Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Australian swimmer Moesha Johnson won the 3km Knockout Sprint at the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Ibiza, earning gold and sweeping all women’s events at the competition. Johnson also claimed victory in the 10km race on the first day, where she pushed the pace despite cooler water temperatures of 18.2 degrees Celsius. In the knockout sprint, she consistently held a top-two position in all rounds before securing the win in the final, focusing on conserving energy until delivering her strongest effort in the final round.
Johnson reflected on the importance of her two wins that weekend, emphasizing the growing profile of open water swimming and the recognition athletes now receive. She mentioned meeting Australian fans in Ibiza and looks forward to the upcoming World Cup races at Golfo Aranci, where she plans to compete in the same events and possibly a relay.
Discussing race tactics, Johnson said the semi-final round was the toughest, with the pressure of securing a final spot among 20 swimmers. She noted the 3km Knockout Sprint is a relatively new addition to the World Cup, first introduced in Ibiza last year. Johnson praised the event as fast, dynamic, and exciting for both competitors and fans, calling it a strong complement to the longer 10km race format in open water swimming.
German swimmer Lea Boy, who won the inaugural 3km Knockout Sprint in Ibiza last year, closely contested the title in the final lap of this year’s event. Boy had a strong start and tried to find clear water on the final lap but ultimately finished with the silver medal.