European Aquatics Open Water Cup 2025 set to begin in Protaras
The 2025 European Aquatics Open Water Cup launches this weekend in the sun-drenched coastal town of Protaras, Cyprus, where some of the continent’s leading marathon swimmers will compete over the 10km Olympic distance. This opening leg marks the beginning of a six-stage circuit that spans the length of the season, with Cyprus hosting the event for the second time. With its crystal-clear waters and scenic course mapped out in Fig Tree Bay, Protaras is expected to deliver both a tactical challenge and a picturesque backdrop as athletes look to set the tone for the season ahead.
The entry list for this first leg promises fierce competition, with 90 athletes from 16 nations – 49 men and 41 women – set to line up on race day. Among the headline names in the men’s field is Italy’s Marcello Guidi, who took bronze in the 5km event at last year’s European Aquatics Championships. He also took silver in the mixed relay in that competition alongside Andrea Filadelli, who is also scheduled to lineup on the pontoon for the six-lap race. Filadelli took gold over the 10km distance at last month’s World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup stop in Barcelona, which puts him amongst the favourites for the medals.
Medalling alongside Filadelli in that race was his compatriot Giuseppe Ilario, who is also set to compete. Greece’s Athanasios Charalampos Kynigakis, who placed inside the top-ten at last year’s Olympic Games, is also set to compete. Poland’s Piotr Wozniak is a youngster to look out for. He took European junior silver at last year’s championships.
The women’s field on paper appears to present opportunities for many of the 41 athletes competing in the event. The likes of Alana Benesova (Czechia), Leah Crisp (Great Britain), and Matea Sumajstorcic (Croatia) will be looking to make inroads in an event which sees many of the previous medallists opting for a look ahead to the future legs, as well as this summer’s European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Championships in Stari Grad, which will see many of the field return – as well as those who are away this time around.
Protaras’ addition to the Cup circuit marks an exciting step for open water swimming in the region. With Cyprus hosting a European Aquatics event of this scale, organisers have placed a strong emphasis on athlete experience, safety protocols, and community involvement. Yiannis Ergatoudes and Antreas Gavriil, both of the host nation, will be competing in the men’s race – gaining valuable experience and proudly representing their nation in front of a home crowd.
With Setubal, Paris, Barcelona and Razanac still to come later in the series, the 2025 European Aquatics Open Water Cup gets underway with a blend of seasoned champions and emerging talent under the Cypriot sun. Racing is set for Saturday, 3rd May 2025, with the action scheduled to begin at 8am EET.
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The European Aquatics Open Water Cup first leg in Protaras will also be covered as part of the Open Water Cup: Beyond the Buoy video series, which will be promoted across our social channels and YouTube page.
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