69th La Traversée internationale du lac Saint-Jean Double World Champion, Axel Reymond, To Start
News from La Traversée internationale du lac Saint-Jean:
For the first time ever, La Traversée internationale du lac Saint-Jean on July 29, 2023 will welcome French swimmer and double world champion of the 25-kilometer distance, Axel Reymond. He will compete in the 32 km race on July 29th, guaranteeing an exhilarating show. At present, Axel Reymond stands as the premier long-distance open water swimmer. “We’ve been hoping to see him compete at Roberval for years now. We are thrilled to finally host him. This is going to be a highly competitive event,” asserts Jérémie Bonneau, the general manager of La Traversée internationale du lac Saint-Jean.
Axel Reymond initially gained recognition in 2017 when he clinched the World Aquatic Sports Championships’ 25 km event in Budapest, Hungary’s capital. He went on to repeat this achievement two years later in Gwangju, South Korea. In 2022, he secured the second position at the same distance in Budapest. Moreover, he has thrice triumphed in the Ohrid Marathon in Macedonia and earned the title of European champion in 2014.
However, a victory in Roberval isn’t guaranteed. He’ll be competing against Matteo Furlan from Italy, who was the vice-champion in the 2017 World Championship for the 25 km distance. Also vying for the top spot will be another Italian, Alessio Occhipinti, who won the bronze medal for the same distance in the 2019 World Championship. Mexican Olympian Daniel Delgadillo and Australian swimmers, Bailey Armstrong and Jack Wilson, will also be amongst the competitors.
A robust delegation from Argentina will be participating in the event: Aquiles Balaudo, Martin Miguel Carrizo Yunges, Matias Diaz Hernandez, and Santiago Petrucci. Italians Marco Inglima and Francesco Ghettini will be participating, as will Aleksandar Ilievski from Macedonia.
On the Canadian side, William Racine of Quebec will try to cross the lake after an unsuccessful attempt last year. Philippe Lacasse of Saint-Georges will also be attempting the 32-kilometer swim for the first time, following a third-place finish at the Rio Tinto Relay Marathon in 2022.
In the women’s competition, all eyes should be on the 2022 Santa Fe-Coronda Marathon champion, Erika Yenssen from Argentina, and the junior champion of France over 25 kilometers, Ines Delacroix. This will be their inaugural swim in the waters of Lake St-Jean. They’ll have to stay ahead of seasoned athletes in the waters of Lake St-Jean: Daira Eluney Marin and Rita Vanesa Garcia from Argentina, Sandra Frimerman-Berguist from the United States, and Elena Lionello from Italy.
Spectators should also watch out for potential upsets from Mayte Puca of Argentina, Madisyn Armstrong of Australia, and Anna Valeria Zuccolotto of Mexico. In total, 24 swimmers will be participating in this 69th edition—15 men and 9 women representing eight countries. They will dive in at 8 am on July 29th from the Péribonka Wharf as part of the 69th La Traversée internationale du lac Saint-Jean 32 km event, presented by Rio Tinto.
La Traversée internationale du lac Saint-Jean is part of the Ultramarathon Swim Series
