 47:24, respectively. The fastest local male swimmer was Vicente Solbes, who swam an impressive 45:43.

Ángela Cerdán, last year's women's winner, put up a valiant effort, finishing second with a time of 48:19. César Parra, from Petrer's Master Naturalswim Club, finished in second place in the men's category with a time of 43:24, but the search results do not contain information about who replaced Miguel Bou in second place at the 24th edition of the Benidorm Island Open Water Swim.

The competition was not just about the winners, as Aguaviva Benidorm took home the trophy for the club with the most participants and finishers. The event was well-attended, with Javier Jordá, councillor for Sports, and other members of the municipal corporation welcoming the winners and participants.

Nerea Martínez and Ángeles López Ortega, both local female swimmers, also put up impressive performances, with Nerea Martínez finishing as the third-fastest local female swimmer with a time of 54:21, and Ángeles López Ortega finishing as the second-fastest with a time of 53:37.

The race, approximately 3.6 kilometres long, was a testament to the swimmers' endurance and determination. The Benidorm Island Open Water Swim continues to be a highlight on the local sports calendar, drawing participants from all over the region each year.