Argentinian Matias Diaz Hernandez won the 71e International crossing of Lac Saint-Jean. Mayte Puca, also from Argentina, has won in women.
Matias Diaz Hernandez completed the distance in 7 hours, 9 minutes and 19 seconds.
I am very happy with my race. This is my fourth time here, said the swimmer in English. It was difficult today, because the water was very cold.
Mayte Puca took up the challenge in 7 hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds.
Argentina Mayte Puca won the great honors on the side of women.
Photo : Radio-Canada
Nicolas Masse-Savard caused the surprise and arrived second. This is the first time that a Quebecer has been a place on the podium since 2018. It was also his first participation in the competition.
I am really satisfied. It’s more than I could imagine.
The Quebec swimmer also thinks that the conditions were difficult.
The first half was super well, he said. The conditions were good. It is more during the second half that it spoiled, but I continued and I kept my position not bad during the rest of the second half, so I am very satisfied.
The 32 kilometers of Piekouagami
The 23 swimmers left the Péribonka Marina at 8 a.m. to start crossing a distance of 32 kilometers which ends in Roberval.
The swimmers began the competition while the lake water was rather cold, explains the president of the crossing, Jessica Tremblay.
We have today [samedi] A temperature of 19 ° Celsius, which means that we are not obliged to impose the thermal combination, but they are still quite cold conditions. I think the main challenge for our swimmers today, it may be the water temperature.
Hundreds of people came to attend the start of the race.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Alexis Desnoyers Muckle
Four Quebecers took part in the crossing, Thomas Bilodeau, Pénélope Harvey, Philippe Lacasse and Nicolas Masse-Savard.
The champion last year, Axel Reymond, declared forfeit shortly after 10 a.m. The French swimmer is double world champion for 25 kilometers.
Axel Reymond recalls that this is a difficult race and that no one is immune to abandonment.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Alexis Desnoyers Muckle
Matteo Furlan, arrived second last year, and Inès Delacroix, the former female champion, also declared forfeit in the middle of the course.
Inès Delacroix had won first place in women in 2023 and 2024.
With information from Alexis Desnoyers Muckle
