Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
David Betlehem claimed victory in the men’s 10km event at the Open Water Swimming World Cup in Ibiza, finishing ahead of a 99-strong field to secure his second individual World Cup title. Betlehem, who previously won in Golfo Aranci, highlighted his improved resilience in cold water as key to his success. He described the race as physically demanding, with large, frequent waves complicating tactics and drafting, requiring continuous effort and strength. Betlehem took the win with a powerful final lap surge, moving from around fifth or sixth to first in the last 600 metres.
France’s Sacha Velly finished second, equalling his best World Cup result and earning his seventh World Cup medal. Velly ended the race five seconds behind Betlehem and was closely followed by Italy’s Andrea Filadelli, who took bronze. Filadelli earned his second medal in Ibiza and praised the strong performance of the Italian team.
The challenging conditions and large waves made race dynamics difficult, reducing the effectiveness of drafting. Competitors had to balance positioning and maintain consistent effort throughout the race.