The top Bulgarian open-sea marathon swimmer Petar Stoychev is continuing his excellent performance in the World Cup swimming marathon.
The 24-year-old came first in Ohrid, Macedonia in a competition that had a prize fund of $30,000. He didn't give his rivals any chances in the 30km race. Far behind him was the titleholder, Frenchman Stefan Leca and Macedonian Tomi Stefanovski finished third.
Stoychev retained his first place position in the World Cup, followed by Leca and Stefan Gomes.
Before Ohrid, Stoychev made an impressive appearance in North America. In Canada, he won the Magog competition by swimming the 40km distance in 8:11:30 hours - a record for this notoriously challenging event. His next triumph was in the fifth round of the World Cup in Robervalle, Canada, where he won the 32km marathon with a time of 7:03:00 hours, beating Leca by 10 seconds and Argentina's Gabriel Chaliu by four minutes. The conditions at lake Saint Jean were harsh because of the 17 degree Celsius water temperature.
Stoychev demonstrated his incredible stamina by gaining ground with a sprint in the last 50 meters, said his coach, Bulgaria's former swimming champion, Krasimir Tumanov.
Stoychev competed in his third tournament at Bridgeport, U.S. In an ocean race he swam 28km in 4:55:00 hours. Chaliu finished six minutes behind him and Australia's Santa Katharina came third 10 minutes later.
After his success in Robervalle, Stoychev took the top spot in the temporary World Cup ranking with 65 points, followed by Leca with 62 points and Gomes from Spain with 60 points. After the Ohrid marathon, there will be three more races - in England on August 25, in Italy on September 8 and in Egypt on October 6.
Stoychev is the most successful Bulgarian open water marathon swimmer ever and has a real chance of winning the World Cup. He was born on October 24, 1976 in Momchilgrad, Southern Bulgaria. In 1999 he was World vice-champion and came third in the 2000 World Cup. In the first world open water swimming championship in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2000 he was a silver medallist in the 10km event. In the nine World Cup 2000 marathons, he swam with remarkable success at distances varying from 10 to 88km. He was first in the London 10km event on September 30, 2000. He also participated in the 400m and 1,500m free style events at the Olympic games in Sydney in 2000 and at the World Championship in Tokyo in 2001. Stoychev, a tall, broad-shouldered athlete, does most of his training in the Parana River in South America, where he frequently swims distances of up to 90km.
Swimmers are usually accompanied by a boat with their trainer and supporters. The swimmer's life depends on these people but Stoychev has competed abroad without the help of his coach, doctor or masseur. The Bulgarian sports administrators were unwilling to fund him for the world cup marathon because it is not an Olympic discipline. For competitions in the U.S., Argentina, Canada, Macedonia, Italy, England and Slovenia, the money he received was never enough. Despite that Stoychev has friends all over the world. "It seems to me that I am more loved abroad," he said bitterly.
The 10km open-water swimming event may be included in the 2004 Athens Olympic games, but this is yet to be confirmed.
The 24-year-old came first in Ohrid, Macedonia in a competition that had a prize fund of $30,000. He didn't give his rivals any chances in the 30km race. Far behind him was the titleholder, Frenchman Stefan Leca and Macedonian Tomi Stefanovski finished third.
Stoychev retained his first place position in the World Cup, followed by Leca and Stefan Gomes.
Before Ohrid, Stoychev made an impressive appearance in North America. In Canada, he won the Magog competition by swimming the 40km distance in 8:11:30 hours - a record for this notoriously challenging event. His next triumph was in the fifth round of the World Cup in Robervalle, Canada, where he won the 32km marathon with a time of 7:03:00 hours, beating Leca by 10 seconds and Argentina's Gabriel Chaliu by four minutes. The conditions at lake Saint Jean were harsh because of the 17 degree Celsius water temperature.
Stoychev demonstrated his incredible stamina by gaining ground with a sprint in the last 50 meters, said his coach, Bulgaria's former swimming champion, Krasimir Tumanov.
Stoychev competed in his third tournament at Bridgeport, U.S. In an ocean race he swam 28km in 4:55:00 hours. Chaliu finished six minutes behind him and Australia's Santa Katharina came third 10 minutes later.
After his success in Robervalle, Stoychev took the top spot in the temporary World Cup ranking with 65 points, followed by Leca with 62 points and Gomes from Spain with 60 points. After the Ohrid marathon, there will be three more races - in England on August 25, in Italy on September 8 and in Egypt on October 6.
Stoychev is the most successful Bulgarian open water marathon swimmer ever and has a real chance of winning the World Cup. He was born on October 24, 1976 in Momchilgrad, Southern Bulgaria. In 1999 he was World vice-champion and came third in the 2000 World Cup. In the first world open water swimming championship in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2000 he was a silver medallist in the 10km event. In the nine World Cup 2000 marathons, he swam with remarkable success at distances varying from 10 to 88km. He was first in the London 10km event on September 30, 2000. He also participated in the 400m and 1,500m free style events at the Olympic games in Sydney in 2000 and at the World Championship in Tokyo in 2001. Stoychev, a tall, broad-shouldered athlete, does most of his training in the Parana River in South America, where he frequently swims distances of up to 90km.
Swimmers are usually accompanied by a boat with their trainer and supporters. The swimmer's life depends on these people but Stoychev has competed abroad without the help of his coach, doctor or masseur. The Bulgarian sports administrators were unwilling to fund him for the world cup marathon because it is not an Olympic discipline. For competitions in the U.S., Argentina, Canada, Macedonia, Italy, England and Slovenia, the money he received was never enough. Despite that Stoychev has friends all over the world. "It seems to me that I am more loved abroad," he said bitterly.
The 10km open-water swimming event may be included in the 2004 Athens Olympic games, but this is yet to be confirmed.
